Minutes 03/05/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1998 would become effective, and was told that they were effective now, but that it was important to document all buildings, sites and work, and take pictures of everything. Ms. Blanton noted that tax credits would be effective from January 1, 1997. Mr. Teague then asked whether any such credits might be available to recover costs related to the old Memorial Hospital demolition and was told that this would not qualify. Mr. Reeves went on to say that the City would do a public education process on the tax credit program similar to that which was done on the Enterprise Zone program. Cou~ncil Member Haskell encouraged the City staff to be sure to contact all property owners in the District personally, which Mr. Reeves said would be done. He also noted ~the Department of Historic Resources would come to the City to conduct a public notification meeting and provide information on the Historic District designation. Mr. Teagne asked whether or not the DHR would discuss tax credits and was told that they would not ordinarily do this, but that the discussions on this and the creation of an Architectural Review Board would come later. Mr. Reeves noted that the City would do its presentation on this after the Historic District designation, to which Ms. Haskell responded that this needed to be done prior to the DHR presentation, in order to avoid confusion on the matter. Mr. Reeves agreed that this would be done. Mr. Martin then asked Ms. Blanton for her advice on how signage issues should be handled, since the new sign ordinance in the City says that many old signs do not meet code requirements. Ms. Blanton stated that the rules should encourage preservation of old signs as well. City Manager Earl R~ynolds then stated that other communities had dealt with this issue within the context of historic preservation, and that he was confident the City could draw upon the experience of others and resolve this issue successfully. Mayor Adams agreed, noting the example of the preservation of the Edward R. Murrow statue in Greensboro, N.C. Mr. Reeves then promised that the City would do a public workshop on the Historic District tax credit program within the next two weeks, in advance of State action. Mr. Reynolds then thanked all program participants for having done an excellent job, and Council recessed in order to reconvene in the Lower Level Conference room.