Research indicated the building had little, if any, historic value. Nonetheless, the Historic Review Board reported to the county Land Use Department that the bank hadn't tried hard enough to save the school building and made the bank promise to create a display describing the school's history in its new lobby. That is outrageous. Review board members realize they can't stop development. But they know that by using their power to delay projects for up to nine months, they have developers at a disadvantage.
Delays mean money, and so builders often cave in, even when they are right.
Mr. Gordon has called this extortion, and he's right. Mr. Gordon has publicly suggested a one-month limit to review board delays while projects are researched. That's ridiculous, which Mr. Gordon privately concedes. But the nine-month period is equally burdensome. Four months would make sense.