SR-10-27-2015-3G
City Council
Report
City Council Regular Meeting: October 27, 2015
Agenda Item: 3.G
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Planning and Community Development,
ARB/Landmarks (PCD)
Subject: Approval of Interior Testing of the Former United States Post Office Located
at 1248 5th Street.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council approve the procedural protocol and testing, as
described in a May 7, 2015 report prepared by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates,
Incorporated, an Illinois based company, for inte rior portions of the former United States
Post Office building located at 1248 5th Street, a designated City Landmark.
Executive Summary
The property owner is requesting approval to conduct analysis to obtain information for
use in evaluating options for the proposed restoration and rehabilitation of the former
United States Post Office building. Although exterior portions of the building are
protected through landmark designation, certain historic interior features of the building
require discreet Council approval for any alteration, which includes testing and the
temporary removal of features for analytical purposes.
Background
On August 27, 2013, the Council approved a preservation covenant for the former
Downtown Post Office building, in order to protect its historic significance. The covenant
prohibits owners of the property from undertaking any construction, alteration or
rehabilitation on the property that would affect the historic features of the property which
include, among others, the mass and plan of the main façade, the poured concrete
siding, the wood frame windows, the ornate groves in exterior walls, pilasters, columns,
exterior motifs and the ornamental metal fence. Specified interior features include the
original hanging light fixtures, marble wainscoting, horizontal wood walls and ceilings,
metal staircase rails, and tall tables. By taking this action, the United States Postal
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Service was able to proceed with the sale of the property to a private party, with the
preservation covenant attached as a rider to the grant deed. In addition, the trans fer of
the property to a private party enabled regulation by local ordinances, including the
City's Landmark Ordinance.
On March 10, 2014, the Landmarks Commission designated the former Post Office
building and the parcel on which it is situated as a Landmark and Landmark parcel. In
doing so, the protection of any historic feature included in the designation would be
achieved pursuant to the Landmarks Ordinance, specifically the issuance of a
Certificate of Appropriateness. However, as the designatio n did not include any interior
portion or elements of the building, the protection of any of these identified features, as
specified in the historic covenant, can only be accomplished through Council approval.
A Certificate of Appropriateness is only relevant to those features specifically identified
in the landmark designation.
Discussion
The property owner is requesting Council approval to investigate the as-built
construction of typical interior features and assemblages, including those protected by
the historic covenant. The property owner has retained the services of Wiss, Janney,
Elstner (WJE) Associates who have developed a procedural protocol for conducting this
investigation. Their May 7, 2015 report is included as Attachment A. In general, the
proposed investigation includes the temporary removal of surfaces such as tiles for in-
depth laboratory study and analysis and the careful reinstallation of any material
removed. In order to analyze the concealed conditions of the building, small holes, up
to one-half inch in diameter, will be drilled in unobtrusive locations to allow fiberoptic
borescope access. In certain other situations, panels of the wood finishes, will be
removed, analyzed and reinstalled. As all of these testing scenarios are technically
“altering” the protected interior features, Council approval is mandated in accordance
with the protective historic covenant.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
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There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of t he
recommended action.
Prepared By: Scott Albright, Senior Planner
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Attachment A - Consultant Report for former United States Post Office Interior
Testing