Require historic evaluation before demolishing buildings over 50 years old

Why This Vote Matters

Property owners will soon need to get a historic evaluation before demolishing any building constructed before 1974, after the council approved the first reading of a new preservation ordinance with broad support. The measure passed 4-1, with Councilmember Bates dissenting and Councilmembers Lopez and Viramontes abstaining. Currently, older buildings can be torn down without any check for historic significance, but this change would require an evaluation process to protect potentially valuable structures. The ordinance also formally renames the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee to the Historic Preservation Commission and will return for a final vote in two weeks.

Auto-generated context. Source: official meeting records.