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Council authorizes staff to prepare demolition resolution for Marycliff after yearlong preservation effort
Summary
After a year of effort to find alternatives, staff said the order‑owning Marianist province insisted on either selling the entire property or relocating the Marycliff residence; council authorized staff to begin a resolution to issue the demolition permit, with one council member voting no.
The planning and parks department told the council it had spent roughly a year pursuing options to preserve Marycliff, a historic residence on the Marianist Retreat Center property. Staff said the province that owns the retreat center told the city last year the municipality had two options: buy the entire property (which staff described as impractical) or accept the house and move it elsewhere. Staff and private-sector volunteers pursued private efforts to save the house but reported no viable solutions by the department’s deadline.
The department said the Historic Preservation Commission had denied a demolition request previously, and staff had used the time to explore alternatives. On March 10 the department asked the council to authorize preparation of a resolution directing the department to issue the demolition permit if no salvage or acquisition deal is finalized during the 30-day notice period; the earliest possible permit issuance would be mid-April.
Council member Mabry moved to approve staff’s recommendation; Council member Jaxi seconded. Council member Rambo said he would vote no, citing personal opposition to demolition. The motion passed; staff noted the 30‑day period would give additional time for private-sector rescue efforts. City staff said private parties are continuing to pursue options but that, under the city’s Historic Preservation and Restoration Code, staff had limited legal alternatives to force preservation absent a willing seller or viable moving option.
Public comments earlier in the meeting included pleas from residents and architectural historians urging preservation and reporting privately identified potential buyers; speakers called Marycliff “irreplaceable” and urged continued efforts to find a buyer.
Staff will prepare a draft resolution and, if no private solution emerges, proceed with the demolition permit after the statutory period.
