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Board and city discuss Vos building condemnation and local preservation concerns
Summary
Board members and staff discussed the VOS building, noting historic value raised by local historians, limited owner responsiveness, insurance challenges and that the city is awaiting legal guidance before council action on condemnation.
Board members and staff discussed the VOS building’s condition, historic significance and potential condemnation. Several members and local historians have reached out to the owner with limited success, and staff said the city is awaiting a legal memo before the council weighs in.
"I would just ask that we we don't, we take that seriously," Jerry Winter said, noting the building "has a lot of history here" and urging the city to consider preservation concerns before demolition or heavy-handed action. Board members said they had provided the owner’s contact information to local historians Steve Plute and Linda Allred so the owner could be approached about remedial options.
A staff member reported an insurance inspection found multiple deficiencies that would make the building difficult to insure; at least one speaker described at least "10 reasons why they wouldn't insure the building." The board and staff said they had attempted to contact the owner repeatedly over several years without adequate response.
A city representative told the board that the city "has not made a decision on the VOS building. We are waiting for legal guidance before council even weighs in." Members said they had discussed possible preservation avenues and urged outreach to the owner and local historians before taking irreversible action.
No condemnation decision was made at the meeting; staff said the next steps depend on the city attorney’s forthcoming memo and further outreach to the owner and local preservation groups.
