A grave error
City Council has made a grave error in taking away Historic Beaufort Foundation’s representative on the Historic Review Board.
The City of Beaufort is loved for its amazing, natural beauty. But natural beauty is something that lots of places along the southeast coast have. Our incredible history is what makes Beaufort really special and interesting. We don’t even have to know the details to get the feel of history as we walk the streets. It drips from the buildings like the moss from the live oaks. All of us who love Beaufort want to preserve that feeling as much as possible.
Historic Beaufort Foundation itself is a result of a few like-minded citizens who loved the feel of old Beaufort and who came together in the 1940’s to try to preserve it. Today the Foundation represents hundreds of residents and supporters who love the historic aspects of our town enough to give their treasure and their energies to protect them.
City Council has done a pretty good job of representing the development industry on the Historic Review Board. The five-member board currently includes an architect, a building contractor, an interior designer and a marketing consultant. Fortunately, for the present, the fifth member is an advocate for our historic district appointed by Historic Beaufort Foundation. I presume that the ‘professional’ members of the board have feelings for Beaufort’s historic importance. I hope that’s the reason they applied for board membership. Nonetheless, because of HBF’s appointment, we can take comfort in knowing that at least one board member is primarily a champion for our historic resources and ambiance.
We may not agree with every action it takes, but Historic Beaufort Foundation is the guardian and principal proponent of our National Landmark Historic District. As such it deserves the support of all who love Beaufort and it most certainly deserves a seat on our city’s Historic Review Board. I hope our City Council will reconsider its impulsive action.
– Beekman Webb, Beaufort
