Politics & Government

Quick Hits: Commissioners Strip Home of Historic Designation, OK Bike Festival

Also at the Monday night meeting, Birmingham officials approved requests for the second annual Birmingham Bike Festival.

With the , and commissioner George Dilgard as its newest mayor pro tem, Monday night's meeting of the Birmingham City Commission was a busy one.

Here's a rundown of what also happened at the Monday night meeting:

Renovations cost downtown house historic designation 

Commissioners voted Monday to remove the historic designation from the Stewart House at 505 Townsend St.

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According to a presentation by city planner Shelia Bashiri, the current owner of the home — Donald Klein — has made several attempts to improve the house in recent years but was rejected by the state when he applied for tax incentives. Bashiri said due to additions and renovations to the home in the late 1980s, the state determined the home wasn't historic.

However, Bashiri said the city's historic district study committee wanted to retain the home's historic designation to protect it from developers in the future.

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According to Bashiri, the home received a major addition in 1989, bringing it to 5,000 square feet. However, the historic district committee noted the front has remained largely the same since the home was designated a historic home in 1976.

With the historic designation removed, Klein will have the freedom to make any kind of renovations without the approval of the state or the city's historic district commitee.

Commissioner Tom McDaniel noted he's the owner of a historic home and "It's never practical to force historic designation on an owner."

However commissioner Gordon Rinschler said taking away the historic designation is setting a precedent the city might regret.

"Should we change our rules just because the state changes theirs?" he said, noting historic designations have always been a local issue and the owner purchased the home in 2010 knowing its historic status.

However, historic preservation consultant Kristine Kidorf, who was brought in at Klein's request, said she reccomended removing the historic designation because of the specific circumstances in this case, noting one can barely tell the home is historic with all the renovations.

Ultimately, the commission voted 6-1 to remove the historic designation, with Rinschler voting against.

Menorah display, art fair approved

Also at the Monday night meeting, commissioners approved:

  • A request from the Birmingham Bloomfield Chai Center to display a menorah in from Dec. 20-28 and hold a lighting ceremony on Dec. 24.
  • A request to hold the Birmingham Bike Festival on Aug. 26, 2012.
  • A request to hold Common Ground's 38th annual Street Art Fair on South Old Woodward Avenue from Sept. 22-23, 2012, for the second year in a row.

By the numbers: Commissioners OK holiday promotion campaign

Commissioners approved various purchases Monday night, including:

  • $15,000: A transfer from the Automobile Parking System fund promotion account to help the Principal Shopping District create its 2011 holiday promotional TV campaign.
  • $9,686.79: The amount to repair Vector equipment from Jack Doheny Supplies Inc.
  • $12,350: The amount paid to J&J Excavating to fill a backyard sewer on the block between Yosemite Boulevard and Villa Avenue.


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