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Mrs. Choitz noted that no matter how you argue the issue the house can be saved. Mrs. Sporleder moved that the Commission suspend the discussion of 524 N. St. Joseph Street until after the demolition request regarding 508\510 N. St. Joseph Street has been debated. Mrs. Choitz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 6. 1999-0701 F - 508\510 N. St. Joseph, demolition Mr. Talley presented the staff report and circulated photographs. Mrs. Hostetler moved to approve the application as recommended by staff based on the fact that the house is so deteriorated that rehabilitation is uneconomical and impractical and leaves no inexpensive alternative to save the house. Mrs. Sporleder seconded the motion. Mrs. Sporleder stated that the front porch is badly deteriorated, the house has a very serious foundation problem and that there is enormous amount of dry rot in the siding and sills. The motion passed unanimously. The Commission returned its discussion to application 1999-0701 E, 524 N. St. Joseph Street. Mrs. Choitz moved to approve demolition of the structure based on the facts that it is not economically feasible to rehabilitate and that the foundation of the house is badly deteriorated. There was some more discussion over what the standards required for demolition. Mrs. Sporleder seconded the motion. The motion was denied with Mrs. Sporleder, Mrs. Hostetler and Mr. Weiner voting in favor of the motion, Mrs. Choitz, Mr. Zmyslo and Mr. Fine voting against the motion and Mr. Oxian and Ms. Gallagher abstaining. Mr. Oxian asked if anyone had an alternative suggestion for this property. Mrs. Choitz stated that it maybe possible to have someone else look at the house to see if a private citizen or another organization may be able to save it. Mr. Fine stated that the house should be rated higher then it is because of its architectural character. He went on to note that he felt each house should be looked at separately and that this house deserves to have other options explored. Mr. Zmyslo agreed that the house was in stable enough condition to deny the demolition request. Ms. Kopczynski stated that no organization would place that much money into this house. She further noted that even if the Near Northwest Neighborhood Association placed the house on the market as it stands it would not sell. There was some discussion over the fact that the house would not remain in stable condition for much longer, leaving very little time to find a buyer for it. Ms. Kopczynski asked if the windows and doors could be boarded up for security reasons. The Commission agreed that boarding the windows and doors would be fine. Mr. Zmyslo stated that the owner of the property would be responsible for maintaining the current condition of the house. Mr. Oxian interjected, stating that the Commission has enforceable maintenance standards that require the owner of an historic property to secure and maintain the house. Mrs. Sporleder stated that this issue is not about just saving a house, it is about saving a neighborhood, which is worth the cost of a couple of houses. Mrs. Sporleder asked if there were specific numbers available concerning the cost of rehabilitating the house. Ms. Kopczynski stated that she did not have any estimates put together. 2