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He further noted that the area south of Lindsey would be put off until next month do to an oversight. Mr. Talley presented the staff report. Mr. Oxian restressed that the Commission was only voting on the northern half of the district. He also noted that the proposed disctrict contains two local landmarks, 710 and 713 Cushing Street. One of the Cushing Street property owners stood up and asked how the district process worked, how much money and time it would take to convert the existing house stock to their previous status. He further noted that the area is not a middle class neighborhood. Mr. Oxian stated that when the Commission refered the the area as middle class they refering to the past not the present. He also noted that the example the man gave about a house not being able to use aluminum soffits was a landmark and under different standards, thus, has nothing to do with historic districts. Mr. Oxian went on to describe the difference between landmarks and districts and that districts start with the current building stock and there present condition. He gave as an example that if a house has alumium siding at the time of designation then it can remain there or be replaced with the same material, it is only when the owner wants to change the status quo that the Commission steps in. Mr. Oxian went on to discuss historic districts maintenance standards. The owner noted that people dump garbage on his back lot and that by making stricter maintenance codes means that the owner will be cited for problems he /she cannot control. Another home owner asked if the Commission could decide to designate the area with out the home owners consent. Mr. Oxian stated that the Commission could give a favorable recommendation with out owner consent. She further asked whether or not the home owners opinion means anything. Mr. Oxian stated that the input of the home owners was very important in the designation and eventually in the creation of the the guidelines for the district. A second female home owner asked if a house that currently has wood siding could be changed. Mr. Oxian stated that if the exterior siding was really deteriorated then the Commission has been known to give approval for alternative materials. Mrs. Hostetler stated that the Commission goes on a case by case bases and exceptions are made where they are needed. There was some discussion over why the southern half of the district was added to the original proposed district to the north. Rita Kopczynski, director of Nearnorthwest Nieghborhood Association, stated that the association feels that designating the district now would inhibit their attempts to rehabilitate the area and are there for against the designation. There was some discussion over the problems with absentee landlords. Mr. Oxian noted that in the areas that become historic districts property values tend to go up and neighborhoods often clean up. He further noted that neighborhood associations do a wonderful job, however, historic districts can offer much more. Mrs. Choitz interjected that the affects of being in an historic district are not over night changes, they are slow changes, but, effective changes. She further noted that evenutally the numbers of absentee landlords will go down. Mrs. Hostetler stated that the Commission acts as a safety net to stablize neighborhoods and help home owners. Mr. Zmyslo stated that he has been head of some of the Near Northwest Neighborhood Association rehabilitation projects and understands their trepidations about the district, however, he believes that the historical integrity of the buildings is also important. Mr. Oxian discussed changes that occured when he was on the board for the Near Northwest Neighborhood Association. 2