The Orange Historic Preservation Commission on Monday will decide whether or not two houses in the Old Orange Historic District should be allowed to be demolished.
Chrisleigh Dal Sasso is asking to tear down 1001 Orange Avenue. The city is asking to demolish 97 Cherry Avenue near Simmons Drive. Under the rules of the historic district, the commission must approve demolitions.
The request from Dal Sasso for the house on Orange Avenue says “due to increased maintenance costs and potential costs of repairing structural damage to the home, owner would prefer to demolish.”
City Planning Director Kelvin Knauf in a memo said the exterior is not deteriorated, but Dal Sasso says the interior is deteriorated. Knauf also said Dal Sasso reports a vagrant has gotten inside to sleep.
On the Cherry Avenue house, Knauf said the city is requesting the demolition because a wall is missing and the municipal court judge has declared it as substandard.
In other business, the city is asking the commission to review possible historic significance to 13 other houses spread across town, several in the Cove area. The city annually uses federal community development block grant money to demolish dilapidated houses.
The commission will meet Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Neighborhood Facility Building, 303 Eighth Street north of the police station. Public comments will be allowed.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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