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Hot Meeting on Pure Oil Building Tuesday at Geneva Fire Department
Geneva's Historic Preservation Commission reviews the building permit applications for the Pure Oil block at a Tuesday meeting at the Geneva Fire Department.
Geneva's Historic Preservation Commission will review the building permits for the Pure Oil block at a meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at the Geneva Fire Department.
It appears that revised plans submitted by Joe Stanton so far have met with general approval. Stanton is proposing that the historic, blue-roofed former gas station be converted to a drive-through for a bank tenant at the 514 W. State St. building.
The revised plan preserves the building’s State Street‐facing elevations (north and east) but includes the demolition of the southern section of the building and the punching a hole in the west wall of the building for use of the westernmost service bay as a drive‐through banking lane.
Under the plan, the Pure Oil building would get window repair and repainting and the east section will be preserved, possibly as a public information center or public restrooms.
The plan calls for demolition of the building at 12 S. Fifth St. and modifications and additions to the 514 W. State St. building.
At its May 15 meeting, the HPC approved the plans but added some conditions for approval.
In an "Open Letter" blog on Geneva Patch, HPC member Mike Bruno said the decision of whether to OK the use as a bank drive-through would begin with a look by the Geneva Plan Commission.
"While I, along with the rest of the HPC, voted to approve the plans, it should not be considered endorsement of the property’s use as a drive-through banking facility," he said. "My affirmative vote was only based on the fairly clear and objective standards for Historic Preservation outlined by the Secretary of the Interior."
In the open letter, Bruno asked the Plan Commission to deny the petition for a special use to allow the bank drive-through.
"It is my opinion that approving the drive-through for 502 W. State would be a long-term bad decision for downtown vitality and economic development," Bruno said.
Historic Preservation Commission Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes May 15, 2012
4. HPC Review of Building Permit Applications
A. 502-14 W. State St. & 12 S. Fifth St.CASE 2012-022 Applicant: Joe Stanton Application for: Exterior Rehabilitation of 502 & 514 W.State Street, Demolition of 12 S. Fifth Street, Site Improvements (review of revised plans addressing conditions of approval stipulated by the commission on May 15, 2012)
5. Secretary’s Report (Staff Update)
6. New Business
a. From the Commission
b. From the Public
7. Adjournment
Next meeting June 19, 2012
Location: Geneva Fire Department Headquarters Building, Lower Level Training Room, 200 EastSide Drive, Geneva, IL 60134
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stix slavinski
9:47 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
it's a surprise to nobody that stanton had his "new & revised" plans ready so quickly, but i am surprised at how quickly almost all of the original opponents seemed to fold up and throw in the towel. he might as well just knock the entire building down and put up some blue and white painted cardboard in it's place, since when he gets finished with the new improvements there won't be much left of the original structure anyhow. too darn bad that the people making the decisions seem to be more concerned with keeping joe happy, and less concerned with the majority of us geneva citizens, tax payers, and oh yeah...voters
Mitotero
10:16 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I think there was a fear that the owner would not renew the Pure Gardener lease, board up the building, and be allowed to tear it down in a few years after it deteriorated. Unfortunately, the best option for Geneva, keeping the current sales tax generating tenant, was not considered a viable option. It does appear that the owner has complied with the rules as written. I do believe that the supporters of maintaining the pure Oil building as it is can still make our voices heard. The leaders of Geneva should consider what a bank will do to the retail/restaurant atmosphere of the downtown. The leaders of the new bank should also be aware that they are coming in to an area after alienating a major group of potential customers. I do hope they keep the old parts of the building removed for the drive thru, so we can put them back in place after the bank closes in a few years.
The building owner does have a credibility issue, as the first hearings about demolition focused on the impossibility to do anything other than tear down the structure. The Geneva leaders should be very cautious, as I fear once the modifications are started, new complications will arise making demolition the only option again.
stix slavinski
11:24 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
i think you are being way too kind with regard to his credibility issue, and although i'm not that well informed as to what's going on with the present tenant, some of the people i have talked to about it seem to feel that they have been not only viable, but a definite draw to that section of the shopping district.
one of the main problems i have is in understanding something you had said about boarding up the building and allowing it to deteriorate. i've heard that same sentiment from a few other people, and i'm a little confused about how it can happen.
i have lived in the same house for thirty years, but a few years back i received a letter from the city informing me that i was in violation of some code because i had a small amount of bare wood that needed to have a coat of paint applied, or i would be facing a fine for every day that it remained unpainted, so i painted it and the problem was solved in under an hour.
so, now i hear that everyone should be in fear that he's going to allow a building in the historic district (which mine was not ...) to fall into total disrepair, and it seems that the city isn't going to do anything about enforcing any of their codes against him to make him comply him if he does. i was under the impression that it was assumed when you had a piece of property in a special district, that it was mandatory that it be maintained even more stringently, and in accordance with the rules than it would be if it were in a normal neighborhood.
Noel G. Rooks
12:49 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
When does it go before the Planning Commission, anyone know?
Mike Bruno
1:52 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The next two Plan Commission meetings are June 14, 2012 and July 12, 2012. I expect it will be one of those two.