07/24/1989 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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neighbors and the Historic Review Board recommend that efforts should be made . to move the house if possible. Mr. Weinman reported that Mr. Krumdieck is negotiating a possible move with an interested party. Answering questions from councilors, Mr. Weinman said that while the developer has already purchased the property, the project would not occur but for receiving the property tax exemption. Only the value of improvements would be exempted from property tax for the ten-year period. The fee mentioned earlier is based on a per-unit charge and would amount to approximately ten percent of the tax that would have been paid without the program. Ms. Bascom asked about site review and the change to R-4 zoning. She said street trees could be planted on the Olive Street side of the property. Mr. Weinman said the granting of a property tax exemption would not preclude the developers from meeting other permit, site review, and building code requirements. Ms. Bascom wondered if it would be possible to require removal of existing vegetation to better attract potential buyers of the historic structure. Saying it was desirable to save the structure, 'Mr. Boles wondered what constraints could be placed on the approval to assure that happened. Mr. Weinman pointed out that the building may not be sound enough to be moved. Answering Ms. Ehrman's request for clarification, Mr. Weinman said there is a public easement between the property and the adjacent Amazon channel. There e was some confusion as to whether the Amazon channel actually abutted the property or was across the street from it. Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. Oscar Krumdieck, 1728-1 Minda, spoke as the owner of the property. He commended the City for reinstating the property tax exemption program and said that it would encourage housing projects in the downtown area. He noted that the property is located on the corner of 15th Avenue and Olive Street and does not front on the Amazon slough. He confirmed that the tax exemption is necessary for the project to be possible. Mr. Krumdieck suggested that shrubbery which partially obscures the existing structure may also be supporting it. He expressed hope that construction might begin during the late summer or early fall and said if attempts to secure a buyer who will move the house are unsuccessful within the next couple of months, he would request a demolition permit to allow the project to move forward. Mary Bentsen, 950 West 16th Avenue, spoke on behalf of the Jefferson Area Neighborhood. She called councilors' attention to a letter she had submitted. Ms. Bentsen reported that she was unaware of neighborhood opposition to the proposed project, but she asked the council to consider three aspects of the situation which she considered important: 1) the fact that the Jefferson Refinement Plan lists the Italianate house on the property as one of two properties in the neighborhood whose preservation is in the interest of the neighborhood; 2) neighborhood residents are on record as . MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 24, 1989 Page 6