1978-08-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4i4 and if the residences are_left City ordinances require them to be boarded up as they will be vacant. He stated he believes that the Board of Architectural Review concluded that demolition would be premature because no plans for the proposed replacing construction can be offered at this time. He stated that the unsightly appearance of two boarded up old homes perched on the side of a raw slope during the interim was very important to the owner since the temporary and permanent appearence of the general area is of extreme concern to the owner. Mr. Sidney Cox, the demolition contractor, stated that the houses would be demolished and the lot graded with the drainage towards Jefferson Street. Mr. Frank Muse, Building Inspector, addressed the Council and briefly explained the requirements and conditions under which a demolition permit would be issued if Council voted to overrule the-Board. He stated that the conditions were: 1. Removal of. all buildings down to and £ncluding base- ment floors; 2. Removal of the black top parking area; 3. Removal of the~old garage and wall to Third Street to allow for slope; 4. Grading and filling basement areas to prevent ponding; 5. Grade differences to at lease one inch to one foot slope; 6. Allowing all trees to remain except those absolutely necessary to remove; 7. Straw bale barriers to be placed around perimeter where there are no walls to prevent erosion; 8. Ail disturbed areas to be seeded; and 9. Site to be watered daily during demolition to minimizing the dust. Mr. Gatewood questioned Mr. Martin and Mr.. Cox as to whether they intend to follow these conditions.. Mr. Martin answered that these conditions would be followed~ Mrs. 0'Brien asked Mr. Martin if he had consideredtoffering~the houses free to anyone ~mo would move them and Mr. Martin answered that they were trying to remove them as quickly as possible. Mrs. Ruth Wadlington, Chairman of the Architectural Review Board, stated that since the Board is charged with prot~ecting the Historic District there was no way they could find that more vacant land on High Street would be helpful, and that they were also concerned that seven months after the Council passed an ordinance permitting the construction of the high rise, an architect has .not been engaged. She stated that the developer does not have a time schedule, but the Board members thought that a~year was realistic. She also disagreed that the houses would have to be boarded up and also that the buildings would have to remai~ vacant_. She thinks that they could be rented even for a short period of time. The Board is.also concerned with the vitality of the Historic District and does not think that vacant land contributes to that. She stated that the Board stands willing to work with .the developer on this project and wishes these houses could, stay.until the plans are more fully developed.