Divided thought on a 16’ statue

A 30-minute discussion on whether a 16’ statue would fit inside Seneca’s historic district was inconclusive.  And, at the urging of the presiding chairman, the city Board of Architectural Review tabled an application on behalf of the Dimas Brothers’ restaurant on S. Fairplay Street.  Only three of the five board members were present last night, and it was felt the matter deserves a further airing out in a special meeting to be attended by a fourth or fifth member.  Property owner Jim Rowe introduced the idea of a stainless-steel statue in the form of a fork as a memorial to the damage inflicted when an EF3 tornado hit Seneca three years ago making a direct hit on the back door of the restaurant.  Rowe believes the impact taken by the restaurant deflected greater damage that could have been felt in an apartment complex across the street.  Among the board’s three present members were questions of whether the statue would amount to a sign, a memorial, or a work of art. Caroline Davis, who described herself as a next-door neighbor to Dimas Brothers Café, said she believes the statue should have no place in the historic district populated by some of Seneca’s oldest single-family homes.  Questions raised last night appeared to frustrate property owner Rowe, who admitted he might simply withdraw his application.