nothin Another Historic Demolition By Neglect Looms | New Haven Independent

Another Historic Demolition By Neglect Looms

Allan Appel Photo

The 19th century carriage house set back behind 515 Quinnipiac Ave.

As one historic east side building faced faced imminent demolition, the owner of another historic structure, a charming 19th century carriage house on nearby Quinnipiac Avenue, said he can no longer afford to keep it standing and asked for permission to tear it down.

Historic District Commissioners heard his plea, then denied it.

Yet, echoing the fate of the Brewery Square gatehouse, the commissioners expressed the fear that their very denial — and the public attention their deliberation brings to the structure — might ironically result in the carriage house’s loss.

Higgins argues his case for demolition.

That was the shape of an ominous, even agonizing conversation that unfolded Wednesday night in the second floor meeting room at City Hall, at the regular meeting of the Historic District Commission (HDC).

The owner of the 515 Quinnipiac Ave. carriage house Kenneth Higgins, had once resided there. He now lives in Madison, He was back before the HDC for a second appearance making his plea that the carriage house is so far gone — its foundation, heavy slate roof, sill plates all extensively deteriorated— that he can’t afford to fix it.

Because the house sits on property Higgins rents, he fears, he said, that his tenants or neighbors will be in danger unless the structure is brought down.

After his first appearance, the commissioners arranged for the preservation expert Brad Schide and the New Haven Preservation Trust’s Elizabeth Holt to visit the property to assess options and perhaps offer Higgins some support if he decides to shoulder the expense of emergency renovations.

The report did document serious conditions. Commissioners Wednesday night asked Higgins how he would like to proceed.

Brad came and looked and made a report. I’m still looking in the same direction,” he responded.

You’re the applicant,” not Schide, HDC Chair Trina Learned pressed.

My status is to take down an unsafe property on a property where there are tenants. The report was that it was very expensive to save it and the cost is prohibitive,” he said.

Commissioner Doug Royalty asked how, over the 30 years Higgins has owned the house, he has tried to take care of it.

Higgins recited the current problems: The slate roof, the gutter system, the sill plates all need serious repair. The structural support of the building is coming down. The foundation is crumbling. Over the years we used lolly columns, but that’s not successful.”

Commissioners Tom Kimberly and Trina Learned

After the commissioners’ polite interrogation, members of the public weighed in, starting with Quinnipiac Avenue resident and longtime preservation activist Chris Ozyck.

The structure is charming,’ Ozyck began. He called its potential demolition a disservice” to the neighborhood. He suggested that in today’s economy that the carriage house, if salvaged, could be a successful bed and breakfast.

He ended on a darker note: One of the subtexts here is that these out-buildings are on the tax rolls.” By taking it down, he’ll resolve some [tax] liability. That’s unfortunate.”

Another Q Avenue neighbor, Ian Christmann, echoed Ozyck. He expressed frustration that the owner hasn’t done more to save the structure. The city and or the commissioners themselves — through regular visits or fines —have also done little to police the integrity of such structures in the historic district, he charged.

Fair Haven attorney Marjorie Shansky then rose to note that many buildings in the Quinnipiac River Historic District are imperiled. She cited the city ordinance pertinent to the HDCSection 54 E/2B requires that membership must include someone in the applicable district.”

Chair Trina Learned conceded that that seat is vacant.

If a property in the Quinnipiac Historic District is being discussed, a decision rendered by the board without such a member might be invalid, Shansky respectfully argued. The commissioners noted the point.

Fair Haven attorney Pat Kane joins the argument for greater HDC powers.

Another Fair Haven attorney, Patricia Kane, pressed a different angle: I have difficulty with owners coming in to say, It’s in bad shape; let’s knock it down.’ Maybe we need remedial legislation if the Building Department can overrule the HDC” by issuing emergency demolition orders.

The New Haven Preservation Trust’s Elizabeth Holt then paraphrased the report that Schide wrote: Water damage has indeed caused serious issues that might have been mitigated. We did not come up with an amount,” she added, because we didn’t feel the owner’s commitment. This will be demolition by neglect — like the gatehouse [at Brewery Square — and it’s an issue we all need to address.”

It’s a difficult position” for HDC, said Commissioner Royalty. We’re seeing a lot of demoliton by neglect. I’m not sure of our options. But I want to endorse that this is a character-filled building.”

I see an unfortunate cycle,” said Commissioner Susan Godshall. One of the results of our deliberation is that the structure is in the public eye, and if an inspector declares an emergency, if the order were triggered by our thoughtful deliberation, that is upsetting.”

The HDC chairwoman saw it differently, and starkly. This building is very much part” of the character of the district, she said. To be asked to sanction its destruction, to be its executioner, I’m just not comfortable with that.”

It still may happen,” said Godshall.

With that, Commissioner Knight night moved to deny the request for demolition. The motion passed unanimously.

Your application has been denied,” Learned said to Higgins.

As he walked out of the meeting room, Higgins had no comment.

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