Whitney Terrace residents seek repeal of local historic designation, citing cost and scarcity of craftsmen

Residents of the Whitney Terrace area told the council March 17 they are seeking removal of local historic-district status for a small group of homes because the designation’s requirements make repairs expensive and difficult to execute.

One resident who identified her address as 416 Whitney said she had lived in the neighborhood nearly 40 years and that “it’s become too expensive to maintain this stuff.” Another resident said several homeowners in the cul-de-sac prefer to restore their homes “but it might have to be different materials,” and that the district’s strict rules have made preservation costs unaffordable in practice.

Planning staff told the council the ordinance on the upcoming agenda would repeal the designation; if the council approves the ordinance it would de-designate the local historic district as requested by the property owners. Staff also clarified that the historic-preservation commission is advisory and the council may take its recommendation into account but is not bound by it.

Speakers asked whether grants or technical support had been made available through the commission; residents said such assistance had not been available or sufficient. One resident noted that precedent exists for other neighborhoods where designation parameters were modified or removed, and argued that de-designation would allow homeowners to repair and maintain their properties without the higher costs and limited availability of specialized materials and craftsmen.

The council did not vote on the de-designation at the pre-council meeting; staff indicated the ordinance to repeal the Whitney Terrace designation will appear on the council agenda for formal consideration.