Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Historic Resources Commission (HRC) (CC 3117) is charged, in part, with identifying districts, sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects that are of significance to the historical, architectural, or cultural development of the city, state, or nation; maintaining a list of these districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects; and providing regulation of these properties through design review. With these goals in mind, the Commission provides recommendations to City Council for the potential listing of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties.
An application has been made by Peter Ketter, Sandvick Architects (Applicant), in cooperation with Kolby Turnock/Half-Baked Holdings, LLC. (Owner), to list the property located at 427 Cleveland Avenue, the Ford Motor Company Branch Assembly Plant, on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties. The subject building is locally significant for contributions it made to “the expansion of automobile ownership in Columbus, throughout central Ohio and beyond, serving as the assembly, distribution, and service hub for a large region during the early 20th century, when Ford was leading the way in making automobiles accessible to the broader public” (Ketter p. 4). The period of significance for the building is from 1914, the year of construction, to 1938, when Ford Motor Company vacated the building. The Columbus Register boundary for the property consists of one parcel (Franklin County Parcel #010-015761-00). The entirety is bounded by Cleveland Avenue to the east, the I-670 right-of-way to the south and west, and an adjacent property to the north.
Proper notice was given to the property owner, per CC 3117.061, and a signed and notarized owner consent form has been received. A public hearing was held February 18, 2021, per CC 3117.063. The public hearing was attended by the Applicant and the Owner, who provided comments in support of the listing of the property.
The Commission voted unanimously to recommend listing of the property located at 427 Cleveland Avenue, the Ford Motor Company Branch Assembly Plant, on the Columbus Register based on the following criteria outlined in CC 3117.05:
Criterion E: “The property is closely and publicly identified with an event, or series of events, which has influenced the historical or cultural development of the city, state or nation.”
Listing of this property on the Columbus Register will facilitate its eligibility for historic tax credits in conjunction with the planned rehabilitation and adaptive use of the building. This legislation is submitted as an emergency to allow the property owner to submit the historic tax credit applicant prior to the March 31, 2021 deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Title
To list the property at 427 Cleveland Avenue, the Ford Motor Company Branch Assembly Plant, on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties as CR #80; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Historic Resources Commission is charged, in part, with identifying districts, sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects of significance to the historical, architectural, or cultural development of the city, state, or nation; and
WHEREAS, as part of this responsibility, the commission provides recommendations to City Council for the potential listing of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties; and
WHEREAS, an application has been made by Alex Green, Sandvick Architects (Applicant), in cooperation with Kolby Turnock/Half-Baked Holdings, LLC. (Owner), to list the property located at 427 Cleveland Avenue, the Ford Motor Company Branch Assembly Plant, on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties; and
WHEREAS, notice was given, as required by City Code, and a public hearing regarding the application was held on February 18, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Resources Commission has determined that 427 Cleveland Avenue, the Ford Motor Company Branch Assembly Plant, is eligible for listing on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties under criteria listed in CC 3117.05, and therefore recommends approval of the nomination to Columbus City Council;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to list said property on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties to allow its incorporation in a National Register nomination, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the requirements of CC 3117, regarding nominations and listing on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties, have been met for the property located at 427 Cleveland Avenue, the Ford Motor Company Branch Assembly Plant.
Section 2. That the Historic Resources Commission is hereby authorized and directed to enter the property located 427 Cleveland Avenue, the Ford Motor Company Branch Assembly Plant, on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties as Listed Property CR #80.
Section 3. That the City Clerk is directed to certify a copy hereof to the City Historic Preservation Officer.
Section 4. That the Historic Preservation Officer shall have said designation recorded in the official records of the Franklin County Recorder.
Section 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.