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Historic Preservation Commission reviews CLG agreement, awaits federal grant funds, and notes 309 East Fifth demolition approval
Summary
The Newton Historic Preservation Commission reviewed a five-year Certified Local Government (CLG) agreement, learned the city received a Historic Preservation Fund award (release of federal funds pending), and was updated that the City Commission approved demolition of 309 East Fifth following the HPC's earlier denial.
The Newton Historic Preservation Commission met July 7 and reviewed updates on the city's Certified Local Government (CLG) agreement, a state Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) award for a digital walking tour, and the status of a demolition request for 309 East Fifth.
Staff reported the CLG agreement, which allows the city to carry out certain state-preservation reviews, comes due about every five years; staff reviewed the agreement and said an appendix authorizing certain administrative approvals (for example, quick like-for-like roof replacements downtown) remains appropriate. The agreement will be reviewed by the City Commission the following day.
Staff said the city was notified it received a HPF award intended to expand the downtown digital walking tour and add audio/story content and multilingual materials. "We were awarded the grant. It's a little over $15,000," staff said in the meeting packet presentation, and staff described a match made up largely of city staff time. However, staff also noted that although Congress has allocated the federal funds, the State Historic Preservation Office has not yet received a release of those funds; the award letter in the packet is tentative until the funds are released.
Staff described an outreach plan for the project, naming the city's CVB/Main Street coordinator John Layman as a local lead to work with community groups and historical volunteers; staff said some content will be produced in Spanish and the platform will be expandable for future stories.
The commission was also briefed on 309 East Fifth. The commission had denied a demolition application at a prior meeting; staff reported the City Commission subsequently approved the demolition and the state was notified under the required review procedures. Staff said the property is HUD-owned and that the City Commission expressed interest in the land bank purchasing the lot should HUD sell the property in the future. Any site rebuild after demolition would have to meet the McKinley design standards and return to the commission for review.
The commission took no regulatory action on the CLG agreement at the meeting; staff said they would present the document to the mayor and City Commission for final sign-off.
