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Commission approves deconstruction of deteriorating barn; applicant cited high rebuild cost
Summary
George Ramirez of Immersion Outfitters received approval May 6 to deconstruct a failing barn on his property after describing extensive rot and a contractor's estimate that rebuilding would cost in the low hundreds of thousands; the commission approved the request with staff stipulations.
The Historic and Design Review Commission voted May 6 to approve an applicant's request to deconstruct a deteriorating barn on a historic property, finding the structure had sustained significant rot and that rebuilding was not practical for the ministry owner.
George Ramirez of Immersion Outfitters told commissioners the outbuilding's interior corners were rotted and that multiple contractor bids had shown rebuilding the structure would be expensive. "We will not be rebuilding that particular building," Ramirez said, and he described reusing salvageable materials (cedar purlins) inside other restored structures on the property.
A staff reference to an existing preservation plan from 2003 was discussed; staff said the older document was in OHP files but not publicly posted online. Commissioners encouraged making preservation documentation more accessible for historic ranch and farm properties.
Following discussion the commission moved to approve the deconstruction with standard staff stipulations. The motion carried on a roll-call vote recorded by staff. Staff will prepare the certificate of appropriateness or action letter and email it to the applicant within 10 days, per standard practice.
The applicant said he had undertaken prior preservation work on the property and had documented materials for reuse. Commissioners did not question the applicant's plan for salvaged materials but did ask staff to confirm documentation.
