Any property owner who receives notice from the city of the existence of a substandard building on the owner’s property may, within 15 calendar days of the receipt of such notice, notify the city in writing, by delivery to the office of the City Clerk, that the owner claims that the building qualifies for historic restoration. Within 60 days of the date of receipt of notice, the owner shall file, in writing at the office of the City Clerk, a historic restoration plan which shall include the following.
(A) Historic restoration plan requirements.
(1) A brief history of the property and substandard building structure; the date of construction; the identity of prior owners; historic and current photographs; date of purchase by present owners; and facts or circumstances to support the conclusion that the building has historic significance, including those factors described in § 32.236 for a historic site.
(2) (a) A detailed description of the improvements and repairs to be accomplished, including methods, specifications and materials; a time schedule for each phase of work to the date of final completion; identity of contractors, artisans and others who will provide labor for the project; estimated cost of each phase of the project and total estimated cost of the restoration.
(b) The work necessary to eliminate the substandard conditions shall be given priority and scheduled in the first phases of the restoration project, to the extent reasonably possible.
(3) Evidence of financial resources or approved financing sufficient to complete the restoration.
(B) Building official review. Following the filing of a historic restoration plan, the Building Official will review the plan for compliance and discuss with the owner any deficiencies or need for clarifications. The building official may make recommendations to the Historic Preservation Commission.
(C) Historic Preservation Commission review. Within 30 days of the submission of a historic restoration plan, the Historic Preservation Commission shall review the plan and provide, to the City Council, recommendations for modifications, acceptance or rejection of the plan.
(D) Council review. Within 30 days of receipt of the recommendations of the Historic Preservation Commission, the City Council shall consider a historic restoration plan and shall either approve, approve with modifications, or reject such plan. If a plan is rejected, the property owner shall have a period of 90 calendar days from the date of rejection of the plan to repair or remove the substandard building.
(E) Historic restoration contract. If a plan is approved, the property owner is required to enter into a binding contract with the city to perform and fulfill the approved historic restoration plan within three years of the date of the contract. If the restoration project is not timely completed, the city shall have the right to eliminate the substandard conditions, to demolish the structure or to pursue other remedies available at law or in equity.
(F) Project sign. The owner of each building subject to an approved historic restoration plan shall maintain at the project site, during the duration of the project, a sign provided by the city, advising that the site is the subject of a historic restoration, the date of completion and that the plan is available for review at the city hall.
(Prior Code, § 8-1A-7) (Ord. 675, passed 9-2-2008)