Legacy: The Myers Park Story begins with the following:  “The Myers Park story is far larger than Charlotte, North Carolina.  It is a seminal story of the early craft of town and landscape planning in America...  In the mid 1800s ‘park’ was a new word for Americans.”   Wide streets, parks and broad front yards guaranteed the permanence of the open spaces in Myers Park.  Preserving the original intent of this vision is as critical to Myers Park today as it was when it was first conceived.  To that end, yearly, the MPHA recognizes homeowners who make improvements to existing homes that keep within the original vision for the neighborhood.  These homeowner renovate or make additions to their homes in a way that honors the original intent of the planners and maintains a scale appropriate to the homes around them.  By doing this, they preserve the green space that gives Myers Park its “park-like” feel.

The Myers Park Homeowners Association presented the 2003 MPHA Preservation Awards for renovations and additions to five homes at their annual meeting at the Duke Mansion on Wednesday evening, April 7, 2004. Cameron Furr, president of the Homeowner’s Association, noted that “The awards this year highlight the exceptional and imaginative improvements being made to houses in Myers Park as well as the variety of housing found in our neighborhood.  Each house receiving an award underscores how successfully our older houses can be renovated and improved while supporting the integrity of the Myers Park plan.”

 Awards were presented in two categories.  The first, for renovations of existing homes, were presented for the following three homes:

 Dennis and Sheila Hood – 1137 Queens Road West – On a street that has faced increasing amounts of “tear-downs”, architect Kent Lineberger worked with the family to restore this elegant 1925 home and grounds to its former glory.  The vast renovation virtually created a new home from the inside out, adding modern conveniences and  creating livable spaces while retaining the historic integrity of this classic home on a prominent site.

Flavius and Gigi Taylor – 1726 Amherst Place – This 1928 bungalow has been lovingly restored and adapted with the assistance of architect Adi Mistri.  Underneath aluminum siding, the owners found the original siding well preserved, and were able to restore the exterior of the home. Inside they kept all the original doors and moldings.  An open family area has been created in the back of the house in the spirit of the Arts and Crafts style of the original home.

Dan Phillips and Celeste Holden-Phillips – 2149 Sherwood Avenue – This home, built in 1928, was the long-time home of noted local Charlotte architect, A. G. Odell, Jr.   It had good bones, but needed updating and a complete interior renovation.  Owner and designer Celeste Holden-Phillips has created new spaces that complement the original design yet work for today’s lifestyles.  The repairs to the exterior stucco and a new roof have brought the home back to its baronial lodge appearance.

The second category recognizes additions to existing homes, and awards were presented for the following:

 Jon and Deion Martin – 2101 Beverly Drive – Architect Peter Tart designed a first floor master suite in an addition that ties in wonderfully with the existing stucco home by matching the steep roof lines, window and louver trim in a picturesque composition. The addition is sited to maintain two large willow oaks and used special foundations to minimize damage to the trees.

 Michael and Marsha Gaspari – 301 Hermitage Road – The owners of this home spent over two years researching Dutch Colonial homes before adding a two story addition containing a family room, updated kitchen and breakfast room on the first floor with a master suite on the second floor.  Architect Don Duffy shared the owner’s vision and duplicated cedar shakes, custom moldings, and many other features of the original home, even down to replicating the original glass knobs!  The addition ties in seamlessly with the original house.