Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic designation hearing draws broad support for 1607 State Street property
Summary
After a public hearing, council heard robust testimony supporting the nomination to list the former Menacor/Manicore building at 1607 State Street as a city historic landmark; staff recommended designation and community speakers praised owner investment but urged that the site's full racial history be acknowledged.
The Erie City Council held a public hearing May 6 on a nomination to designate the former Menacor (Manicor/Manacore spelled in the record) building at 1607 State Street as a city historic landmark. City cultural‑resource staff briefed council on the nomination and a multi‑step review process and said both the Historic Review Commission (HRC) and the Planning Commission recommended designation.
Matthew Falconee, the city’s cultural resource manager, summarized the building’s architectural features, cornerstone dates and long use by German‑speaking immigrant singing and cultural societies. He said staff’s 2025 architectural survey recommended nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and the HRC found the property met multiple local criteria, including cultural history, design, and community prominence. The nomination covers the building and the adjacent parcel, which formerly included an outdoor beer garden lost to a flood.
Owner Julio Rees (Reyes family name also appears in testimony) and several residents, community leaders and neighbors testified in favor of designation and described lengthy, owner‑funded restoration work to rehabilitate interior and exterior features. Supporters stressed the building’s local cultural significance and commended the owner’s investment and stewardship.
Council members voiced broad support for designation but several—most notably Council Member Horton—urged that any historic interpretation include the building’s full history, including past discriminatory membership practices, so that the record recognizes both the architecture and the social context. Council members said they were inclined to approve the designation and to ensure interpretive materials tell a complete history.
What’s next: The public hearing record is closed; council will act on the nomination according to the city’s ordinance process and staff said more information requested by council would be provided as needed. If formally designated, the property’s owner would retain responsibilities that come with city historic landmark status and could pursue grant opportunities tied to preservation.
