Yesterday’s arrival of the August 1, 2023 Design Review Board meeting package came with news of a proposed plan by St. John’s Methodist Church to enlarge their parking area. This plan calls for the demolition of the 1978 building, (originally built as a doctor’s office, later used as a kindergarten) on the corner of Chesterfield Street and Barnwell Avenue. The plan also calls for the removal of seven trees.

With the shock and anger still fresh over the City’s recent destruction of the Williamsburg Street parkway, the public mood for cutting yet more trees is non-existent.

The Historic Aiken Foundation (HAF) commented, “Removal of these trees would detract from the integrity of the site and the historic district.”

The materials in the DRB agenda package (beginning on pg 17) provide answers to some of the questions being raised about this plan. Below are selected screenshots from the DRB agenda package plus photos taken today at the proposed site.

Concerned citizens can familiarize themselves with this information and attend the Tuesday August, 1 meeting at the Municipal Building at 111 Chesterfield St to learn more. The DRB work session begins at 5:30 p.m. ( no public comment permitted), and the regular DRB meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Note: As HAF points out in their comments, below, the legend is a bit fuzzy on the locations of the trees proposed for cutting. The photos below offer good, tentative guesses based on comparisons made between the x-marked trees on the plan and and the physical layout of the site, as viewed in-person.