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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/03/2009 05 Audience Participation vsr Hess Mlj • il�►�r%, $ r • CITY OF YAKIMA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 2, 2009 Yakima County Commissioners Kevin Bouchey, Rand Elliot, and Mike Leita 128 North 2 Street Yakima, Washington 98901 Re: Mortuary and `A' Street Buildings Commissioners: Our Commission has had the opportunity to review the plans to renovate the "A Street Buildings" created by the Diane Vance, and has sent members of our Commission with an expertise in building preservation to the premises to conduct their own informal assessment of the properties in question. It is our strong recommendation that the County restore the buildings and promote their continued operation for at least the period of 20 — 30 years for which it intends the property to be a vacant lot. The buildings themselves are in very good condition and require only the most common restorative steps be taken to reopen a building following a period of neglect. The framework of the buildings is excellent and the Mortuary in particular has a very good foundation. There is no structural reason that the buildings are not viable. The City of Yakima has lost many of its historic treasures in the past including the Elks Lodge that the County demolished in order to build a parking lot adjacent to the "A Street Buildings." We lament that loss. Many community members have • approached us voicing their concern for the fate of the buildings, hoping that the County Commissioners would be willing to engage in a dialogue with our Commission so that a compromise could be reached. We would be more than happy to assist Yakima County with the pursuit of funds for the restoration of the "A Street Buildings ", and have already begun the process of nominating them for Washington's Most Endangered Buildings List which will generate interest and sympathy from lawmakers in Olympia, where preservation projects are more common and receive a lot of funding. We did take the step of including them on a list of Washington preservation projects worthy of stimulus package funding. If such funds are forthcoming, the County would not have to spend $150,000 of County funds, and could put those funds to better use on other projects. The Mortuary in particular is a unique example of architecture in downtown, and to create another vacant lot where it once stood is not only unnecessary at this time but counterproductive to the economic development of Downtown Yakima. Our city does not need more vacant lots, especially for a period as long as 30 years, it needs the sound leadership that you can provide, leadership that understands the value and appeal of historic texture for tourism and growth. Yakima is featured in the current edition of Sunset Magazine, the coffee shop across the street from the A Street buildings is highlighted because of its' historic charm.. Loss of additional historic properties removes us further from our historical roots and also endangers tax dollars generated by tourism. It is our Commission's unanimous recommendation that the "A Street Buildings" be retained and restored for both the good of the community, and the purpose of furthering historic preservation. To that end, we will do all we can to help you assure that the restoration project meets with success. 2 Commission Members Celeste Barry • Stephanie Flynn • Scott Irons • Nancy Kenmotsu • Joe Mann • Karl Pasten • Jennifer Wilde - McMurtrie Sincer y, c( ' Scott Irons, Chairman • Historic Preservation Commission CC: Yakima Herald Republic Commission Members Celeste Barry • Stephanie Flynn • Scott Irons • Nancy Kenmotsu • Joe Mann • Karl Pasten • Jennifer Wilde - McMurtrie