Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
CC:	Sheila Stogsdill, Planning Administrator Amy Miller, Assistant Director Planning Scott McCullough, Director Planning and Development Services Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire, Assistant to the City Manager
FROM:	Lynne Braddock Zollner, Historic Resources Administrator
DATE:	December 10, 2014
RE:	Landmark nominations associated with Living in East Lawrence: An Essay for a Multiple Listings Nomination

Background

For 35 years, the East Lawrence Neighborhood has supported the identification and protection of historic resources in East Lawrence.  The 1979 East Lawrence Neighborhood Plan included Residential Policies to “Encourage the preservation of existing housing stock, especially housing stock of historical significance;” and to “consider historic homes, sites, and districts as appropriate for preservation and rehabilitation rather than redevelopment.”  In the 2000 East Lawrence Revitalization Plan, Goal 2 is to “Preserve and conserve existing physical neighborhood landmarks.” The East Lawrence Neighborhood worked with the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) and city staff in 2003 and 2004 to identify and list two areas in East Lawrence as National Register of Historic Places historic districts.  This process and subsequent study identified several properties that had historic significance to the City of Lawrence but did not qualify for registration in the National Register.  In 2009-2010 the neighborhood had the opportunity to work with Dennis Domer to study the history and vernacular architecture of East Lawrence.  The findings of this study, Living in East Lawrence: An Essay for a Multiple Listings Nomination, is a context document that establishes the foundation for individual property nominations in East Lawrence.  This context document identifies the themes, trends, and patterns of history shared by the properties and defines the property types that represent the historic context.

Project Description

The East Lawrence Neighborhood Association sponsored 33 properties with owner consent to be considered for inclusion in the Lawrence Register of Historic Places based on the Living in East Lawrence context.  The HRC and staff worked with the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association, Dr. Domer, and property owners to identify a collection of properties that would begin to represent the property types identified in the context.  Continued owner consent and support was also critical to the process. The following 12 properties have been determined by the HRC to meet the criteria established in Chapter 22 listing in the Lawrence Register of Historic Places:

a) L-2-1-10:  645 Connecticut, AJ Griffin House Staff Memo & Attachments

b) L-2-4-10:  742 Connecticut, Ripley W. Sparr House  Staff Memo & Attachments

c) L-2-20-10:  821 New York, Edward Manter House  Staff Memo & Attachments

d) L-2-9-10:  934 Delaware, Speer House  Staff Memo & Attachments

e) L-2-26-10:  936 Pennsylvania, Edmondson House  Staff Memo & Attachments

f) L-2-10-10:  945 Delaware, William H. Schell House  Staff Memo & Attachments

g) L-2-5-10:  946 Connecticut, William Watts House   Staff Memo & Attachments

h) L-2-27-10:  946 Pennsylvania, Mann/Gray/Edmondson House  Staff Memo & Attachments

i) L-2-28-10:  1002 Pennsylvania, Albert & Sarah Sirpless House  Staff Memo & Attachments

j) L-2-6-10:  1004 Connecticut, August Wahl House  Staff Memo & Attachments

k) L-2-12-10:  1029 Delaware, Sargent S. Whitcomb House  Staff Memo & Attachments

l) L-2-13-10:  1208 Delaware, John & Mina Madson House  Staff Memo & Attachments

Landmark Process

Chapter 22 requires the City Commission to consider the application of a landmark nomination at a public hearing.  The public hearing may be during a regularly scheduled meeting.  The City Commission may approve an ordinance designating a nominated structure as a landmark in accordance with the findings of the HRC. 

If the City Commission denies a nomination, subsequent nomination attempts shall not occur within three years, or without a change of ownership of the property, whichever occurs first.

HRC Recommendation

In accordance with Chapter 22, The Conservation of Historic Resources Code, the Historic Resources Commission held public hearings for each of the nominated landmarks.  After a consideration of the nomination materials and public comment, the HRC determined that the properties met the criteria identified in Section 22-403. The HRC adopted resolutions recommending the designation of the properties as Landmarks on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places and directed staff to draft the necessary reports to the City Commission.

Action

Conduct public hearing and adopt on first reading,

Ordinance No. 9057, for landmark designation of 645 Connecticut;

Ordinance No. 9058, for landmark designation of 742 Connecticut;

Ordinance No. 9059, for landmark designation of 821 New York;

Ordinance No. 9060, for landmark designation of 934 Delaware;

Ordinance No. 9061, for landmark designation of 936 Pennsylvania;

Ordinance No. 9062, for landmark designation of 945 Delaware;

Ordinance No. 9063, for landmark designation of 946 Delaware;

Ordinance No. 9064, for landmark designation of 946 Pennsylvania;

Ordinance No. 9065, for landmark designation of 1002 Pennsylvania;

Ordinance No. 9066, for landmark designation of 1004 Connecticut;

Ordinance No. 9067, for landmark designation of 1029 Delaware; and

Ordinance No. 9068, for landmark designation of 1208 Delaware to the Lawrence Register of Historic Places, if appropriate.