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Commission approves demolition plan for 565 East Broad Street, transcript records show tally ambiguity
Summary
Commissioners approved demolition of a long-vacant building at 565 East Broad Street after debate about preservation policy and a prior site agreement; the transcript records an unclear vote tally, which staff and applicants should confirm in minutes and paperwork.
The Downtown Commission moved to approve an application to demolish a long-vacant commercial building at 565 East Broad Street, with applicants saying the lot will be backfilled and secured and that the property is being marketed for sale.
City staff described the building—constructed in the 1960s and used as an automobile service center until about 2006—and noted the application included a site plan, condition photos and environmental and asbestos assessments. Staff reminded the commission that downtown code requires review of proposed replacement uses or a plan to maintain property prior to demolition permit issuance; the current application included no replacement use.
Bill Johnson and Ken Martinson, representing Liberty Mutual, told the commission the building has been vacant for roughly 20 years, that an underground storage tank was removed in the 1980s and that the company plans to backfill the building footprint with aggregate and secure the lot by chaining and locking entrances. "We don't have plans to use it for additional parking," Ken Martinson said, adding the lot is being marketed for a future buyer to determine long-term use.
Commissioners discussed preservation norms versus pragmatic site conditions and noted a prior parking-lot swap with a developer (Incova) that included demolition as part of negotiated development. A motion to approve demolition was moved, seconded and put to a vote; the chair announced a tally but the transcript contains inconsistent phrasing when stating the count. The chair read a number verbally and at one point said "5 to 1," but portions of the recorded exchange about who voted how are unclear in the transcript. Commissioners thanked the applicant and staff and the commission closed the item with approval announced in the meeting.
Because the meeting transcript records inconsistent vote wording, the official minutes should be consulted for the formal recorded tally and any conditions attached to demolition permit issuance.
