Historic Preservation Commission Minutes 2008 01 16

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Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes January 16, 2008 Page 7 of 12 836 & 844 Main Street Stay of Demolition Discussion of Items on the Site with Specific Historic or Architectural Value or Importance Lewis called the meeting back to order at 9: 15 PM and asked Muth to give the staff report on 836 & 844 Main Street. Muth reported that at the December 5 meeting the HPC placed a stay of demolition on 836 and 844 Main Street. The say of demolition is in effect until April 22, 2008. During the time of the stay, the HPC may work with the applicant to discuss options for the site and how to possibly retain the sites. At the December meeting the applicant requested further discussions meeting and in particular asked the members of the HPC to review the any section of the site that may have specific historic or archite al valu the HPC were asked to review the site in preparation for the d. n. Lewis clarified that the original demolition application included 8 Street, the Marketplace Building, and that building's demolition p it was approved by the HPC. She added that this is not a discussion of a new struct , but a discussion of the historic significance of the existing buildings. She also noted tha he demolition stay included the out buildings behind the Main Street facing structures. Lewis asked for Commission comments. ,the original subcommittee for the ave a presence on that corner and are Lewis reported that she and McMenamin demolition review and added that 836 and very visible to the community. McMenamin encouraged a re ion that maintains the existing frontage. He recommended keeping the facade nd perhaps using the character of the buildings as the theme for the rema. der of the development. He recommended using the facades as an asset to the devel ent and to thematically grow from there. Lewis noted that the two nt buildings of 836 and 844 were the most important to save dded that they both have social significance as well as architectural e applicant for listening to the HPC. She noted she is not an architect, buildings have architectural integrity and that the buildings are of he community. She asked the applicant to save the facades and build in the rear of e site. Of particular interest was the setback of the two buildings which she noted was used by the public for special events such as the Parade of Lights and she encouraged the applicant to retain the space. She referenced Christopher Alexander's book on "Pattern Language." Muckle noted that the rear garage on 844 is old, but it is not as unique as others in town and the rear of the lot is the most useful for commercial development so it is of less importance.