NATCHEZ, Miss. – City officials continue to work out plans on how to regulate the painting of wall murals in Natchez’ downtown historic district.
The issue came up at the Natchez Preservation Commission meeting Wednesday, when it delayed a decision on whether to allow murals to be placed on Main Street by the old Britton & Koontz bank building, which is being renovated into a restaurant and bar.
Restaurant developer Martin Buchman asked the commission to let him put murals on the side of Darby’s furniture store adjacent to the former bank. However, commission members declined to allow this pending further review of mural guidelines being drafted for the city.
The nine-member Natchez Preservation Commission regulates the location, design, restoration and construction of buildings and fixtures in the city’s historic district to ensure they’re appropriate.
Decorating buildings with outside wall murals is a thorny issue as regulators must decide what’s tasteful and what’s an eyesore, said commission Chairman Andy Sartin.
“It’s a difficult task. It’s not black or white. It’s a challenge,” he said.
City officials and others involved in downtown preservation and redevelopment have been drafting suggested mural regulations that could eventually be adopted by the commission and the Natchez Board of Aldermen.
The commission on Wednesday did approve Buchman’s request to install gas lamps on the front of the old bank. Constructed in 1833, the building is one of the oldest and most architecturally significant landmarks in Natchez. Buchman acquired it last year with his wife and son.
Buchman said the restaurant and bar will open soon after several months of remodeling. “We’re trying to do the right thing. We’re going to do it justice. I think you will be pleased,” he told the Preservation Commission.
Buchman grew up in Brookhaven but has family roots in Natchez where he now lives.
The three murals he wants are to be painted on the side of the neighboring Darby’s building – the former Benoist’s clothing store – and be viewable only by restaurant-bar patrons inside. Buchman said Darby’s owners Dennis and Darby Short have OKed the murals, which would depict historic Natchez scenes and be painted by artist Kate Lee Laird.
While the Preservation Commission didn’t reject the murals, members noted more time is needed to consider the overall guidelines for determining what’ssuitable for public display in Natchez’ historic area.
A mural can look good to some but bad to others.“Art is subjective,” Sartin said.
Downtown Natchez Alliance leader Chesney Doyle and Historic Natchez Foundation Executive Director Carter Burns attended the commission meeting Wednesday. Doyle said murals can bring “a lot of energy” to downtown’s scenery, but special attention is needed to determine what’s right. She said Savannah, Georgia, has mural regulations that Natchez could use as a model.
Burns said he’s pinpointed buildings, courtyards and alleys in the Natchez historic district where murals could be allowed if the Preservation Commission approves the specific artwork.
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