Geneva council declines to overturn HPC denial of demolition at 4 East State Street
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Summary
After nearly three hours of testimony and debate, the Geneva City Council failed to gather the seven votes needed to reverse the Historic Preservation Commission(HPC) denial of a demolition permit for the Alexander Blacksmith Shop at 4 East State Street. An amendment requiring a 90-day concept plan and a memorial passed 6-4, but the main motion failed 6-4, so the HPC decision stands.
The Geneva City Council on Jan. 12 upheld the Historic Preservation Commission's decision to deny a demolition permit for the stone remnant known historically as the Alexander Blacksmith Shop at 4 East State Street.
Petitioner and property owner David Patzelt told the council he submitted a detailed application that included a plat of survey, chain-of-title documents, cost estimates to rehabilitate the structure and 17 facts he said justified demolition. Patzelt said written submissions in the record and public testimony were divided but, based on his tally, "over 60% of those documents suggest that the structure should be demolished." He offered to deliver a concept redevelopment plan within 90 days and to incorporate a memorial or interpretive element honoring the Blacksmith Shop if the council granted a demolition permit.
Paul Zomer, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, summarized the HPC's findings and the record from the commissionhearing on Dec. 16, 2025. Zomer said the commission reviewed staff reports, testimony and written evidence and concluded the applicant did not meet the burden under Standard 4 of Geneva City Code 10-6-10. The HPC found divided public opinion, no concrete development plan showing demolition was necessary, and a risk of setting a precedent inconsistent with the preservation ordinance. Zomer said the commission's motion to approve demolition had failed unanimously, 7-0.
City Attorney Sandak reminded the council that it was acting in a quasi-appellate capacity and must confine its decision to the evidentiary record before the HPC. He said amendments attaching conditions were procedurally allowable but stressed the primary determination still must be based on the record.
Councilmembers then debated whether the structure retained sufficient historic integrity, whether rehabilitation was reasonably feasible and whether the petitioner had demonstrated that demolition better served the public interest. Alderson Kasarag said the remnant has been significantly altered, lacks integrity and that, in his judgment under GenevaCity Code 10-6-10(b)(4), "the retention of the subject structure is not in the best interest of the majority of the community." Several other alderpersons disagreed, saying the petitioner had not proven alternatives were exhausted and warning that overturning the HPC could weaken preservation standards.
Alderson Mayer moved an amendment to the pending motion to reverse the HPC that would make approval conditional on the developer submitting a conceptual redevelopment plan to city staff within 90 days and agreeing to "pay homage" to the Alexander Blacksmith Shop (for example, by providing remnant stone for a memorial or an interpretive plaque). The amendment was seconded and passed on a roll call vote of 6-4.
Council then voted on the main motion as amended. Final roll call on the main motion recorded six aye votes and four nays; because city code requires seven votes to overturn the HPC's decision, the motion failed. The clerk announced that the minimum required to reverse the HPC was seven, so the council did not reverse the denial and the HPC's denial stands.
During public comment after the vote, a nearby resident asked why fines reportedly exceeding $300,000 had not been enforced; city staff said ordinance language and enforcement history require further review and that some ordinance provisions are located in inapplicable sections and need cleanup.
What happens next: because the council sustained the HPC denial, no demolition permit will issue based on tonight's proceedings. The petitioner said he would submit a concept plan within 90 days if permitted to pursue redevelopment; that offer was recorded as an amendment earlier in the meeting but was not sufficient to change the council's final determination tonight.
Quote: "The retention of the building ... is not in the best interest of the majority of the community," Alderson Kasarag said in explaining his vote in favor of reversal; Paul Zomer said the HPC "acted within its authority following proper procedures and rendered a decision supported by the record."
