Historic Preservation Commission Agenda and Packet 2020 10 19

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SUMMARY: The applicant requests approval to demolish the existing structures (house and garage) at 1133 Main Street. According to the Louisville Municipal Code (LMC) section 15.36.020, a demolition is an act that 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 recommendations: Staff recommends a 60-day stay on the demolition of the house, expiring on November 16, 2020. Staff recommends release of the demolition request for the garage. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Information from Bridget Bacon, Louisville Historical Museum Since its construction, this home has been consecutively owned by three Italian families: the Tomoro family, the LaSalle family, and the DelPizzo family. The house and this area of Main Street in general are strongly tied to Louisville's Italian residents. This house still exhibits evidence of traditional Italian cultural practices, and the property includes what is believed to be the last beehive -shaped traditional ash pit in Louisville. Filomena Tomoro, an immigrant from Italy, first purchased the property in 1904 and constructed a three room house. Following a deadly altercation between her husband, Carlo Tomoro, and her brother, Filomena sold the property to Nicholas LaSalle in 1908. Nicholas LaSalle, a Louisville miner, lived there with his mother (Mary) and brother (Joe). Following his death in 1916, the house passed to his sisters (Rose and Mary). They rented the property for several years before selling it in 1926. Rose and Joseph DelPizzo purchased the property in 1926. Joseph immigrated to Louisville from Italy and Rose was born in Louisville to Italian parents. They raised three children, Lucile, Frank, and Dick, in the house. Joseph worked in the Louisville coal mines until 1964. Following his father's death in 1980, Frank continued to live in the house at 1133 Main. Frank DelPizzo passed away in 2019. The DelPizzo's used the basement of the house to store wine that they made as well as prosciutto. The grapes from the vines in the back yard were used to supplement their winemaking needs. In the alley, a beehive -shaped ash pit remains. Once common in Louisville, this may be the last remaining example of this structure. The ash pit was used to store coal ashes from the house as well as for burning trash.