Summary of Decisions by the Preservation Board: February 25, 2008
The St. Louis Preservation Board held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, February 25. In attendance were Board Members John Burse, Mary Johnson, Alderman Terry Kennedy, Mike Killeen, Anthony Robinson, David Richardson and Chairman Richard Callow. A copy of the agenda can be found here.
Here is a summary of the board's actions by agenda item:
PRELIMINARY REVIEWS
A. 2915 MINNESOTA AVENUE. The board voted unanimously to direct the staff of the Cultural Resources Office (CRO) to prepare a feasibility study for rehabilitation of this 19th century flounder house; the report must be considered by the board within three months' time. Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett (D-6th) and Sixth Ward Nuisance Coordinator Jerome Murry spoke in favor of demolition of the city-owned house, citing one developer's lack of interest and citizen complaints. CRO Director Kathleen Shea and Landmarks' Assistant Director Michael Allen both testified the house was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places as an example of the flounder house, a type of house built only in St. Louis of which fewer than 20 existing examples have been identified. Claire Nowak-Boyd also spoke in favor of preservation.
B. 1111 MISSOURI AVENUE. The board unanimously granted approval of construction of a wooden fence at this address. Owner Eric Mackplans to rebuild a badly-deteriorated stone house that may date to the 1830. Homes from that period precede the use of iron fencing common in Lafayette Square and mandated by the historic district standards, and traditionally had wooden plank fencing.
C. 1412 MISSISSIPPI AVENUE. The board unanimously granted approval to a plan for a three-story building at the southeast corner of Park and Mississippi avenues in the Lafayette Square Historic District, contingent upon approval by CRO staff. Architect Paul Doerner of the Lawrence Group and developer John Mueller presented plans; Lafayette Square resident Tom Benignus testifiedthat he found the dormers proposed to be incompatible with those found on similar commercial buildings in the district.
D. 88 WATERMAN PLACE. The board unanimously granted approval of a variance for installation of an iron hand rail.
APPEAL OF STAFF DENIAL
E. 5100-02 PAGE BOULEVARD. The board voted 4-3 to uphold staff denial of a demolition permit for a three-story commercial building in the Mount Cabanne-Raymond Place Historic District. Burse, Killeen, Richardson and Callow voted in favor of upholding the denial, while Johnson, Kennedy and Richardson voted against. Owner Rosie Love testified that she lives outside of the area and owns property all over the state; she has no immediate plans for redevelopment of the site after demolition. Love has owned the building for 12 years, and it has been vacant for the last nine years. Claire Nowak-Boyd and Michael Allen testified in favor of upholding the denial. Read more here.