11/10/2003 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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? Letter to Carl Halleen from P. Barker requesting a copy of the demolition survey Packet from Cleveland Restoration Societyregarding Heritage Home Loan Program Mr. Lang mentioned the invitation to an informational breakfast meeting about the program. He said that given the city's financial condition and some of the other programs that are out there, he is not sure the city would be of a mind to participate in the program this year. He said it might be a good idea to attend the breakfast. They might hear something that would give them a little spark to provide to the administration or any other committees that may be of significance tothis program. Mr. Lang mentioned he has the latest edition of the Forum Journal, which will be placed into the files. He also has the latest Preservation Magazine to pass around. Mrs. Davis mentioned there is a great article in the magazine about Chestertown, 1VID. Mr. Lang said there was a"battle of the big box" in Chestertown. It is a community on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay. It began in 1992 with an application by Wal-Mart to build a 150,000 square foot box store on the outskirts of town. The coinmunity became very divided over it. It seems similar to the West End project in Lakewood. The end result was that this little community was able to prevent Wal-Mart from building its store. He said when he got to the end of the article he found something that is the hallmark of preservation itself and one of the basic purposes of this commission. The Mayor of Chestertown made the following comment: "Look, memories are helped by an atmosphere and a sense of place. Are we going to get memories in a concrete parking lot? I don't think so." Mr. Lang said in the past year or more of the board's participation in CVS, Halleen I and Halleen II, and all the other construction projects they have in this community, all they seem to be able to point to is more concrete. This is the beginning of the loss of any sense of history and sense of community. There doesn't seem to be much that anybody can do about it and it's very tragic. This one particular coinmunity was able to arm itself but it took about ten years for the process to unfold rather than six months. It took inany lawsuits to which the city was a party, and a commitment on the part of the city to fight. That does not seem to be the case in a lot of other places, but Chestertown dates back to the 1600's, whereas North Olmsted goes back to 1815. He said that kind of fight requires a treinendous organization. We may have the nucleus but we don't have the manpower, we don't have the budget, or the tiine available. Mrs. VanAuken said the quote should be kept, perhaps written down, as it is a good model and it is apropos to any place where there should be a sense of time and place, and not a parking lot. Mr. Lang said there was a phrase on the homecoming poster that was very similar to this quote. He said they have the ideal, the philosophy and the desire. What they need is a tremendous time commitment and opportunity, which they do not seem to have. He said they are missing a commitment on the part of the entire city administration. He said he will mention Council as well because he does not know how committed they are. Landmarks is a charter cominission and they are trying to function but when you haven't got the teeth and you are missing some of the bark, no one will pay a whole lot of attention. Mr. Lang acknowledged a letter he received from Mrs. VanAuken who announced her intention to resign from the Landmarks Commission at the completion of her term, the end of the year. He said the letter will be submitted into the record (see attached). Mr. Lang said on behalf of the entire commission, Mrs. VanAuken will be sorely missed because of her expertise, her longevity, and her knowledge. He said he can't think of another person on the coinmission as indispensable as she is. Mrs. VanAuken said she will miss being part of the commission. Mr. Barker said he would like to use Mrs. VanAuken on a consulting basis. Nlrs. VanAuken said she would like to remain a"Friend of the Landmarks Commission" and until someone else is found, she would be willing to continue to speak to various groups. She said she is able to help during the daytime hours. Mr. Barker said it has been a pleasure working with Mrs. VanAuken. Mrs. VanAuken said she feels the same way about the commission. Mr. O'Malley asked when Mrs. VanAuken started on the commission. Mrs. VanAuken replied she was a member of the commission that was originally set up as part of the bicentennial celebration of the city. The Bicentennial Commission was chaired by Betty Lord. That is how it all got started. The first Landmarks Commission was chaired 2