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Preserving, promoting and protecting Utah’s
historic built environment since 1966.
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Preservation ENEWSletter
January 27, 2009
If you are not yet a member of our organization, please consider becoming a member. Online membership now available!
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Millcreek planners weigh new rules for McMansions
Jeremiah Stettler – The Salt Lake Tribune, January 26, 2009
The protracted battle over mega-homes in Millcreek is intensifying as township planners pitch their proposed rules for bridling big houses in this east-side suburb.
It's the latest attempt to strike a balance between property owners who want to replace their decades-old bungalows with multi-level McMansions and neighbors who fret that builders will reshape their skylines, snug too close to property lines and decrease their home values.
The proposed rules blend black-and-white restrictions on building height, lot coverage and property setbacks with a grayer (and perhaps more flexible) code that allows for larger homes, so long as they are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
A fair balance? Time will tell for this midvalley township of 65,000 people that stretches from the Jordan River to the eastern foothills. But the proposal already has drawn fire from leading advocates on both sides: one arguing that the rules don't go far enough, the other countering that they go too far.
"We need this infusion of investment -- this infusion of families and children -- to keep this community viable," insists Canyon Rim homeowner Gary Cornum. Make some minor tweaks to the building code, "but not sweeping changes like what has been proposed."
Cornum, who represents a community coalition known as Responsible Renewal that opposes stricter standards, built his home less than a decade ago. His house isn't extravagant -- about 2,000 square feet above ground -- but Cornum says the new rules probably would have frowned on it. It's too tall, for one thing, and too close to the edge of his property.
But homes like his boost the tax base, he says, and attract families that may not settle in a 900-square-foot brick bungalow. He worries that more restrictive (and more complicated) building codes will discourage developers and lead to neighborhoods with fewer long-term families and more rental units.
Trouble is, builders are dreaming too big. So argues the BuildWise coalition, which has lobbied the county for more rigid restrictions. The proposed rules are promising, they say, but may not be enough.
The Millcreek Planning Commission "has made a good start and worked hard on it," says BuildWise spokeswoman and homeowner Lucy Jordan. "But, as we have said all along, the devil is in the details."
She fears the new standards -- which would allow builders to increase the size of their homes based on average heights and setbacks already in a neighborhood -- could allow homes that obstruct views, block sunlight, reduce backyard privacy and lead to a decline in property values.
"We are still evaluating whether, and to what extent, the guidelines in the proposal would actually accomplish the goal of protecting privacy and ensuring that homes that are built or rebuilt in the neighborhood are proportional with other homes," Jordan says. But, at this point, "we are very concerned that it doesn't go far enough."
The Millcreek Planning Commission will meet Feb. 19 with representatives of the township's four community councils to determine whether the rules strike the proper balance between those competing property rights. A public hearing will follow sometime this spring. Ultimately, the Salt Lake County Council would have to approve any ordinance.
Planning Commission Chairman Gary Sackett hopes the community soon may resolve this longstanding debate. Does the criticism on both sides discourage him? Not really.
"If everybody goes away mad," he muses, "then maybe we are where we ought to be."
ALSO IN THIS EDITION:
Historic commission to honor homes – Laura Giles, Daily Herald, January 15, 2009
Critics fear development would dwarf Park City's Main Street – Christopher Smart, The Salt Lake Tribune, January 24, 2009
Brew Pubs Gain an Unlikely Following in Utah – Vanessa Chang, New York Times, January 25, 2009
HISTORIC BUILDINGS FOR SALE OR LEASE
ARCHITECTURE AND PRESERVATION AROUND THE GLOBE
SAVE THESE DATES FOR UHF EVENTS
NEW FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Utah’s National Register is ONLINE!
Utah's National Register of Historic Places nominations have been digitized and are now online.
The following link is to the National Register search page:
<
http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.do?searchtype=natreghome>
http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.do?searchtype=natreghome
LOCAL ARCHITECTURE AND PRESERVATION
Historic commission to honor homes – Laura Giles, Daily Herald, January 15, 2009
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/296214/999999/
Critics fear development would dwarf Park City's Main Street – Christopher Smart, The Salt Lake Tribune, January 24, 2009
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11539808?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Brew Pubs Gain an Unlikely Following in Utah – Vanessa Chang, New York Times, January 25, 2009
http://events.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/travel/25journeys.html
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HISTORIC BUILDINGS FOR SALE OR LEASE
(For more information about listing in this section, inquire at <mailto:enews@???> enews@???.)
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ARCHITECTURE AND PRESERVATION AROUND THE GLOBE
How Chicago landscape inspired D.C. - Daniel Burnham and his design team from the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 came together again in 1901 to remake the National Mall – Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune, January 20, 2009
<
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0120-malljan20,0,3219462.story>
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0120-malljan20,0,3219462.story
Radical architect Jan Kaplický dies – Robert Booth, guardian.co.uk, January 15, 2009
<
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/jan/15/architect-jan-kaplicky-dies>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/jan/15/architect-jan-kaplicky-dies
Preservation Chicago's "Chicago Seven": A good list, but take it with a Sears Tower-size grain of salt – Blair Kamin, The Skyline, January 27, 2009
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http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/01/what-to-make-of-preservation-chicagos-chicago-seven-list-of-the-citys-most-endangered-places-.html>
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/01/what-to-make-of-preservation-chicagos-chicago-seven-list-of-the-citys-most-endangered-places-.html
National Trust names dozen destinations with history well preserved – Rebecca Heslin, USA Today, January 13, 2009
<
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-01-13-dozen-distinctive-destinations_N.htm>
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-01-13-dozen-distinctive-destinations_N.htm
Plans to preserve Tiger Stadium get preliminary OK – Associated Press, USA Today, January 20, 2009
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http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/tigers/2009-01-20-stadium-plans_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip>
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/tigers/2009-01-20-stadium-plans_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
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SAVE THESE DATES FOR UHF EVENTS
April 30 – May 2
Utah Preservation Conference
Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City
Tell us what you want to hear about! Submit an Education Session Proposal Form NOW!
<
http://www.utahheritagefoundation.com/tours-and-events/preservation-conference/2009pc/182-edusessionform>
http://www.utahheritagefoundation.com/tours-and-events/preservation-conference/2009pc/182-edusessionform
Traditional Building Skills Institute Workshops – Ephraim, UT
For full calendar, visit their website: <
http://www.snow.edu/tbsi/class-schedule.html>
http://www.snow.edu/tbsi/class-schedule.html
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NEW FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
NTHPlogo
<
http://www.PreservationNation.org>
www.PreservationNation.org
Stories of the Week
America's Melting Pot – As New York City Moves to Protect the Lower East Side, Chinatown Is Left Out in the Cold.
Meghan Hogan, Online Only, Jan. 16, 2009
<
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2009/story-of-the-week/americas-melting-pot.html>
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2009/story-of-the-week/americas-melting-pot.html
A Hollywood Ending in New Orleans – Paramount Spiffs up a House for Brad Pitt's Movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Vance Muse, Online Only, Jan. 9, 2009
<
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2009/story-of-the-week/a-hollywood-ending-in-new.html>
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2009/story-of-the-week/a-hollywood-ending-in-new.html
Public Policy Weekly Bulletin
<
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/newsletters/public-policy-weekly-bulletin/PPWB_01-16-09_FINAL_web.pdf> January 16, 2009, Vol. 4, Issue 2 - In this issue of Public Policy Weekly Bulletin read about the House Leadership's unveiling of its $825 billion economic stimulus package and the National Trust's proposal for the tax portion of that package.
<
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/newsletters/public-policy-weekly-bulletin/PPWB_01-16-09_FINAL_web.pdf>
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/newsletters/public-policy-weekly-bulletin/PPWB_01-16-09_FINAL_web.pdf
<
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/newsletters/public-policy-weekly-bulletin/PPWB_01-16-09_FINAL_web.pdf> January 16, 2009, Vol. 4, Issue 2 - Senate to Vote on Omnibus Lands Package with SAT, Preserve
America and Conservation System Authorization Bills
<
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/newsletters/public-policy-weekly-bulletin/PPWB_01-09-09_FINAL_web.pdf>
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/newsletters/public-policy-weekly-bulletin/PPWB_01-09-09_FINAL_web.pdf
Teardown Tools on the Web – An Online Guide for Planners, Homeowners, and Advocates.
Highlights approximately 30 tools that are being used by communities around the country in response to teardowns with direct web links to more than 300 examples in 32 states. Teardown Tools on the Web is part of the Teardowns Initiative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and intended as an easy-to-share, user-friendly, one-stop-shop for people looking for tools to better manage teardowns. <
http://www.preservationnation.org/teardowns/>
http://www.preservationnation.org/teardowns/
Subscribe to National Trust newsletters at <
http://member.nationaltrust.org/site/PageServer?pagename=enews_signups>
http://member.nationaltrust.org/site/PageServer?pagename=enews_signups
Seeking funds for planning your preservation project or to hire a consultant to get that project off the ground? Apply for a grant from the Utah Preservation Initiatives Fund (UPIF) by contacting Amy Cole at the National Trust for Historic Preservation at <mailto:amy_cole@???> amy_cole@??? or (303) 623-1504. Grants are available in three rounds per year – February 1, June 1 and October 1 – and awarded on a competitive basis!
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