Historic Preservation Commission approves local designation for 416 West Wooster

The Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission unanimously voted March 20 to designate 416 West Wooster as a local historic property and building.

The designation was proposed after an owner-nominated application by trustee Anissa Miller and a staff-submitted property inventory. Tom Vatsburger, a Bowling Green resident and local attorney speaking for the trustee, told the commission the project approved by City Council and the Planning Commission envisions refurbishing the building "to bring it back to its original appearance in terms of architecture." The commission moved to approve the nomination and will forward the recommendation to city council; the council and planning commission will hold further hearings before a final local-designation ordinance is adopted.

The house, described in the application as at least 50 years old and roughly 80 years old in the commission packet, was identified in the nomination as one of Bowling Green's early hospitals and was associated in local records with a Dr. Andrew Manville. Vatsburger said the trustee plans to refurbish the property and pursue rehabilitation that is architecturally compatible with the neighborhood; he also said the trustee may pursue state-level designation and preservation rehabilitation tax credits. "We think [the application] meets all the criteria and the parameters of your commission," Vatsburger said.

Anissa Miller, who identified herself as trustee and owner, said she "personally believe[s] that the historic significance of the building is well known to all of you and probably speaks for itself" and thanked staff and commission members who helped prepare the nomination materials.

Heather Sailor, staff, confirmed the application packet includes the February 10 written request for designation and a property inventory with photographs and a map showing the property adjacent to the existing North Maple historic overlay zone.

Will Rodebush moved to approve the local historic designation for 416 West Wooster; the motion was seconded and carried by unanimous voice vote. The commission chair said the nomination will be placed on the city council docket in the coming months and that the council will send the matter to planning commission for review and another public hearing before final action.

The commission discussed that the property meets the HPC's criteria requiring more than two of the listed historic points in the HPC ordinance and that the owner intends rehabilitation rather than demolition. The commission did not set a schedule for the city council hearing.

The commission's approval is a recommendation to city council; final local historic overlay zoning will require subsequent council and planning commission hearings.