Hello, I hope you can assist with my question(s). I live a block from a former utlity company building. The building was originally constructed in 1939, art deco elements still adorn the building (planters, reliefs, windows etc...). The building has gone through 2 additional construction phases, 1959(?) and 196(something). I could be more specific if necessary. My question(s) are as follows: *the city where I live has 'tasked' the residents of single family homes, surronding the building, to find alternative uses for the building. A developer has created a plan to turn the building into a multi-family apartment building (the surronding historic community does not want this building to become an apartment building). The interior of the building has the original terrazo(sp?) floors, transom(sp?) doors, tile work through out the building, numerous art deco elements and so on. It's a great building. One alternative use proposal was to create a Neighborhood Center (preserving the Art Deco portion of the building while removing the later additions) to house a wide variety of community orgainizations. The community as a whole would like to see the building torn down or turned over for a community use. Many feel that the best use would be the preservation of the Art Deco portion of the building while removing the later construction. Is this an area of interest to your orgainizatation? Please respond at your earliest convience. Thank you, Colleen

-- Colleen (aistis1@starpower.net), June 11, 2001

Answers

Response to preserving a 1939 former utility company in a residental neighborhood

Colleen,

I am aware of the building you are referring to and it would be a great example of original Art Deco and how its preservation can contribute to quality of life for community residents as an historic Community Center. If the new additions were "deconstructed" the grounds could be turned into a period garden of low growing shrubs, fountains, sculptures, etc with benches. Gail Houle

-- Gail Houle (gail_houle@ed.gov), June 12, 2001.