Historic Preservation Commission Agenda and Packet 2022 09 19

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REQUEST: The applicant requests the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) release the demolition permit for the existing principal structure and accessory structures at 1209 Main Street. A subcommittee referred the request to the full Historic Preservation Commission. SUMMARY: The applicant is requesting approval to demolish the existing principal structure at 1209 Main Street. According to the Louisville Municipal Code (LMC) section 15.36.020, a demolition is an act which removes "fifty percent or more of the roof area as measured from directly above," or "fifty percent or more of the exterior walls of a building as measured contiguously around the building". Under section 15.36.200 of the LMC, if the commission finds that the building may have historical significance under the criteria "no permit for demolition, moving or removal shall be issued for a period not to exceed 180 days from the date the permit application was accepted ... The commission will make all reasonable efforts to expedite resolution of the application or request." Staff recommendation: Staff recommends approval of a 90-day stay from the date of application, expiring on October 27, 2022, giving the applicant time to explore options for developing the property for multi -family use, as allowed in a Residential Medium Density Zone District (R-M), while maintaining the historic structure. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Information from Bridget Bacon, Louisville Historical Museum The property was the first Louisville home of Mike Colacci, who with his wife Mary founded Louisville's Blue Parrot Restaurant while they lived at 1209 Main. Mike Colacci's brother, Jim, who co -owned it from the start, became the sole owner of the house in 1922 and lived there. The property was the site of Jim Colacci's poultry business as well as the house being the likely site of Colacci's bootlegging activities during Prohibition. Arcangelo Michele "Mike" Colacci (1886-1970) and Vincenzo James "Jim" Colacci (1884-1964) were brothers who had emigrated from Bojano, Campobasso, Italy (Mike reportedly in 1905- 1907, and Jim reportedly in 1908). The two purchased the property at 1209 Main in 1908 and built the house soon after. This house at 1209 Main was the first Louisville home of Mike Colacci, the founder of the Blue Parrot Restaurant that he and his wife, Mary, started in 1919 and that put Louisville on the map as being a restaurant town with Italian food that drew diners from all over the Denver area and beyond. The house is shown in the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map of Louisville. At the time of the 1910 census, both brothers were living in the house. Both were listed as being coal miners. According to an article the August 1994 issue of the Louisville Historian, which was based on information from the Colacci family, Mike Colacci returned to Italy when the 1910 mine strike started in the Louisville area and was immediately drafted into the Italian Army. He ended up serving for three years, including time served in Ethiopia, before returning to Louisville. It is not known whether Jim Colacci went through the same experience, but both brothers are listed in the Louisville directory for 1916 as being back at the house at 1209 Main by that year. In 1916, Mike Colacci married Mary larussi (1899-1949). She had come with her family from Italy in 1907 and they lived on the 1200 block of La Farge Ave., the block behind 1209 Main. At the time of their marriage, she was 16 and he was 29. They had two sons, Joe and Anthony, who 2 Demolition Review, 1209 Main Street 7