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Board continues First United Methodist Church tower application, urges stabilization and grant exploration
Summary
HARB continued the partial-demolition application for the west tower of First United Methodist Church (118 King St.) to Nov. 21 and urged short-term stabilization (steel framing, tarping, repointing) while the applicant prepares structural and reconstruction plans and pursues grants.
The Historic Architectural Review Board on Oct. 17 continued consideration of a partial-demolition and possible reconstruction application for the west tower at First United Methodist Church (118 King Street) after staff and the applicant provided an initial condition-assessment report and discussion revealed a need for more pictorial and engineering detail.
Staff said the applicant had submitted a structural assessment the morning of the meeting and that the tower’s upper portion may be structurally compromised. The applicant’s contractor, Freddie Restrepo of Archon Builders, requested time to assemble photos and plans. Board members debated whether repointing, internal steel framing, or temporary ledgering could stabilize the tower long enough for grant funding and a full reconstruction plan.
Several board members stressed that public-safety concerns could justify immediate mitigation but that wholesale demolition should be a last resort. Members recommended short-term stabilization (steel angle/ledger, temporary roofing or wrap) to stop water intrusion and prevent further deterioration and urged the applicant to explore preservation grants and emergency city funding as possible sources for reconstruction. The board continued the item to the Nov. 21 meeting to allow submission of detailed stabilization and reconstruction proposals.
