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Commission advances Bodecker Rathstatter House nomination; Housing Authority outlines rehousing plan
Summary
The commission found reasonable cause for the Bodecker Rathstatter House and recommended it to city council. The Housing Authority described plans to rehabilitate the property into four one‑bedroom units for transition‑age youth with project‑based vouchers and on‑site training opportunities.
The Erie Historic Preservation Commission voted to find reasonable cause that the Bodecker Rathstatter House at 357–359 East 10th Street meets local historic landmark criteria and unanimously recommended the nomination to City Council.
Matthew, planning staff, presented the duplex property’s history and argued it exemplifies early‑20th century housing patterns in Erie, noting the structure originally contained a doctor’s residence and a boarding house and later housed small businesses. "This building is now kind of the anchor," Matthew said, describing the property’s unusual lot size and surviving historic details such as wood trim and original one‑over‑one window openings.
Representatives from the Housing Authority of the City of Erie told the commission they plan to partner with the building owner on a rehabilitation project. Dusty Dennis, executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Erie, said the proposal would create four one‑bedroom apartments for transition‑age youth ages 18 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, attach project‑based rental assistance to those units, and provide employment training using an on‑site commercial kitchen. "He has used that kitchen to provide meals to families who are in need...He wants nothing more than to give back to his community," Dennis said of the building owner, and added the authority will "show them the housing authority will project based vouchers there so they will have rental assistance attached to those apartments and we will work with them on how to become a good tenant."
Commissioners discussed interior condition and preservation of woodwork; Housing Authority representatives said original woodwork that is in good shape would be preserved where feasible. After discussion a commissioner moved that the commission find reasonable cause that the property conveys significance under criteria A and C and retains sufficient historic integrity; the motion was seconded, carried without recorded opposition, and a subsequent motion recommending the nomination to City Council also passed.
The nomination will now proceed to City Council for its review; the Housing Authority said it has already invested in architectural drawings and intends to preserve the building’s exterior while renovating the interior for residential and training uses.
