Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services

TO:	Brian Jimenez, Code Enforcement Manager
FROM:	Lynne Braddock Zollner, Historic Resources Administrator
CC:	Scott McCullough, Director PDS Sheila Stogsdill, Assistant Director Planning
DATE:	May 8, 2012
RE:	1106 Rhode Island Street

I. Project/Item Description.  1106 Rhode Island Street is a contributing structure to the North Rhode Island Street Residential Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The Lawrence City Commission passed Resolution 6964 to establish a time and place for a public hearing to determine if the property should be condemned and ordered repaired or demolished as unsafe or dangerous.  The HRC was asked to comment on the potential to repair or demolish the structures located at 1106 Rhode Island Street.  The HRC was not asked to conduct the required reviews under the State Preservation Law or Chapter 22 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, nor was the HRC asked to prejudge such required reviews if a permit request to repair or demolish is forthcoming. 

II. HRC Findings.  At their meeting on April 19, 2012, the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission concurred with staff’s evaluation that the property located at 1106 Rhode Island Street has a rich history that is significant to the history of the City of Lawrence and made the following findings of fact:

1. The main structure and large barn structure located at 1106 Rhode Island Street retain sufficient integrity to continue to be contributing properties to the North Rhode Island Street Residential Historic District. 

2. The enclosed rear porch addition on the main structure is in a severely deteriorated state and can be removed without harming the architectural integrity of the listed structure.

3. The garage structure cannot be fully evaluated at this time due to the amount of storage materials located in the structure.  The parts of the structure that are visible are severely deteriorated. If this structure was to be rehabilitated it may in fact be a recreation and not a rehabilitation due to the amount of replacement material that would be required to rehabilitate the structure. 

4. When evaluating the cost of the rehabilitation of the property, the rehabilitation tax credit programs should be considered.   

5. Rehabilitation of significant historic properties, like the structures located at 1106 Rhode Island Street, is always preferred to demolition.  Demolition of historic structures is rarely positive for a neighborhood because it destroys the relationships between the structures, landscape features, and open space, and as a result the overall character of the area is diminished.  Rehabilitation retains structures and their relationship to listed properties and the environs of the listed properties.  If demolition is approved, it removes the opportunity for a future owner to rehabilitate the existing structures.