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Staff: designation does not ban demolition but sets review standards and reuse expectations
Summary
Staff said an overlay would not categorically block demolitions but would require commission review; demolition approvals would be limited to properties that meet criteria (noncontributing, condemned/deteriorated or economic hardship) and must include a reuse plan to mitigate historic loss.
Residents asked whether designation would prevent developers who buy properties from tearing down buildings and replacing them with larger non-historic structures. Jennifer Williams explained that an overlay triggers demolition review rather than an outright prohibition: a demo application must meet certain conditions — the property is noncontributing, is deteriorated to the point of condemnation, or the owner demonstrates economic hardship — before a demolition could be approved.
Williams said, “It doesn't mean that you can't ever tear anything down. It means that if you want to tear something down, it has to be reviewed first by the Historic Preservation Commission, and they have to find that certain standards are met or they cannot approve a demolition.” As part of that review the applicant would be required to submit a reuse plan for the site designed to mitigate the loss of historic fabric. For large new construction, staff said the urban design review board will assess massing, materials and rhythm of openings, within existing zoning height restrictions.
