Commission rejects Haymarket demo plan
“The city’s Historic Preservation Commission rejected a proposal Thursday by developer WRK to tear down the building at 700 O St. that once housed Crawdaddy’s restaurant, but its decision is likely to carry little weight.
The vote starts the clock on a six-month waiting period during which the city can decide to uphold the commission’s decision by trying to acquire the property through eminent domain or effectively overrule it by doing nothing, thereby allowing the project to proceed as planned.
Rick Hoppe, Mayor Chris Beutler’s chief of staff, said the city has no plans to initiate eminent domain proceedings.
“The Beutler administration has not once initiated the eminent domain process during the mayor’s time in office and will not do so in this case,” he said.
WRK — owned by developers William and Robert Scott — wants to tear down the single-story vacant building and put up a modern four-story retail and office building. As proposed Thursday, the company’s plans do not include a metal architectural feature that had drawn sharp criticism in May by several commission members, one of whom called it a “ski jump” and said it was incompatible with the surrounding historic district.”
Abourezk, Kevin. Lincoln Star Journal 18 September 2014.