7.3. HRSR 01-27-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Recommendation—The HPC not only recommends that Jackson Avenue parking lot not have buildings constructed on it,but further,if parking can be accommodated elsewhere,that it be restored to a central square containing park amenities. Elk River Meats i. Records indicate that this building has continuously been operated as a meat market since it was originally constructed. The continuity of the service provided in this building is witness to its value to the culture of Elk River. v. This low profile building is indicative of small town commercial buildings for the period when it was built. viii. Not only does the Elk River Meat building represent a established and familiar visual feature,the continuity of the service provided increases its significance. Recommendation-The HPC recommends that the Elk River Meat building be retained. Elk River Municipal Building i. Over the years,this building has played a key roll in the development of Elk River being a former library, city offices, fire station and jail. v. The inverted roof in this building is a unique architectural form. viii. This building's long standing adjacent to a main corridor through the community • and its many public uses firmly establish it as a familiar visual feature. Recommendation—The HPC is recommending that this building be retained. Overall recommendation The HPC understands that the HRA has many factors to weigh out when considering what should be done in the downtown area. The HPC is also realistic that the integrity of many of the older buildings in the downtown area is currently lacking and that others are not significantly old. However,as a whole,the downtown area does have local historic significance as an established and familiar visual feature that ties our present community to what has come before. While it is important to keep the downtown area vital, it should not be done at the expense of our cultural heritage. As one of the oldest communities in Minnesota, it would be a shame to loose one of the few remaining visual ties to our past. To this end,the HPC recommends that the downtown area remain low profile small shop, not only because it helps instill a sense of our cultural heritage,but it also helps create a small town atmosphere,which is one of the draws for people locating to our community. To accomplish this the HPC recommends encouraging restoration and creative reuse in the downtown area. Further,the HPC recommends that Historic Preservation Site Overlay Zoning District be applied to those buildings listed above which the HPC recommended be retained. Lastly, the HPC is recommending that design standards in the Historic Preservation Site Overlay District only be applied to the outsides of the buildings and not be too restrictive. •