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BACKGROUND: <br />The applicant, James Cohen, had previously applied for a demolition permit in February <br />of this year. HPC placed a stay on the application and staff began working with Mr. <br />Cohen on a plan to refurbish and preserve the sign. The plan was hampered, however, <br />by an unresponsive owner. Over the summer, Mr. Cohen purchased the building from <br />the previous owner, withdrew the previous application, and reapplied in August. For <br />scheduling reasons, the public hearing has been delayed to November. The applicant <br />applied for and received grant funding to conduct a historic structure assessment, which <br />is now underway, and staff is continuing to work with Mr. Cohen on finding a way to <br />preserve the sign. <br />HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: <br />Information is from Historian Bridget Bacon and is attached to this document. <br />Early History: <br />816 Main Street was originally two separate buildings. The building on the north dates <br />from the late 1800s, while the building on the south dates from around 1926. The <br />buildings went through a variety of uses, including a commissary, a shoe store, the <br />Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph office, a billiards hall, and a barber shop. <br />Colacci Family: 1955 -1993 <br />Anthony and Rita Colacci bought the property in 1955, remodeled the two buildings into <br />one, and opened a restaurant. Anthony was the son of Mike and Maria Colacci, who <br />founded and operated the Blue Parrot restaurant. Anthony started out working at the <br />Blue Parrot, but eventually left to open his own restaurant with his wife, Rita. They <br />opened Colacci's Restaurant in August 1955. The exterior neon sign was designed by <br />Anthony Colacci, and was installed in 1956. The Collaci family operated the restaurant <br />until 1993. In 2000, the name of the restaurant, and the name on the neon sign, were <br />changed to Pasquini's. The names changed again in 2008 to the Empire. <br />REQUEST: <br />The applicant, James Cohen, is requesting to remove the existing external neon sign <br />because of the cost to operate and maintain it. <br />2 <br />