Preservation board directs staff to negotiate permanent easement for Louisa Swain Federal Building

The board instructed Planning & Development staff to negotiate a preservation easement to protect the Louisa Swain Federal Building, a federally owned property near downtown that the General Services Administration has proposed for disposal. The building is listed as a contributing structure; the State Historic Preservation Office recommended mitigation in the form of an easement to preserve significant exterior elements and the lobby.

Planning & Development Director Charles Blum briefed the board on the status and said the baseline documentation provided by GSA should be attached to any easement. He told the board that the easement as proposed would "prohibit any changes to the exterior or the lobby" and asked the board for guidance on whether any demolition exceptions should be included. The board voiced a preference for preserving the building and avoiding an out that would enable demolition, and asked Charles to proceed to negotiate on the city's behalf.

Patrick Bustos moved the motion to authorize Charles to negotiate with GSA to secure an easement that advocates for no changes to the exterior or lobby in perpetuity; David Benner seconded and the motion passed on a voice vote. Charles said the governing body (city) would technically hold the easement and that the final document will need State Historic Preservation Office sign-off and inclusion of baseline documentation as an exhibit in recorded property records.

Board members discussed practical concerns about whether a strict perpetuity clause could "paint the city into a corner" for future redevelopment; members ultimately favored a preservation-first approach and asked staff to seek a recorded, professionally held baseline report as an exhibit to the easement.