Sketches of the different house designs seen throughout homes in Porterdale, comparing them with the current HPC guidelines.
When Javier Molina, a Kennesaw State honors student, first agreed to work on a Local Government Practicum project with the City of Porterdale last December, he probably did not quite know what he was in for. Five months later, Javier has immersed himself in the “Historic Mill Village” of just over 1880 residents and taken on the assignment of inventorying and developing recommendations to help strengthen Porterdale’s Historic District.
The city has sought to revive much of its historic district through new investment but recognized it needed better data and documentation to guide next steps and decision-making.
During the city's June 3, 2024, council meeting, Javier had the opportunity present the work he has completed to date to the Council, as well as offer up preliminary findings from his research over the last five months.
Javier Molina presenting his research during the June 3rd City Council Meeting in Porterdale.
The city’s application to the National Register of Historic Places was started by Ms. Rebecca Roseberry in 1998 and accepted in 2003. However, over time and as administrations changed, documents were scattered in different locations, resulting in the city not having a handle on its NRHP application with the accompanying and required photo documentation. During the June 3 meeting, Javier handed over to the council a thick binder with before-and-after photos that he captured from walking around town, providing the first-ever visual documentation of each of the 500+ properties within the historic district and its condition.
He also acquired maps from the city’s NRHP application and historical records from DCA. For the Practicum, Javier started by reviewing the city’s Historic Preservation Commission design guidelines and checking structures in Porterdale against them. He found that the current guidelines do not wholly capture the variety of residences in Porterdale. To document this, he catalogued existing residences based on location, occupancy, form, condition and other factors.
Javier Molina showing the binder of photos he compiled of structures within Porterdale's Historic District to former city manager Frank Etheridge and interim city manager Lance Jones.
In February, Javier took Claire Chan of the GMA staff on a tour around Porterdale, pointing out various spots within his study area and sharing their back stories. Javier has matched the technical skills acquired through his Architecture minor with his penchant for community development to assist the City of Porterdale in their effort to preserve and integrate the Historic District within the fabric of the city’s anticipated growth. Javier will continue to work with the city throughout the summer and present a final set of recommendations upon conclusion of his work.
Learn more about GMA's Local Government Practicum program.