HPC Agenda 8/2010

[Debbie Thompson]

Brick streets- cost more at the beginning, but last for 100 years pretty much without maintenance.  Save existing streets.  Maybe mention that machine Orlando is using to restore their brick streets that have been blacktopped over.  But, most importantly, save what is left.

[sheclown]

Can someone post a summary? I got there late, found out they deferred the two condemned properties, and then left right after.

I did hear that Brenda spoke loudly and clearly that SPAR was 100% for preservation (YES!) and that is good. I also heard that Kim spoke as did Crissie. Apparently there is a structural engineer's report out there claiming that Ionia is structurally unsound. We'll need to get our hands on that and look for ourselves. Sometimes these things just depend on who paid for it -- if you catch my drift.

It would be awesome if the HPC could move the condemned property discussion to the end of the meetings.  I mean, really, who can make it at 3:00 in the afternoon?  This disables the neighborhood from speaking at the meeting, and it leaves folks feeling mighty frustrated about it.

But, all in all, great news.  A reprieve. 

[Springfield Chicken]

I don't know about moving it to the "end" of the meeting.  When we left at almost 10:30 last night there were still several items on the agenda!

You're right.  1320 Ionia was deferred after a bunch of discussion.  Only the exterior was inspected and the concern is that one wall is in danger of collapsing.  But the HPC seemed encouraged that both SPAR and Preservation SOS are becoming so pro-active in looking for solutions other than demolition so I sensed relief that now they have alternatives themselves to putting more properties on a demolition track.

Another property got a "stay of execution" on Phoenix (out of our area) when the owner showed up and it appears they are doing all they can but have been lost in a sea of bureaucracy.

Then lots of properties with COA issues that required lots of discussion, but educational for a newbie like me.

Long, long, long discussion on the John Gorrie school project and all the myriad of details involved in the tax credit.

At that point the board seemed surprised at the number of people still there and when they realized we were all there for the brick conversation they bumped us up ahead of street name changes and other stuff no outsiders were there for.

Dan Wright and Will and Chris Farley kicked serious butt with all their data.  I think the board was really impressed with all the work that was evident in their presentations.  Brenda asked for a subcommittee to address the brick streets in historic districts and it looks like they will agree, but not till they get some other stuff off their plates first.  The rest of us also put in our two cents (having waited for 6 1/2 hours we had to make it count).

All in all I came away pumped up!

[Ethylene]

I'm sorry I didn't join you at 8pm last night when I got off work.