pages: CityCouncil/2013-02-05.pdf, 5
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CityCouncil | 2013-02-05 | 5 | The Acting City Planner stated the City would be pursuing design guidelines for new construction; the City and the Navy have always understood there would be new construction in the historic district; changes to and/or rehabilitation of a number of the historic buildings is anticipated; buildings have disintegrated badly the last 15 years, which is a challenge because original materials can no longer be found; Saint Joseph's school recently replaced all windows on a historic building with a modern material designed to look historic, which worked out; challenges can be overcome in both new construction and rehabilitation. In response to Councilmember Tam's inquiry regarding moving disintegrating buildings, the Acting City Planner stated the City is receiving the property with a district listed on the National Register; challenges include eliminating buildings that cannot be reused, fixing buildings, or building new buildings within the district; guidelines are important and should help; guidelines have been helpful elsewhere in the City; the City works with the Historic Advisory Board and historic community to establish guidelines and reach agreement about what is acceptable and what may not be acceptable. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the staff report indicates the Navy determined that none of the individual buildings were eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, however 86 buildings qualify as a historic district; inquired whether the distinction makes a difference and allows more flexibility. The Acting City Planner responded the distinction is important, the City is dealing with a historic district in which none of the individual buildings are individually eligible for listing; California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) asks whether the changes meet a certain threshold; the district has to maintain eligibility to be on the National Register; dealing with new construction and changes to individual buildings should be a little easier. The Chief Operating Officer - Alameda Point stated an example is the Alameda Theater, which is not a historic property, but contributes to the Park Street Historic District; the City jumped through hoops to build the Cineplex and parking garage because of the historic district designation. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft noted the language assumes there will be new construction in the historic district. Councilmember Chen inquired if CEQA would treat the property as a historic district whether or not Council passes the proposal, to which the Chief Operating Officer - Alameda Point responded in the affirmative; stated the nomination will be accepted at some point and under CEQA, the City would have to treat the resources as historic. Councilmember Chen inquired if declaring the historic district is in line and more consistent with the National Register. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 5 February 5, 2013 | CityCouncil/2013-02-05.pdf |