Although the Cobblestone Historic District was already
established at the local level, it has been officially elevated to certified
status. As previously
discussed, the local only designation enabled additional oversight to
ensure unsympathetic changes were not being made to these historic buildings,
but it did not enable owners to utilize the historic tax credit program for
rehabilitation.
Preservation
Studios completed the certification application for the owners of the Iron Works at 49 Illinois Street, Sam Savarino, Roger Trettel, Ed Plata, and Dan
Mania to benefit the rehab of the vacant warehouse to a new bar/restaurant and
great live music venue. The building was built for the Queen City Engineering
Co. in 1902, which stayed there until 1965.
As a result, all the buildings located in the boundaries of
the Cobblestone Historic District are now eligible for the historic tax
credits, especially the intact 19th century complex at Illinois and
South Park Avenue, often called the Blacksmith Shops.
The complex has been crumbling under the neglectful
ownership of Darryl Carr who also owns and operates the Cobblestone Bar next
door. Carr has been in and out of housing court and approached several times to
sell the building, but has yet to budge. With any luck, the added incentive of
the historic tax credits will entice Carr to sell or finally make a move with
the buildings other than a slow demolition by neglect.
The Cobblestone Historic District was established in 1994
and includes a handful of buildings and the Cotter Fireboard dock (boundary
map here).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment