Title
Due Diligence and Deterioration in Historic Properties (NB)
Explanation
On April 2, 2015, the City Commission referred this item to the Community Development Committee to investigate methods of notifying purchasers of properties in historic districts to conduct due diligence on the properties and to not allow properties to deteriorate as a method of stimulating demolition approval.
The Community Development Committee has discussed this issue at its May 6 and July 1, 2015 meetings. At the July meeting, the Committee agreed to:
1) Endorse a formal request to the Alachua County Property Appraiser to add a Historic designation to the property records.
2) Endorse a request to the Realtor’s MLS Forms Committee for an additional similar historic designation.
3) Endorse continued education to the Realtor community for historic preservation and historic districts.
4) Request that staff develop a proposal and funding for alternatives to demolition for abatement of properties such as addition of roofs or repairs of properties to avoid demolition; to include communication between Codes Enforcement and the Historic Preservation Board for identification of those properties.
5) Request that staff develop a proposal for a collaborative approach among utility and city departments to meet on a regular basis at a minimum and to also consider some type of a revolving fund.
Fiscal Note
None.
Recommendation
The Community Development Committee discuss having a joint meeting with the Historic Preservation Board regarding demolition by neglect, to consider best practices for historic preservation and to develop procedures on how to handle neglected, historic properties.