Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation Demolition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee forwards historic-property demolition appeal to full council without recommendation
Summary
After extended debate, the committee voted to forward the Jungkook House demolition request to full council without recommendation. Owner representatives said repair would cost over $1,000,000 and presented a $25,000 offer; preservation advocates told the committee they are prepared to rehabilitate the property.
The Business, Housing and Zoning Committee revisited an appeal over a landmarked property (referred to in the record as the Jungkook House) and voted to forward the matter to full council without a committee recommendation.
Rob Skalecke, senior city planner in CPED's historic-preservation team, summarized the history: the item has returned to the committee several times, staff and the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) recommended denial of demolition, and the applicant had sought and received a six-month extension while exploring sale options. Owner counsel Jake Steen said the owner listed the property on MLS in March after community discussions did not produce a viable buyer; he said the building has been on the vacant-building registry and has required repeated boarding and cleanup. Steen stated the owner received a $25,000 offer and believes renovation is economically infeasible — he estimated repair costs would exceed $1,000,000 and argued the city's code permits demolition if repair is not economically feasible.
Council Member Warren and others described community interest in rehabilitation. Warren said a coalition of preservationists, architects and contractors has expressed capacity and willingness to restore the building to meet HPC standards. The city attorney reminded members this is a quasi-judicial matter and that the decision must be based on findings of fact in the record, including the property’s significance, integrity, renovation costs, and feasible alternative uses.
Steen said his client would continue to list the property and would refrain from demolishing the building until July 15 if the demolition permit were issued now; he asked the committee to approve demolition today but commit to continued marketing. The committee voted to move the item to full council without recommendation — a procedural step that advances the matter for a full-council decision rather than approving demolition at committee.
The committee’s action does not itself authorize demolition. Full council will consider the record and the legal standard cited by the city attorney before any final action.
