Today we appeared in Judge Marilyn Rosenbaums courtroom again. We received a fair hearing. We did not receive a fair hearing a month ago before the Zoning & Planning Committee of the Minneapolis City Council chaired by CM Bender. The whooper of the day came from Minneapolis City Planner John Smoley: the City of Minneapolis has a very fine safety net to catch historic properties. This from the man who has issued more demolition permits in Minneapolis history than anyone else. This from the man who never physically viewed the Orth House in 2013 before advising the Heritage Preservation Committee and the Minneapolis City Council that it was not an Historic Resource. Both groups ignored his recommendation and declared the Orth House an Historic Resource in 2013. Amy Lucas testified as their credentialed historic preservation expert. She was hired by Collage Architects. Amy could not verify that 2320 Colfax Ave. So. was a transitional building in T.P. Healys career. Healy is not here to tell us that. Did you find any other buildings before the Orth House that reflect the change in style? I did not evaluate all of Healys houses. Amy Lucas considers the Orth House a Queen Anne. She considers it an example of the Free Classic subtype. She may be the only person in the world who considers the Orth House a Queen Anne. Now that is an expert. Erik Hansen, our attorney: If the Orth House was rehabilitated, would it be an Historic Resource? Amy Lucas: This property can not be rehabilitated. I dont know how you would do that. That is funny, because I do, and so does Bob Roscoe. This is what we have spent our entire professional lives doing. There is a big difference between people who do historic preservation and those who have academic training to be bureaucrats and consultants. But the most stunning thing we learned today is that Amy Lucas has not been paid for her report yet. It would have to make Michael Crows attorney nervous. Is he going to get paid? We have to raise more money to continue our legal action. We believe in our attorney, Erik Hansen. We will pay him. The Orth House is the greenest house; it is the one already built.
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 04:31:57 +0000
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