Commission nominates Vassar Warner Home at 52 South Hamilton for historic designation

The Historic District Landmark Preservation Commission on Thursday voted to nominate the Vassar Warner Home at 52 South Hamilton Street for designation as a historic property, advancing the application to the next step in the city review process.

The nomination drew brief public comment in favor before the commission opened and then closed the public hearing and took a nomination vote. Holly Wahlberg, a local historian and resident of 35 Garfield Place, told the commission the nomination “was submitted in early October” and noted the nomination “has been posted 4 times on the city's website now, as well as the, legally noticed public hearing on December 12.”

Why it matters: Landmark designation begins the formal review that can lead to preservation protections and guide future work on the building. Commission members said they will notify the applicant about the next procedural steps after the nomination vote.

At the public hearing, Laurie Sandoff, a South Grand Avenue resident, urged support: “These gems are worth preserving,” she said, asking the commission to “please vote in the affirmative.” After the hearing was closed, a commission motion to nominate 52 South Hamilton Street for landmark designation was seconded and approved. The commission indicated the applicant will receive information about the next step in the designation process.

Details and process notes: Commissioners opened the public hearing, heard support from two residents, then closed the hearing and moved to the nomination vote. The commission did not record a roll-call vote on the record for this item; the chair announced the motion carried and that staff would contact the applicant about next steps.

The nomination will proceed to the subsequent procedural review described to the applicant; the commission did not adopt preservation guidelines or conditions at the nomination step.