The Lawrence City Commission on May 20 found no feasible and prudent alternative to the proposed demolition of a structurally failing house at 1007 Rhode Island Street and authorized the property’s removal after staff and state review.

Lynn Braddock Zollner, historic resources administrator, told the commission the roughly 1900-era house in East Lawrence has significant architectural value but is in a condition that staff and the city’s code official deemed unsafe. "There really is no way, to effectively save this structure," Zollner said, summarizing the structural report included in the staff packet.

Because the property sits in a historic district context, state preservation law review was required before issuing a demolition permit. The State Historic Preservation Office conducted the required review and concluded that demolition would ‘‘damage the historic resource’’ but that state law allows demolition if the governing body finds there are no feasible and prudent alternatives and that all planning to minimize harm has been performed. Zollner said staff had engaged preservation professionals and reviewed potential options but concluded that any realistic “save” would effectively amount to constructing a new building rather than preserving historic fabric.

Patrick Watkins, representing property owners Troy and Marcy Wallen, said the owners contracted preservation specialists and architects and had explored rehabilitation. "If there was a chance to save this 1, it would have been done," Watkins said. "It's unfortunately, needs to be demoed. It's not safe at this point." The applicant also noted plans to replace the house with a single-family home consistent with the streetscape; the proposed replacement would undergo Historic Resources Commission review.

After the quasi-judicial hearing and a motion to find no feasible and prudent alternatives, the commission voted unanimously 5-0 to accept staff’s recommendation and adopt the finding needed to allow the demolition under state preservation law. Vice Mayor Finkeldei moved the finding; Commissioner Littlejohn seconded.

Distinguishing discussion from decision: staff’s presentation and the applicant’s statements were part of the public hearing record for the state preservation review. The commission’s formal, recorded action was the finding that there were no feasible and prudent alternatives and that "all possible planning has been done to reduce the overall harm to the historic property." That finding, as required by state law, permits the permit and demolition to proceed.

Timing and next steps: staff said the property owners anticipate building a single-family house on the lot and will submit design and a Certificate of Approval to the Historic Resources Commission for review of the replacement structure. The demolition decision does not automatically approve a specific new design — replacement review and required permits remain.

The commission and staff emphasized the decision was narrowly drawn to address immediate safety concerns and the applicable requirements of state preservation law.