In 1980 the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District was listed with the National Register of Historic Places. This was the first area in Hattiesburg to receive that recognition. Currently, there are five historic districts in Hattiesburg: Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District, North Main Street Historic District, Newman-Buschman Railroad Historic District, Parkhaven Historic District, and The Oaks Historic District.
In 1994 The North Main Street Historic District was created by the City of Hattiesburg. Homes within the five districts are protected by the City. Any remodeling and general maintenance work within the five local conservation districts requires approval from the Historic Conservation Commission. A copy of the Application for Certificate of Appropriateness can be downloaded here. You may also download the City of Hattiesburg Permit Application here. Design Guidelines must be followed and you can download that manual here.
In 1994 The North Main Street Historic District was created by the City of Hattiesburg. Homes within the five districts are protected by the City. Any remodeling and general maintenance work within the five local conservation districts requires approval from the Historic Conservation Commission. A copy of the Application for Certificate of Appropriateness can be downloaded here. You may also download the City of Hattiesburg Permit Application here. Design Guidelines must be followed and you can download that manual here.
The formation of The North Main Historic Neighborhood Association was started on September 10, 1996. The founding members were Edna Hutchinson, Jeanette Coleman, Iola Williams, Cynthia Hill, and Jane Pigott.
The North Main Historic Neighborhood Association is an association that encompasses the North Main Street Historic District.
Why Neighborhoods Organize
There are many different reasons why neighborhoods organize. Some of the most common reasons include:
- To address a particular concern: Many neighborhoods become organized when a particular concern emerges in which they can rally around. Residents of the neighborhood will get together to discuss problems and come up with solutions. As an association, members can work together to resolve the issue and use the many people resources already available within their neighborhood.
- To empower residents: Some organizers believe the only reason to organize is for power. Power is the ability to act and with it comes a responsibility to the community. When neighborhoods organize, they acquire power by joining together to accomplish something.
- To build community: Organizing to build community means improving your neighborhood’s ability to act and organize the diverse skills of its residents. Residents want to become better neighbors by getting to know each other and helping each other out. Whether it is exchanging skills, such as cooking dinner for a neighbor one night in exchange for having him/her run some errands for you, activities such as these enhance the sense of community.