Historic Preservation Commission Agenda and Packet 2024 01 22

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report as the Caboose. The structure is currently located at 1155 Pine Street in Louisville. Staff recommends a finding of Probable Cause with one condition, described below. Note that the application includes reference to railroad tracks and a C&S boxcar, which staff finds are not eligible for landmarking due to their age and/or tenuous record of their historical presence in Louisville. BACKGROUND In 2013, the Caboose came before the HPC as part of a downtown design referral on the Coal Creek Station Planned Unit Development (PUD). The applicants at that time were proposing to demolish/remove the train cars. The HPC discussed the fate of the train cars as well as the PUD proposal overall. The minutes from that meeting are included as Attachment 3. Minutes reflect some interest in repurposing the train cars. In 2014, the Caboose, along with other train cars on the same property, were reviewed for demolition. At that time, all of the train cars were released for demolition by a subcommittee of the HPC. The release letter cited the following two reasons: • "The train cars have not retained strong architectural integrity" • "There is not a strong social history, considering the train cars have been in Louisville less than 50 years" The demolition review from 2014 has expired. Demolition reviews expire within 180 days if no demolition permits are pulled. In addition, now in 2023, the age of the train cars has changed. The release letter is included as Attachment 4. Eventually, in 2020, the Caboose and other structures on the site were slated for demolition. The applicant moved the train cars before they were demolished to a site outside of Louisville. Structures with a history of being moved can still be eligible for landmarking, especially given Louisville and the region's history of repurposing structures, such as mining shacks and churches into residences. As of this report, the Caboose has been recently relocated to 1155 Pine Street, at the intersection of Pine Street and Highway 42 in Louisville. Given the recent history of moving this structure in and out of Louisville, staff recommends a condition with a timeline be placed on the finding of Probable Cause. ANALYSIS Under Resolution No. 17, Series 2019, a property may be eligible for reimbursement for a Historic Structure Assessment (HSA) from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) if the Historic Preservation Commission finds "probable cause to believe the building may be eligible for landmarking under the criteria in section 15.36.050 of the Louisville Municipal Code." Further, "a finding of probable cause under this Section is solely for the purposes of action on the pre-landmarking building assessment grant request, and such finding shall not be binding upon the HPC, City Council or other party to a landmarking hearing."