|
Title:
|
***ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SEE ATTACHED MEMO)*** Conservation Easement Release- 717 E. Southern Ave. (a.k.a. 715 E. Southern Ave.), Roosevelt Park Historic District (Ordinance S-45787)
|
Title
***ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SEE ATTACHED MEMO)*** Conservation Easement Release- 717 E. Southern Ave. (a.k.a. 715 E. Southern Ave.), Roosevelt Park Historic District (Ordinance S-45787)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to rerelase the ca. 1948 parsonage located at 717 E. Southern Ave. (a.k.a. 715 E. Southern Ave.) from the restrictions of the conservation easement to allow the owner to apply for a demolition permit. There is no financial impact to the City.
Report
Summary
This location is known historically as the Neighborhood Congregational Church. The subject property is located at the southeast corner of 7th Street and Southern Avenue in the Roosevelt Park Historic District. The district was listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register in March 2003. The Neighborhood Congregational Church was formally organized in 1918, although newspaper articles indicate that services began as early as 1916. The congregation met at the Neighborhood House at 6029 South 7th Street until a new church building was constructed on adjacent land donated by Dwight and Maie Heard.
Construction of the church building began in 1941, and the dedication took place in 1944. Designed by the architectural firm of Lescher & Mahoney, the church is a late but excellent example of the Mission Revival Style, utilizing stuccoed exterior walls, a gable roof sheathed with red clay tile, a curvilinear parapet and a bell tower. The church has had several additions, all of which are sympathetic to the original design. There is also an original parsonage dating to ca. 1918 (a.k.a. the “south residence”) and a later parsonage constructed ca. 1948 (a.k.a. the “north residence”).
In March 2006, the Neighborhood Congregational Church (then known as South Mountain Community Church) submitted an application requesting $38,361 in Historic Preservation Bond Funds to assist with rehabilitation of the church building and the two parsonages. This application was approved by the City Council on May 3, 2006. Records show that between 2007 and 2009 a total of $33,926.27 in funds were expended by the City. In exchange for the grant funds, the City received a 20-year conservation easement on the property. The Deed of Conservation Easement was executed on May 24, 2006 and was recorded on May 9, 2007. The conservation easement will expire on May 24, 2026. In August 2016, the Neighborhood Congregational Church sold the property to Crosier Village of Phoenix, an Arizona non-profit corporation. Founded in 1210, the Crosier Fathers and Brothers are a Roman Catholic religious community dedicated to living together in community.
In June 2016, prior to the sale of the property, a representative of Crosier Village of Phoenix inquired about demolition of the two parsonage buildings in order to allow new development on the site. Historical Preservation (HP) staff responded that both buildings contributed to the historic character of the property, had HP zoning, and were subject to the conservation easement, which prevented demolition. Discussion regarding demolition continued through 2017 and 2018.
Concept Letter
In January 2019, staff received a letter along with a concept plan proposing that the ca. 1918 parsonage remain in place with its currently enclosed front porch to be reopened, and that the ca. 1948 parsonage be demolished in order to construct a new building with a larger footprint in the same general location. The new structure would be a two-story, 12,771-square-foot Priory Building with residences for the Crosier Fathers and Brothers. One of the four palms in front of the ca. 1948 parsonage would also be removed. Staff has agreed to take the request to the HP Commission and City Council to get an answer on the demolition issue. Staff visited the property on March 14, 2019 and observed that both parsonage buildings were in good condition.
Staff is appreciative of the applicant’s willingness to save and restore the ca. 1918 parsonage and is sympathetic to the need for additional living space. However, staff recommends that the request to release the City's interest in the conservation easement for the eventual demolition of the ca. 1948 parsonage be denied for the following reasons:
The building contributes to the historic character of the property and the Roosevelt Park Historic District. Roosevelt Park is a small district with a limited number of contributing properties.
HP grant funds were used specifically to reroof the structure and to power wash and paint its exterior.
The applicant was aware of the conservation easement and its associated restrictions prior to purchasing the property.
There appears to be ample space on the site to allow new construction to occur without having to demolish the existing historic buildings.
In the event the City Council does recommend release of its interest in the ca. 1948 parsonage to allow a demolition permit to be requested, there would still be a one-year restraint of demolition from the denial date by the Historic Preservation Officer per Section 813 of the Zoning Ordinance and staff recommends including the following stipulations:
That the applicant repay the City the amount of $3,140.80, which, based on payment records, is the total amount of grant funds expended on the ca. 1948 parsonage.
That the Deed of Conservation Easement be amended to extend the term of the easement an additional 10 years.
That the ca. 1918 parsonage be preserved and its enclosed front porch reopened prior to the demolition of the ca. 1948 parsonage.
Financial Impact
There should be no financial impact to the City.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Historic Preservation Commission heard the request on March 18, 2019 and recommended denial, by a vote of 4-2.
Location
717 E. Southern Ave.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Planning and Development Department.