Gabe Bailer, speaking for 175-177 North Avenue LLC, could not say what the owner will do to preserve the columns, which HPC Commissioner David Westlake said are holding up the facade. A review committee of the commission will meet with the company's architect to discuss the matter before it continues to the Sept. 24 meeting.
The application hearing began in February and has been continued ever since, as commissioners have raised questions about inconsistencies in drawings and asked Bailer other questions he can't answer without going back to superiors in the company. The side-by-side buildings are among several that have been acquired by subsidiaries of Frank Cretella's Landmark Developers on North Avenue for rehabilitation. But instead of having a full complement of experts at the hearings for them, the company most recently has sent only Bailer.
Bailer asked Westlake for advice on how to clean the columns and Westlake said, "Ask your architect."
When Westlake said the applicant would have to find out what was behind panels on the facade, Bailer asked, "What do we have to do?"
"Explore," Westlake said.
At another building on North Avenue, the company installed vinyl windows instead of wood and Bailer apologized after the fact, but the commission held fast on the requirements. See Plaintalker's post here
Landmark's approach to compliance with historic preservation rules this year appears to reflect a lack of interest in getting the North Avenue projects completed, as others have been carried from month to month without resolution.
In another frustrating aspect .of Tuesday's meeting, Commission Secretary Scott Bauman said he received an "underwhelming" response to a letter seeking local support for a 501-C 3 foundation to look after the historic Lampkin House on Terrill Road. See Plaintalker's post here for background. Bauman said if there is no response, the effort might be taken over by an outside group, which he said could be "embarrassing." He said interest has been expressed by the Daughters of the Revolution and by an out-of-state member of the Detwiller family. Charles Detwiller Jr. was responsible for saving a collection of local architectural records which are now held at the Plainfield Public Library.
Another issue is that a grant application to Union County now hinges on the building having status on state and national historic registers. Bauman called it a "curveball" that may require preparation of an application for inclusion on the registers. Commissioner Jim Galvin expressed concern that a delay might leave the pre-Civil War structure, which is already in disrepair, unprotected in winter weather.
The city is in the process of arranging a land swap for the site and does not as yet own it.
--Bernice
During the 80's someone tried to rehab it as the "Chotala"? and lost their shirt. Knock the whole block down and sell to the highest bidder, while they are at it take off the deprecated lobster next door.
ReplyDeleteThe Chotola building can be seen at the right but is not part of the application, just the two at the left. It was refurbished in the 1980s, then abandoned by the owner in a dispute with City Hall. Since then, it was purchased by a person who redeveloped the Mirons building and was rehabbed and occupied again. Some day I will try to relate the whole history of North Avenue renewal efforts.
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