HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-16-2022 Historic Preservation Committee Meeting MinutesFairhope Historical Preservation Committee
11/16/22 at the Fairhope History Museum
Attendees: Skip Jones, Gary Gover, Mara Hunter, Holly Palughi, and Amy Molyneux
Museum liaison Alex Box and Gabriel Gold-Vukson, Guest:James Watson
On Zoom: Jay Robinson
Call to Order: 9:30 - Gary Gover
Agenda
1) K-1 Center restoration plans post-storm - City council will vote on whether Watermark
engineer has the project. Create a recommendation for the preservation of the facade to
the council, and as much of building as possible. Present statement to Jay [Does grant
for restoration makes preservation part of the contract?].
2) Our Funds — cannot be used for 501c3, but can be used for student essay contest.
Received approval too late to begin essay contest this year. How do we find a way to
attract and spend donations without an ordinance that permits a 501c3 through the city?
3) The Hardware Store - Demolition Moratorium? City Purchase? [Later, the mayor is
quoted as saying the Hardware store is a teardown, though a real estate agent from
Mobile subsequently inquired whether the property was eligible for the tax credits].
Question: can developers get a tax incentive for historic preservation such as
that the city council awarded to the Publix?
Answer (Jay): case by case basis.
4) The Lewis House - was torn down. What, if anything, we could have done better, and
how can we help make sure the new buyers/developers agree to the marker?
Also-can we publish a statement on our website about this and the K-1 project?
Discussion:
1)Committee presented case for historic nature of the house to the planning
commission publicly at a meeting, and to individual commission members
and the city council. Members of the committee also communicated with
members of the community, and the property developer. The committee
also developed a plan to raise money to move the house and found some
public support, but the house was torn down before such a plan could
gather momentum. The city lawyer later informed the committee that it
would need an ordinance to establish a 501c3 to support such activities.
Finally, the committee concluded (barring an ordinance) it could make a
more public stance by presenting a written recommendation to the city
council that could be then posted on the committee’s city webpage.
2)The provision with marker will convey with the plan approved by the city
council and planning commission. But if buyers present a new plan, then
the marker will have to be renegotiated.
5) Other:
a) An event:
1). Earth Day exhibit on Fairhope historic properties associated with the
K-1 center.
2). Panel Presentation with museum on African American history of
Fairhope.
b) "Close Encounters": Update-Facebook group in touch with the developer who
reaffirms that the house will be moved into the interior of the development.
c) Land Use Plan: What's ahead? Have we provided all the key input we should?