This is a historic preservation alert with two facets--the potential demolition of a historically significant landmark, the First Baptist Church at 120 4th Street North, and the potential loss of a 1000 member parish at St. Peter's Cathedral, a 112 year old church at 140 4th Street North, due to (in part) inadequate parking for weekday church services and programs. St. Peter's has applied to demolish the Baptist Church, vacant for about 15 years, to construct a surface parking lot. There will be a hearing before the City Historic Preservation Commission, who must give approval because the structure has designation as a historic place. Please go to www.historicstpete.com for detailed information about this case.
This evening, a group of interested people, including the presidents of 3 nearby neighborhood associations (including NSNA), the co-chairs of NSNA Historic Preservation Committee, the President of St. Petersburg Preservation, Inc. and others met with two representatives of the Board of Directors of St. Peter's. The purpose of the meeting was to lend St. Peter's support in exploring potential alternative solutions to their parking problem that would allow for the preservation of the Baptist Church. Several potentially viable alternatives were discussed. We requested that the Board of St. Peter's consider postponing the Feb. 20 public hearing in order for a task force to explore further potential alternatives. We will not know until Monday whether St. Peter's will postpone the hearing. The City Staff has submitted their report on the application and have recommended denial of the application for demolition, because they do not believe that alternative feasible solutions have been adequately considered and they do not believe that the First Baptist Church cannot be put to reasonable beneficial use.
The hearing Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall 175 5th Street North in City Council Chambers is a public hearing. You may attend and speak. You may also call City Development Review Services, 893-5292, refer to File COA #01-01, and state your objection to the application for demolition or your support. You may write a letter to the Historic Preservation Commission referencing the file number and deliver it to Development Review Services in the Municipal Services Center. It will be made part of the HPC file on this case.
Some of us who attended the meeting this evening intend to object to the demolition but come out in support of St. Peter's to encourage the City to agree to a viable alternative for parking for St. Peter's. We believe that there may be both a short term and long term solution to the parking problem that the City could work out. Viable, lively downtowns have residences, offices, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and churches. Unfortunately, many urban churches do not survive. One factor is a shortage of parking space. This is a lively church with 1000 members and numerous services and daily activities. There should be a way to preserve a historic building while preserving a viable downtown parish.
This evening, a group of interested people, including the presidents of 3 nearby neighborhood associations (including NSNA), the co-chairs of NSNA Historic Preservation Committee, the President of St. Petersburg Preservation, Inc. and others met with two representatives of the Board of Directors of St. Peter's. The purpose of the meeting was to lend St. Peter's support in exploring potential alternative solutions to their parking problem that would allow for the preservation of the Baptist Church. Several potentially viable alternatives were discussed. We requested that the Board of St. Peter's consider postponing the Feb. 20 public hearing in order for a task force to explore further potential alternatives. We will not know until Monday whether St. Peter's will postpone the hearing. The City Staff has submitted their report on the application and have recommended denial of the application for demolition, because they do not believe that alternative feasible solutions have been adequately considered and they do not believe that the First Baptist Church cannot be put to reasonable beneficial use.
The hearing Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall 175 5th Street North in City Council Chambers is a public hearing. You may attend and speak. You may also call City Development Review Services, 893-5292, refer to File COA #01-01, and state your objection to the application for demolition or your support. You may write a letter to the Historic Preservation Commission referencing the file number and deliver it to Development Review Services in the Municipal Services Center. It will be made part of the HPC file on this case.
Some of us who attended the meeting this evening intend to object to the demolition but come out in support of St. Peter's to encourage the City to agree to a viable alternative for parking for St. Peter's. We believe that there may be both a short term and long term solution to the parking problem that the City could work out. Viable, lively downtowns have residences, offices, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and churches. Unfortunately, many urban churches do not survive. One factor is a shortage of parking space. This is a lively church with 1000 members and numerous services and daily activities. There should be a way to preserve a historic building while preserving a viable downtown parish.
