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~ � 1 <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF REPORT <br />In no case may the delay granted by the Common Council <br />exceed three (3) years, but the Commission may petition <br />the Common Council for a continuation of any delay granted <br />by the Common Council in accordance with the same <br />procedures set forth above for the initial appeal. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />It is the Staff's recommendation that the HPC deny this <br />COA for demolition and petition the Common Council for a <br />delay according to the above procedures in order to <br />develop a preservation plan for the structure. <br />The Staff has recently visited this site and found the <br />condition of the structure to be essentially unchanged <br />from the documentation one year ago. The structure does <br />not appear to present clear and eminent danger to the <br />general public. The site however continues to suffer <br />neglect as yard maintenance remains undone and the <br />structure though closed would be accessible by willful <br />entry. Neither is the site secured as gates stand open and <br />missing and damaged sections of fence are not repaired. <br />The maintenance problems submitted by the Department of <br />Code Enforcement, although numerous, are violations which <br />do not threaten the structural integrity of the building. <br />None of the aforementioned problems warrant the demolition <br />of an otherwise viable structure. The building is in need <br />of attention and repair. It is also important to note that <br />the site contains various other landscaping elements of <br />historic significance which are protected and which might, <br />without proper survey and planning activity, incur damage <br />as a secondary effect of demolition activity on the site. <br />A COA would be required for any activities effecting these <br />other features. Staff continues seeking strategies to get <br />around the problem of an owner who is essentially causing <br />demolition by neglect. <br />It would be an extremely bad precedent to allow demolition <br />of such an important structure in a Local Historic <br />Preservation District. The Owner has refused for many <br />years to cooperate with the city or this commission in <br />undertaking the necessary basic repairs to maintain this <br />property. It is in the Commission's long-term interest, <br />and the interest of the community, to save this structure <br />and send a message to others that the Commission will not <br />tolerate demolition by neglect. <br />'> • 1:111-A <br />'511119+ <br />