Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

TO:	David Corliss Debbie Van Saun
FROM:	Lynne Braddock Zollner
CC:	Sheila Stogsdill
Date:	April 27, 2006
RE:	May 2, 2006, Agenda Item

Please include the following memo with the information provided by Neighborhood Resources for the item on 429 Indiana Street on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the May 2 meeting.

Project History

At their meeting on March 16, 2006 the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) denied the proposed demolition request for the structure located at 429 Indiana Street.  The subject property is located in the environs of the Pinckney I and Pinckney II Historic Districts, National Register of Historic Places. This application (DR-12-110-05) was reviewed in accordance with the protective measures of the Kansas Historic Preservation Act (K.S.A. 75-2715-75-2725, as amended) that requires the review of projects for their effect on properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Specifically, the project was reviewed using the Standards and Guidelines for Evaluating the Effect of Projects on Environs. The HRC found that the project, as proposed, does not meet the required standards and guidelines.  In addition, the HRC did not believe that the applicant had addressed the concerns of staff and the HRC to mitigate, to the greatest extent possible, the loss of the structure.  The HRC, acting on behalf of the State Historic Preservation Office, typically requires a structural analysis of the structure to be demolished, cost of rehabilitation verses replacement, and new construction plans. 

The applicant appealed the decision of the HRC to the City Commission in accordance with K.S.A. 75-2715-75-2725, as amended.  The City Commission asked staff to provide the required information to enable the City Commission to make the final determination based on a consideration of all relevant factors.

Project Status City Staff conducted site visits to 429 Indiana Street on April 14^th and 18^th.  Adrian Jones, Neighborhood Resources, prepared the structural analysis.  Mike Goans, independent contractor, also prepared an analysis. The Historic Resources Administrator agrees with the findings of both reports.  The structure is beyond rehabilitation that would provide any preservation of historic materials. Staff is of the opinion that based on all of the relevant factors, including the structural analysis and the cost estimate, that there is no feasible or prudent alternative to the demolition of the existing structure and that all planning has been done to minimize the impact on the listed properties.

Staff Recommendation Planning staff recommends that the City Commission continue the public hearing and make a determination based on a consideration of all relevant factors that there is not a feasible and prudent alternative to the proposal and that the program includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the listed properties.