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Historical September 1976 report on the proposed Historic District, not current regulations.
The Committee met June 7th to prepare for Rosedale Neighborhood Association’s Annual Dinner and our presentation there, refreshing our memories about historic district business after the diversion of Art Fair-House Tour work. Lively discussion at R.N.A.’s dinner meeting prepared Committee members for the general meeting on the Historic District held June 24th at Scariot Hall, St. Roch’s Church.
The general meeting attempted to explain to old and new residents alike Skinker-DeBaliviere’s gradual involvement in neighborhood preservation by “self-help” methods from the formation of the Residential Service in the Spring of 1970 through the writing of the neighborhood history (1972-1973), up to the architectural survey for Heritage/St. Louis (1973-1975) which slid into our current involvement in a bid for Historic District status. Also intensely discussed were: 1) the reason for considering the addition of another reviewing body (Landmarks and Urban Design Commission) to that already demanded by the City when applying for a building permit (which you are required by law to do for almost anything you do to the inside or outside of your residence); 2) the reason for some of the specific standards printed in our April issue’s Historic District Supplement; and 3) whether or not we should attempt to put in our ordinance a specific call for review of the ordinance by the neighborhood association (Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council) every few years to ensure that any problems arising with enforcement of our ordinance would be corrected with neighborhood input.
A straw vote was taken at the end of the meeting to determine the general feeling of those interested in the Historic District idea about the issues discussed. The idea of a Historic District for Skinker-DeBaliviere was approved overwhelmingly (more than 8 to 1) with an almost even vote following which recommended exploration of the possibility of our ordinance requiring periodic neighborhood review (this is a legal question, and will be handed to the Community Development Agency for resolution). It was noted that in case of really serious problems with any portion of the ordinance, the alderman would be sure to receive instantaneous and possibly irate notification, but that modifications to the ordinance due to the passage of time and gradual changes could be handled to the best of their ability by the members of the Historic District Review Committee with resulting recommendations from this committee available for neighborhood discussion. Any resident was invited to make written recommendations to be included in the package of information to be sent to the Community Development Agency for its informal review of our so-far-determined standards.
Having been given encouragement to continue the Historic District Committee’s work, several members met July 7th at Alexander & Sons Mortuary on Delmar with a few members of the Delmar commercial community to explain the idea of a Historic District to those who —ere unaware of it, and to get a feel for the needs and desires of the area’s commercial people. At this meeting the idea evolved of extending our Historic District boundaries farther north, perhaps following the western city limit line northeast to its meeting with the Norfolk and Western tracks, then following the tracks southeast to the Delmar Station, which is already included in our proposed district.
By doing this, we would incorporate that residential, commercial and industrial area which presently belongs to no neighborhood association and provide some stability and continuity within the entire area. Adding this northern triangle to what has already been proposed would encourage highly acceptable business to remain, it was suggested, secure in the knowledge that there would be adequate control over any kind of new development or rehabilitation of the area which might affect them in any way, and would specifically help businesses now located on the north side of Delmar. The concept of making personal contact with business people of the area when explaining the Historic District idea, to be followed by a general meeting of commercial owners and business people in late August or early September was endorsed, and committee members will continue working on that project. To assess just where we are with regard to preparation of the actual ordinance, the Committee met Friday, August 13, at the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council office with Myles Pomeroy of the Community Development Agency. Currently, C. D. A. is working on long-range planning for the Central West End (that’s us, officially, too), giving the Skinker-DeBaliviere area a unique opportunity for input into the City’s long-range plan. Although our Historic District still has no firm boundaries, our standards as printed in the April Supplement have now been informally sent to C.D.A. for review (do we violate existing codes, can we legally ask this or that of residents, etc.), along with the written recommendations we have so far received (a total of 2, received at the general meeting in June). We are to get a response from C.D.A. by September 1. The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council Board will meet Mon., September 13 and members will receive copies of the C.D.A. response, with a special Board meeting on Historic District (about boundaries, response, upto-date progress report, etc.) tentatively scheduled for the following week. Results of that meeting will return to C.D.A. where work will begin on the base map and legal description of the boundaries.
When all changes are approved and all decisions made by both C.D.A. and S.D.C.C. (including the architectural rating survey which may not be completed until the end of October—we’re currently standing in line), the ordinance as it will be submitted_ by our alderman, Vince Schoemehl, Jr., will be published in The Paper.
On the question of review of building permits for Historic Districts by the Landmarks and Urban Design Commission, our local consultant (and new neighbor), Carolyn Toft, says that in cities throughout the country the most successful ordinances have been those with good specific standards and architect-drawn graphic illustrations of these standards within the ordinance itself. The easier it is for anyone of reasonable intelligence to make a determination as to whether or not a proposed change in existing building fronts or suggested new development fits our neighborhood-determined standards, the faster an owner or developer can get an answer on his proposal. That makes sense, and the Committee will begin looking for skilled volunteer help immediately. Any suggestions of people skilled in architectural proposal. That makes sense, and the Committee will begin looking for skilled volunteer help immediately. Any suggestions of people skilled in architectural drawing should be made to the S.D.C.C. office or Sue Tepas (863-3787) at once. Also needed are volunteers to contact the business community and to serve on the Historic District Review Committee, a standing committee of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council which will try to serve as shopping and material consultants as well as liaison on legal interpretations of our ordinance.
Also, we still have in the back of our collective mind the idea of someday running a cooperative materials exchange/ shop where interior and exterior details (hardware, plumbing, woodwork, doors, etc.) could be held for resale to someone who needs a stairway spindle, a piece of molding, a faucet handle to match one remaining on the sink, etc., to preserve the interior or exterior integrity of a building wherever possible. So don’t throw anything away when you do your necessary modernization—give your neighbors a chance at it first! Call me and I’ll find someplace to stash it until someone needs it. And for heaven’s sake be careful when you remove anything, your “junk” could become the focal point of someone else’s livingroom, diningroom, bedroom, kitchen or bath, or of their front porch or roofline! New materials are expensive, replacement materials are impossible! THINK BEFORE YOU THROW!
Originally published in The Paper, September 1976.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: The passage beginning “proposal. That makes sense” repeats in the original continuation; both copies retained.
Original source: SD_Times1976_09.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 8; PDF page(s) 1, 8.
