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Council approves Mills Act contract for 432 West Brookdale Place with a two‑year deadline for exterior repairs
Summary
Council approved a Mills Act historic‑property contract for a 1927 English cottage at 432 West Brookdale Place that will reduce property taxes by an estimated $1,225 per year in exchange for approximately $58,600 in preservation work; owners asked for flexibility on timing of stucco repair and the council allowed a two‑year completion window.
The council approved a Mills Act contract for the historic single‑family residence at 432 West Brookdale Place, accepting a rehabilitation and maintenance plan that commits the owner to roughly $58,600 of preservation work and estimating the city’s annual property tax revenue loss at about $1,225.
Associate planner Benjamin Koff reviewed Mills Act eligibility criteria, the required 10‑year rolling contract term and the rehabilitation standards drawn from the Secretary of the Interior. Staff said the property qualifies as an English cottage/storybook‑style residence built in 1927 and that some non‑historic alterations reduce the home's architectural integrity.
The homeowners requested that required stucco repair and exterior painting be scheduled within the early years of the Ten‑Year contract rather than as an immediate precondition. The council discussed equity across applicants for a limited Mills Act quota and several members said the program is designed as an incentive for stewardship rather than a renovation subsidy. Council ultimately voted to approve the Mills Act contract while allowing up to two years for the required exterior work to be completed to the department’s satisfaction.
Votes: the motion to adopt the resolution passed in roll call; one council member recorded a no vote on a procedural point during finalization. The contract will be recorded against the property and staff will monitor compliance with annual reporting requirements.
