historic resources Commission
Agenda MEETING – January 18, 2007, 6:30 pm
ACTION SUMMARY DRAFT
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Commissioners present: Veatch, Marvin, Sizemore, Alstrom, and Antle
Staff present: Zollner, Wagner
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ITEM NO. 3: DR-09-112-06 1019 Kentucky Street; Demolition; Certified Local Government Review and Certificate of Appropriateness Review. The property is located in the environs of the Charles and Adeline Duncan House (933 Tennessee), the George and Annie Bell House (1008 Ohio), the Dr. Frederick D. Morse House (1044 Tennessee), Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places, and the Colonel James and Eliza Blood House (1015 Tennessee) National Register of Historic Places and Lawrence Register of Historic Places. Submitted by Ellen LeCompte, the property owner of record.
Item No. 3 was moved to the end of the agenda because the applicant was not immediately present
Staff presented photographs of the exterior and interior of the structure, and the streetscape of the 1000 Block of Kentucky Street.
The applicant, Ellen LeCompte, was present and available to answer any questions. She noted two new documents: a report from Mike Goans and a structural engineer’s report. Ms. LeCompte also said that she had three feet of the plaster removed in order to try to determine extent of termite damage.
Ms. LeCompte said she had talked to Katrina Ringler at the State Historic Preservation Office about tax credits for repair of the structure at 1019 Kentucky. Ms. Ringler specified reasons why the tax credits could be revoked if repair was chosen.
Commissioner Alstrom asked the applicant how long she has owned the property. Ms. LeCompte has owned the property for approximately six months.
Commissioner Veatch asked the applicant if she was interested in pursuing a replacement structure. Ms. LeCompte said that after watching another Commission item she would not want to go to the work. Ms. LeCompte said she knew the Commission would most likely deny her demolition request. Commissioner Veatch responded that they would be more likely to approve the request if a replacement was proposed.
No member of the public spoke on this item.
Ms. Zollner said that after making a staff inspection of the property following the removal of the siding and plaster, staff’s recommendation would have been demolition if a replacement structure was proposed. Ms. Zollner also noted repair work had been done that jeopardized the structural integrity of the structure, probably during the 1950’s. She clarified concerns from State Historic Preservation Office about tax credits. The SHPO can only approve tax credits for rehabilitation, not wholesale replacement of historic materials. The extensive removal of materials can change a rehabilitation project to a replacement project.
Commissioner Antle asked how often revoking tax credit approval has occurred. Ms. Zollner responded that it is rare, but has happened.
Commissioner Antle emphasized that the problem presented by the current application for demolition stems to the Commission’s long standing policy about not approving demolition without a replacement structure. He noted two options for the Commission: to change their long standing policy or to have the applicant appeal to the City Commission.
Commissioner Marvin said she advocates following the Environs Review Standards and Guidelines, which includes not recommending demolitions without a replacement structure. Commissioner Sizemore said it is very difficult to determine at what point a structure becomes non-salvageable.
Ms. Zollner said the Commission could forward a letter to the City Commission that outlined the reasons why they denied the application and that the applicant had provided complete information.
ACTION TAKEN
Motioned by Sizemore, second by Antle, to deny the Certified Local Government Review and Certificate of Appropriateness Review for demolition to the structure located at 1019 Kentucky Street as presented, based on a determination that it will encroach upon, damage or destroy any listed property or its environs.
Motion carried unanimously, 5-0.