Preservation panel wants photos with demolition applications

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Those considering applying for a demolition permit should get their cameras ready. The Jefferson City Historic Preservation Commission will draft a request to clarify the city ordinance requiring application before the 60-day clock begins for demolition.

“We can’t require them to let us inside the building to know what we’re voting on,” said chairman Cathy Bordner.

So to help the commission determine historical relevance of a structure before releasing it for demolition, they hope to make current exterior and interior photos part of the standard application for buildings older than 50 years.

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JCLifer 9 months, 1 week ago

Infringing on private property rights and obstructing cleanup and progress in Jefferson City. Tyranny in local government.

rodinman 9 months, 1 week ago

I agree.

asb 9 months, 1 week ago

The city has an interest in protecting the property values near proposed demolition sites, just as they do for weeds and building codes (all of which they administer to perfection we're sure). Historic preservation has proven a financial asset to streets, communities and whole cities. Who'd go to Philadelphia but for the dang bell? Are we sure "tyrany" is how to describe the actions of an appointed group, whose authority comes from law and elected officials?

Sequoia 9 months, 1 week ago

Good grief, it's just a picture. It's not tyranny. You guys have no idea what tyranny is. Taking a picture to make sure you're not tearing down a historic building IS NOT TYRANNY.

Gas chambers are tyranny. Gulags are tyranny. Prison camps are tyranny. Jailing dissidents is tyranny. Your overblown sense of victimhood is an insult to ACTUAL VICTIMS OF TYRANNY.

For goodness sake, get your heads out of your own backsides and take a look around the world. YOU ARE NOT LIVING IN A TYRANNY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR BUILDING.

Sorry, sometimes the numbskullery is just too much to take in the morning.

BTW, historic preservation is great work for those tradespeople you're always going on about, Lifer. Much more precise and skilled that demolition and on-the-cheap rebuild (talk about hurting property values). Lots of wonderful restoration has been done downtown, and it looks great.

connor 9 months, 1 week ago

Tyranny is any abuse of power and yes this counts. It may not rank up there with mass murder but it is a step in the same direction. Simply put some local appointee(s) has convinced the politicians to give them power over homeowners that they have no right to. If a building is so historically important than the historical society should purchase it outright or convince the city to do so with voter approval. This picture thing is just a way for them to flex some muscle in an issue they should have no say in especially since they give the cut off time of 50 years? This means all these little clap trap houses put up in the 1950's and early 60's are now covered under this regulation.

It maybe a small matter but it is still an over reach and the same type of over reach that has gotten us in the mess we are in today.

asb 9 months, 1 week ago

Tyrany is NOT just ANY abuse of power. Tyrany is a sustained, government-wide oppressive abuse of power. Ducumenting the historic value (or not) of a building is a reasonable requirement, when established through an electoral process. Coercing our innocent little children to recite a government loyalty oath every day in school . . . now some would consider THAT to be tyrany, but nope, it's just the pledge of allegiance :)

JCLifer 9 months, 1 week ago

So what if a private property owner want to tear down a historic (OLD) building? That should be his right. If these people can help negotiate a purchase of the old building with another private party, that is fine.

I am fully supportive of VOLUNTARY preservation.

This law just contributes to the slumlord problem and creates even more vacant run down buildings all over town. Let property owners clean up these old buildings and build some new structures.

No wonder no one wants to live here. There is an order of magnitude less tyranny out in the county.

melbrooks 9 months, 1 week ago

Lifer, repeatedly you've advocated the city force the tear-down of the former JCD building and St. Mary's as eyesores, but you obviously don't see that as tyranny. Can you offer a clarification on this inconsistency?

In my opinion, requiring photos of the property so the Commission can make an informed decision is not tyranny--it's due diligence.

JCLifer 9 months, 1 week ago

The commission should be disolved. It is tyranny by itself to control what private owners want to do with their property. Like Paroquet says, if they don't want something torn down, they should immediately pay the landowner full replacement value for the property, and the committee should immediately work to get all aspects of the property in conformance of all building codes.

As for St. Mary's and JCD building- my desire to tear these two eyesores down are merely suggestions to the current property owners. However, if the government is going to buy these properties or invest in them, I suggest that the government also tear them down. I don't know what could be done to make either of them attractive, and for the good of the public, the real estate of both of them is probably needed to reconstruct the deadly Tri-Level interchange if we ever want to improve things and have the hope of getting an interstate highway to our Capital City.

spelchek 9 months, 1 week ago

Irony? Irony is you calling for business to be boycotted, condemned, or shut down because some unstable weirdo in CO decided to buy legal products from said business to use in a crime. And here you are supporting a business who's patrons have repeatedly caused crime in this city.

melbrooks 9 months, 1 week ago

Building codes, which you often advocate stronger enforcement of, also limit what private property owners want to do with their property. Should code enforcement also be dissolved?

A balanced approach is needed.

I suspect a competent architect could come up with some very nice alternative re-uses for those properties, which are both historic and are definitely not eyesores.

Finally, MoDOT won't be putting resources toward anything not on the STIP until its revenue situation is resolved. It hasn't even started studying how to change the tri-level.

Paroquet 9 months, 1 week ago

Naw, naw. The Commission needs to get off it's bum and work within the TWO MONTHS it already has if its so important. How many demolition plans do they have to review on an annual basis anyway? Also, I'd like the criteria for finding a building of historical significance cement and trigger a compulsion requiring them to purchase the property at market -replacement- value, not straight market value. Fair is fair.

him 9 months, 1 week ago

Making you have trash service is Tyranny

spelchek 9 months, 1 week ago

Who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood?

JCLifer 9 months, 1 week ago

Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."

spelchek 9 months, 1 week ago

Top 10 movie for me. Or basically any Tarantino movie.

JCLifer 9 months, 1 week ago

More government = more taxes. More taxes = more government.
Less government = less taxes. Less taxes = less government.

him 9 months, 1 week ago

The problem is, the Don't speak with our voice. They all have an agenda and money talks.

JCsleeper 9 months, 1 week ago

This town needs to keep more derelict buildings.

RobHunterJohnson 9 months, 1 week ago

Long time ago it was 5 points. 63, 50, 54, and Walnut St. We have had different versions of the tri level over the years. The way to fix this is to ease the congestion, a pre cast bridges west, and east of Jefferson City. Make a loop all around town, thus bypassing all the little gas people here in good old Jeff. Rob

JCLifer 9 months, 1 week ago

I like that thinking! 179 outer loop! Be sure to put an exit ramp at the Jeff City Memorial International Airport, though.

RobHunterJohnson 9 months, 1 week ago

It would be on the east side of the new JCMIA, on Interstate 63 just before it hit the new precast bridge across the Missouri, and connecting with Federal Highway US 50 before crossing the Osage River, and then Jefferson City would have its Interstate. Rob

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