When an applicant wishes to demolish a landmark, a building or structure on a landmark site or a building or structure in the local historic district, the Commission shall negotiate with the applicant to see if an alternative to demolition can be found. The Commission may ask interested individuals and organizations for assistance in seeking an alternative to demolition and in obtaining estimates on rehabilitation costs for the threatened building. After its public hearing, the Commission may decide that a building or structure in the historic district or on a landmark site in the local historic district may be demolished because it does not contribute to the historic district or to a landmark. On all other demolition applications, the Commission shall study the question of economic hardship for the applicant and shall determine whether the landmark or property in the local historic district can be put to reasonable beneficial use without the approval of the demolition application. In the case of an income-producing building, the Commission shall also determine whether the applicant can obtain a reasonable return from his or her building. The Commission may ask applicants for additional information to be used in making these determinations. If economic hardship or the lack of a reasonable return is not proved, the Commission shall deny the demolition application unless the Commission finds grounds to grant the demolition application as outlined in § 158.499 “Criteria in Deciding on Applications”.
(Ord. 2496, passed 7-26-2004; Am. Ord. 2774, passed - -; Am. Ord. 2018-2916, passed 4-9-2018)