HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 ILPC Annual ReportCITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green Street — 3rd Floor Ithaca, New York 14850 -5690
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
JOANN CORNISH, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
PHYLLISA A. DeSARNO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Telephone: Planning & Development – 607 - 274 -6550 Community
Development /IURA – 607 - 274 -6559
Email: dgrunder @cityofithaca.org Email: iura @cityofithaca.org
Fax: 607 - 274 -6558 Fax: 607 - 274 -6558
Date: 11/20/13
To: Svante Myrick, Mayor
Cc: Ithaca Common Council
From: Lynn C. Truame, Historic Preservation Planner
Re.: 2013 Annual Report of the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
As required by §73 -6 of the City Municipal Code, I am pleased to submit the following report
concerning the activities of the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission for the period October
1, 2012 – September 30, 2013. This reporting period is stipulated by the New York State Office of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for Certified Local Government programs.
During the period 10/1/12 through 9/30/13, the ILPC heard thirty -six cases requesting Certificates
of Appropriateness for exterior alternations to locally designated historic properties. Of these,
twenty -three were approved as presented, ten were approved with modifications and three were
denied. These figures represent a 92% approval rate for applications received during the year.
Seventy -five percent of the cases heard by the ILPC during this period involved minor alterations to
the property in question. Eleven percent involved major alterations or additions, 3% involved a
proposal to demolish, and 11% involved new construction.
ChangesZ)uringPtheTeriod2
In September 2013, Katelin Olson was appointed to the ILPC to fill the vacancy created by the
departure of Commission member Ashima Krishna. There are currently no vacancies on the
Commission. Ms. Olson holds an MA in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University, is
currently a PhD candidate in that program, and has significant professional experience in the field.
Train ingsbndWorkshopsPI
Commission member, Christine O'Malley, participated in the April 10 -12, 2013, conference of the
Society of Architectural Historians, held in Buffalo, NY.
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Historicnn ven toryWorkPl
In December 2012 the ILPC recommended the Henry St. John neighborhood for designation as a
local historic district. The nomination was approved by Common Council in February 2013, and the
district was certified by the National Park Service and the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation, and Historic Preservation in September 2013.
OtherM4ojot- projects XompletedRbrMnnPProgress0
A stock postcard was mailed again this year to all owners of locally- designated properties reminding
them of their property's status and directing them to the ILPC's web page for additional
information.
The City of Ithaca Historic District and Landmark Design Guidelines were adopted by the ILPC in
May 2013. The purpose of the Design Guidelines is to better explain the historic designation
process and the ramifications of historic designation to members of the public, and to provide
guidance to owners of designated historic properties for their use in planning repair, restoration,
and rehabilitation projects. The Guidelines have been well- received by property owners, design
professionals, and the general public. The Commission is now considering the creation of a much
more detailed stand -alone document that would specifically address the treatment of historic
windows.
Con troversialC3T'ases0
In March 2013, a settlement was reached between the City and the owner of a home in the Cornell
Heights Historic District who had replaced a large number of original windows without a Certificate
of Appropriateness or Building Permit. The owner was required to replace the inappropriate
replacement windows on the main facade of the house with appropriate replacement windows.
In August 2013, the City Attorney's office approved the commencement of an action against the
owner of a property in the DeWitt Park Historic District for failure to comply with an order from the
Acting Building Commissioner to remedy the deteriorated and unsafe condition of portions of his
residence. Members of the Planning and Building Divisions had sought to meet with the property
owner to devise a plan for stabilizing and eventually repairing the deteriorated property, however
despite repeated contact from City staff over a period of several months the owner refused to
meet.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn C. Truame
ILPC Secretary
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