Helping Save Buckhead Barn

Last week, a forwarded email landed in my inbox. A local kid, 13 year old Alek Woback, was looking for assistance in creating a web site to raise awareness and ultimately help save a local treasure ... The Buckhead Barn.

Buckhead Barn is a 72 year old farm located smack dab in the middle of Buckhead in Atlanta. I will wager most of Atlanta doesn't know that a horse farm offering English saddle riding and polo lessons exists on one of the last patches of green real estate in the middle of the most expensive neighborhood in the entire city. The Barn is family-owned and exudes a rustic charm unequaled for it's friendliness.  And, as it happens, my wife has been learning how to ride there for the past year and a half; so, I am well acquainted with the farm.

The story begins with a lawsuit. The barn was operating under a Home Occupation Business License issued by the City of Atlanta. Their license was recently withdrawn by the BZA (Board of Zoning Adjustment — the name alone gives you the impression that zoning is "adjusted" on a political whim) for violations of their Home Occupation status. Which is curious considering any idiot would have to assume the City of Atlanta must have recommended the exact type of license that was required to board horses on a farm when the barn applied for their original license. The impetus for the lawsuit came from a single neighbor who had her undies in a bunch over the "aesthetics" of the farm - apparently, she is upset the Barn doesn't resemble Churchill Downs. She managed to recruit a handful of wealthy neighbors and together they sued the barn alleging that they didn't like the "smell". And, at least one charged that her inability to sell her massive luxury home in the worst housing market in decades was the direct consequence of the barn's mere existence.  Somehow, it was the fault of the beautiful horses living across the street that their homes have lost value. Not the economy, not rampant over-development, not their ridiculously over-priced homes, not Bush policies, but the horses. All of the people who filed the lawsuit purchased their homes long after the barn began operation and, here's the rub, some of their children had even taken riding lessons there. Lovely neighbors to have, to be sure. 

The fact is that the City of Atlanta found the barn in violation of a license it granted. So, yes, these neighbors have a case. However, this lawsuit would have NEVER happened if these neighbors were not actively looking for a means to put the barn out of business. The question that needs to be asked is, "why was the barn suddenly found in violation of a license the City granted in good faith?" and, "what role did Councilwoman Clair Muller play in the zoning "adjustment"?" We are not talking about shutting down a crack house ... We are talking about forcing a farm to close that has been the home for beautiful, intelligent animals who work for a living by teaching kids (and adults) to respect animals, nature, and themselves.

The Barn has spent well over 150 thousand dollars defending it's right to exist against people who will stop at nothing and spend as much as it takes to shut the farm down for good. The City of Atlanta has taken a hard line against the zoning of the farm due to Councilwoman Clair Muller's support for the neighbors. Draw your own conclusions, but it isn't beyond the realm of possibility that these neighbors are party campaign contributors.  You have to love our system of politics ... force a local business to close and deprive the entire community of a local treasure simply to please a bunch of self-serving, self-interested rich friends.

I'm not a delicate person and this kind of dishonest and downright dirty "crap" really sets my blood boiling. Our communities and our society deserve better than the representation of a political hack and the entitlement of a handful of wealthy [insert explitive]'s.

I responded almost immediately with an offer to help out.

SaveBuckheadBarn.com is a robust site with ALL the bells and whistles of our favorite CMS, Expression Engine. Alek and all the people who care about preserving the Barn for future generations now have a highly functional platform from which to shout from. The Barn is owned and operated by good people for the benefit of the entire community and everyone who is associated with the barn is determined to find a means of keeping the barn operating. Please stop by and give them the support they deserve.

As for me, I am happy I had the opportunity to lend a hand.

Update: Buckhead Barn has been closed. At the request of the owner, the SaveBuckheadBarn.com web site has been removed.  We will eventually be posting screen shots as a "Case Study", stay tuned.