11 February 2008

the petition.


Add a comment with your John Hancock to join the petition to save the Buckhead Branch Library in Atlanta.

113 comments:

Anonymous said...

let's save the library like we saved the Fox in '74.

Anonymous said...

Cera Carter

Anonymous said...

save the library!

Anonymous said...

Tom Malone

Anonymous said...

apparently atlanta cares as much about saving architecture as water conservation...

god darn, save the freakin library!

Anonymous said...

It will start with the library, then all the bars and all the restaurants and all the mom-and-pop shops and everything else that makes Buckhead special will be replaced by schlock that looks more in place in Alpharetta than midtown. The culture is the reason people move to Buckhead, not EIFS covered historicist main-street U.S.A. post-modern detritus.

Anonymous said...

Ben Carter, Tom Lowe, and Charles Loudermilk have to be the most ignorant scum on earth to want to demo this nice work and replace it with parking and some EIFS crap...

SAVE THE LIBRARY

"I am a lover of art. I can even stand abstract art. But God darn, who in the world would build something like that? There ain't no damn artistic value to that library." WTF Tom Lowe this shows how dumb and narrow minded you really are...

Anonymous said...

This building is one of the most important works of art in Atlanta. To do destroy it because a few people who don't know anything about art think it's ugly would be a crime. The developers can easily find a way to develop as much square footage as they want to while still keeping the library: build around the library! Integrate it into your development without compromising the existing significant building!

Anonymous said...

I'm with nicolas, it would be much more interesting to see the developers build adjacent to the library and maybe even respond to it with their building.

Anonymous said...

Save the library

aml said...

Save the library!
Ana Maria Leon

Anonymous said...

save the library!
a. nawacharoen

Anonymous said...

I do believe it's official. I'm moving to Europe, where architecture is still appreciated!

Anonymous said...

Save the library!!

Anonymous said...

agreed build something that responds to libraby allowing for a public / civic / commerical interaction of space would be far more succesful for all party's

Save the Library!
m.graham

Anonymous said...

Save the Library!

Molly Egan

Anonymous said...

Save the library.
Aaron Plewke

Anonymous said...

save the library.
Cristy Arthur

Anonymous said...

The buckhead library is a great work of architecture and must be saved!

Gena said...

Save the library.
G. Dorminey

Anonymous said...

Save the Library
A. Chellis-Omedo

Anonymous said...

Save the Library.

-John Cantrell

Anonymous said...

save the library!

Anonymous said...

PLEASE Save the Library!

Anonymous said...

I would encourage everyone to forward comments to :

bcarter@bencarterproperties.com

Save the Library!

Anonymous said...

Save the Library!

David Gange

Anonymous said...

Save the Library
Doug Glasgow

Wizum said...

It's just a shame that this has to even be considered or fought over. But this is what developers and money will do to a city, culture, and its people. Lets hope that good sense will prevail - though I am not holding my breath :(

Scott Moore

Unknown said...

Down with Haughty Buckhead EIFS Architecture! Save the library!

Anonymous said...

Save the library

Grant Gibson

Anonymous said...

Flattening this library will be an embarrassment to the good people of Atlanta. They deserve better.

Ben Loescher

Anonymous said...

To think that developers can swoop in with check in hand and the city of Atlanta will bow down for a buck. It is a shame. The education of young architects is threaded by buildings like this. It is Fulton County's civic duty to not only protect this building from demise but to uphold a standard of care to other such important community art and architecture. Atlanta doesn't have enough parking decks already? Are you kidding me? I think they can do without tearing down a priceless piece of the Atlanta urban fabric.

Grace Harriett

Anonymous said...

The idea that an important building like the Buckhead library could be razed should be a major embarrassment to this "world-class" city.

Or perhaps "world-class" is meant to imply accepting only of the lowest common denominator of globally market-driven developer's crap.

Anonymous said...

fight to save our library and send a message that the forces of greed and ignorance will not go unchallenged in atlanta anymore.

Fulton County Commissioner Tom Lowe: "I am a lover of art. I can even stand abstract art. But God darn, who in the world would build something like that? There ain't no damn artistic value to that library."

Charles Loudermilk, the founder of Aaron Rents: "I see it from my window. I think it's ugly," Loudermilk said. "I like brick and limestone, stuff that looks like quality."

Anonymous said...

sarah s. blair

Anonymous said...

Tom Lowe is the santorum dripping from Atlanta's greedy backside.

Unknown said...

save the library. don't settle for cookie cutter architecture to be built in it's place!

Anonymous said...

Let's save the library! One of the few inspiring buildings in atlanta.

Anonymous said...

Remember that Bellsouth wanted to raze the Fox in the 70s. I think everyone can agree that the decision to save it was the right one. That was an important example because it shows how rallying support can help prevent disastrous decisions made for purely economic reasons (like this one). The proposed development can surely accommodate the existing library.

We need to remind the City that it has a responsibility to provide art and culture for its Citizens.

Ktauches said...

carter, the developer, will spend millions on acquired public artworks for his manufactured "streets of buckhead," but there's already a large scale, useable artwork in his neighborhood, for free. the buckhead public library is art, and should be protected. . .at the very least built around, or over.

this would be a symbolic save, y'all.

Anonymous said...

I've returned to Atlanta anticipating a thriving modern environment. To say its disheartening that Atlanta would let this icon of contemporary architecture succumb to the pressures of banal overdevelopment would be a tremendous understatement. grab the chains and tie yourself to the nearest canted column.

Don Whitten

Anonymous said...

I'm convinced that there is a special rung of hell reserved for Developers. Thank you for bulldozing the bars with their cocaine and rat infested shells, but at some point you can no longer praise these jerks. Unfortunately, men with money aren't always men with a brain or a sense for common decency. Save the library.
-L.M.D.

Unknown said...

I have no idea why everyone can not see the value of having this building remain a part of Atlanta's landscape.Down with retail mono-culture! Up with diversity of the imagination! Buildings like the Buckhead Library are what makes a city a city and not an amusement park. -Sloane Robinson

Anonymous said...

Atlanta is being controlled by developer hacks who wouldn't know design if it ran up and pimp slapped them in the face. Regardless of how you feel about particular design, this Carter guy should not be permitted to raze one of the few examples of modern architecture we have in Atlanta and put a parking lot there!
This is not about public opinion...this is about a developer getting what he wants.

Anonymous said...

Yes, the library is funky looking - but in a good way. It's nice to be able to ride around Buckhead and notice it because it's different. I'm tired of the generic buildings that seem to be popping up everywhere. Save our library!

Anonymous said...

Save one of the few architectural assets we have in that area

Tsoukru said...

Reguardless of your personal aesthetic taste, this building is truly unique in Atlanta. The library was there first, surely the design for 'The Streets of Buckhead' project could be (should have been) worked to integrate with the site context of the library... There should be a compromise somewhere. The pleasentness in conformity of modern buildings may be nice, but it is the unique gems such as this, and the Fox theatre, which truly make a city shine!

littlejoke said...

I wrote two essays about the Buckhead Library at the time of its completion, one of which was solicited by a national magazine. It is unthinkable to have it demolished without public outcry.

Anonymous said...

I can't beleive they want to raze a buildign that has gained much more recognition and brought so much mroe to Atlanta than most everythign else in the city. All this to replace it with something fake. Something that uses painted foam to imitate brick, limestone, stucco, etcetera. This would never be thought of in Europe, there Ben carter and his cronies would be publicly flogged. Save the library and stop worrying about your wallet. What exactly are you going to do with a few extra million in your pocket...how about be a good citizen and give back to the city. Give the library back.

Priscilla Gay Smith said...

It's a startling and beautiful thing. And disturbing. Even to consider destroying it is mind-blowing.

Think of the lost tourist dollars (if the money is what's important).

Anonymous said...

Save the library!

Anonymous said...

Laura Coyle wants the library saved!

Lance Carlson said...

something on the atlanta landscape worth saving.....cant we build around it?

Anonymous said...

Don't turn Atlanta in to Anytown, USA.


Leave it as Atlanta, please and thank-you.

Anonymous said...

I am a Fulton County taxpayer, and I would like the library saved.

~Vikram Sami

Anonymous said...

Save the library... we need to hang on to our history and cultural so we don't lose our identity!!!
Katy Malone

Anonymous said...

Please save the library! I agree with the 'anon' --there are fewer and fewer of the old 'mom and pop' places that made B'head special. I'm embarassed to tell people I live here!

Anonymous said...

Sure. Save the Library!

Anonymous said...

pretty soon, all of these standout disruptions will be demolished so that the common "run-of-the-mall" crap can cover the entire USA- and we can all drive the same car to our local wal-rget and buy all-new home furnishings.
Don't y'all realize that only about 4% of us can tell the difference. Sad but True.

Anonymous said...

Save our ability to give a s..t!Save the Library.
Save the World.

Anonymous said...

For some of us this was a very important piece of architecture that we were exposed to in our education. For others it is a piece of Atlanta culture. Let's do all we can.

Anonymous said...

Are you freaking kidding me?

Anonymous said...

Save it - can't believe it is even a question!

Anonymous said...

Save The Library!!!

Anonymous said...

Save interesting architecture. Why does Atlanta want to tear down everything!
E. Woodling

Anonymous said...

Suzanne Struble - Fulton County Tax Payer

Anonymous said...

Save it, but PLEASE write the AJC, Fulton Co. commissioners, and the Library people about it, too!

Anonymous said...

save the library, darnnit.

the founder of aaron rents knows quality?

Anonymous said...

save the library.

Anonymous said...

Well, as someone who's always kinda-sorta liked the library (for it's "hey, that's neat" factor as I drive by), I have to say that the elitist, name-calling, anti-capitalist nastiness I'm reading here doesn't really persuade me.

Maybe if some of you tried to make a case instead of just calling Mssrs. Lowe, Loudermilk and others (who kinda-sorta have a point) "narrow-minded", "ignorant" and the "forces of greed", I might find it easier to "save the library".

Anonymous said...

Removing this building would be like destroying family heirlooms?

Anonymous said...

Buckhead resident says SAVE THE LIBRARY...incorporate it into The Streets if you have to.

Anonymous said...

Scott Rose

Anonymous said...

Save the library!!

Happenings at Bennett Street Gallery said...

When I first moved to Atlanta and saw the library, my reaction was WOW. It's a wonderful surprise when walking around Buckhead and deserves to be saved. The proposed plan of 'High-end' retail only serves 2 or 3% of the area population. We don't need it or want it. We do need and want inspiring architechture. I can see the proposed buildings in hundreds of other cities. SAVE THE LIBRARY!!

Anonymous said...

PLEASE SAVE THIS LIBRARY. ARCHITECTURE IS ART ! It is an asset and very creative work. Let's not ruin another chance to have an architectural legacy (like we did for the '06 Olympics)- we already do not have much ! Developers are more responsible than Sherman for us having such a small ammt of actual historic or notable works.

chrisc said...

As a current architect in Tampa FL, a previous student of Atlanta Archtecture and a graduate of SPSU, this library meant much for me in regards to local modern architecture. I find it very disturbing that there is plans to remove such an interesting and learning building.
Please save the Buckhead library!
Chris C.

Anonymous said...

I agree. Demolition for the sakes of financial motives alone would be a regretable mistake. Buildings such as this library add significant character to any environment and for someone who claims to be developing an urban neighborhood, I would think that Ben Carter Properties would understand that the value of such buildings as neighbors are potentially priceless.

Save the library.

Brian Buchalski

Anonymous said...

save it,
don't raze it!

collin curry said...

save the library!
Collin Curry

Anonymous said...

save the library! i used to think that developers always underestimated the sophistication of the general public. now i realize that developers simply have no measure of taste at all.
-d kane

INhabitAtlanta.com said...

Mr. Lowe,

I am an architect first and foremost and a resident of Atlanta second and I must explain that the news of possibly tearing down the Buckhead Public Library is an outrage. Losing a civic building for a parking lot, or any other use is a major loss and an act against our constitution, worse than burning the flag. Atlanta is plagued with bad buildings that go up on every corner made out of stucco and cheap building materials, and the Buckhead Branch Public Library by Scogin Elam and Bray is one of five buildings I respect in this city, the Downtown Branch Library by Marcel Breuer at the top of the list. I have read that some people do not like the look of the Buckhead Branch Library and this only further portrays the level of ignorance of the City of Atlanta to the arts of our community and it is time that we take a stand and do not let people destroy the few beautiful buildings we have. Even if you do hate it, and think it is ugly, you have to appreciate it for being unique and different: No one liked the Pompideau Centre in Paris, France when it was constructed and now it is one of the most popular museums in the world. It is the not the Buckhead Branch Library’s fault that Atlanta is artistically inept and it should not be punished for such inadequacy. Public outcry is mounting and it would be a huge mistake to let this occur.

Sincerely,
John Moores, AIA
InhabitAtlanta.com

Anonymous said...

Someone please set up a petition on Petitiononline.com with a clear statement of why we don't want demolition...& post address to this list...it will be easier to count names, etc.

Anonymous said...

SAVE THE BUILDING!!!

I mean of all the things that Atlanta doesn't need to do is destroy this building. Save the money needed for demolition and put it to better use like TRAFFIC ISSUES!

naja said...

This is not just another library... its a symbol of architecture. Obviously GA has no respect for art, all they care about is becoming a cookie cutter town like rest of USA. This library should be saved not only for its architect but also for the beauty this library holds.

Anonymous said...

Please save the library. Buckhead needs character and architectural variety to be interesting. The library gives us just that!

Unknown said...

I am completely against it's demolition for the sole reason that if that building is demolished and I do nothing to stop it, I am allowing ignorance a victory. It would be one thing if the building were taken down by people that understood the impact of such an action. It is, however, a completely different situation when it is being taken down by people who proclaim that "There ain't no damn artistic value to that library."

Anonymous said...

this library is a sliver of culture that is lacking in atlanta. PASS ON THE PETITION TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW WITH ANY SENSE OF CULTURE!!

Anonymous said...

distruction to a beautiful bldg of resource is devestating...save the library. Many students, teachers, and kids have made it their home.

Anonymous said...

frank andre, aia, leed ap

Anonymous said...

Jessica Geier

Unknown said...

Save the Library! Books for Everyone!

Lonewolf said...

As a memeber of the design feild
i wish i could petition some of the bad moves of my own firm.
its is tough being a good designer shadowed by insipid principles/owners. Buildings like the ScogginElam libraries are some of the few that helped legitimized
my move to atlanta to pursue arch.
For me, razing them would set the city and my faith in it back miles.
Save the library now as we continue to catch up architecturally with smaller cities like seattle or even cincy.

Anonymous said...

When my child asks to go to the library, I do not want to take him to a storefront in a condo tower. I want to take him to a place that inspires imagination. It doesn't matter if it's limestone and columns, or slate shingles and steel, a distinguished building still denotes the importance of public buildings.
Sarah Butler

Anonymous said...

Stop reinventing history! Cherish it, work with it, appreciate it! Save the Library!!! - Justin Schultz, St Simons Island. GEORGIA TAXPAYER

Anonymous said...

It is very disheartening to be let down so badly by the Atlanta leadership, some of the comments in the AJC article are sickening. Save the library. Please.
Colin Slaten

Anonymous said...

The Challenge:

How about you figure how to integrate this significant building into your design instead of killing it? It would be a design challenge that could enhance this development (Rodeo drive, not). Now that all the trash has been cleared out of Buckhead why would your want to get rid of a public library that encourages comunity spirit?

Think about it....

Unknown said...

Save the Library!

Anonymous said...

Down with EIFS, save the library!

Anonymous said...

The last thing we need as Americans is to have another symbol of our culture and history demolished. No wonder every other country says we have no history since our buildings are always being demolished.

SAVE THE LIBRARY - if not for your, for your heritage!

Alexandra O'Brate

stacy_wyman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
stacy_wyman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
stacy_wyman said...

The streets of Atlanta are dominated by generic placeless buildings - we must save the few pieces of true architecture that we have! Don't allow the money hungry developers which rule this city to deface such an internationally important landmark! This is a terribly sad discussion, there shouldn't even be an option...the library must stay!
stacy wyman
(why can't you edit on this blog)

Anonymous said...

Save the Library! Joel Aviles

Anonymous said...

Save the Library!
Emily Kindlin

Anonymous said...

Someone stop the cookie cutter EIFS travesties...Save the library!

Anonymous said...

Leave us some character, let there be history, and uniqueness of design, valued architecture with courage to stand alone. Let her remain standing for future generations to know and appreciate... PLEASE!
AFranke

Anonymous said...

The ongoing diluting of Buckhead’s character by a few people with money and no appreciation for diversity is unsettling. Modern architecture or not, available books or not, this oversized (and still growing) grossly homogenous project of Ben’s seems to be void of integrity and lacks regard for any interest besides vulgar, pretentious materialism. What a sad set of principles to instill in our children- let's go shopping instead of reading.

Anonymous said...

Save the library.

Anonymous said...

Please do not bulldoze the Buckhead library!

Anonymous said...

How can you destroy such an amazing building and a piece of public art as well as of cultural service for the community?!!
PLEASE, SAVE THE LIBRARY!!

Christina said...

I grew up in this library!

Christina Wood

Anonymous said...

Save the library! As a former native Atlantan now living in Philadelphia, I can't tell you how important the preservation of buildings, no matter how young or old, is to preserving and maintaining the character of a city. Please do everything you can to save the library. Shame on the developer for not thinking of more creative ways to incorporate it into his redevelopment plans.