Historic Preservationists Score a Big Win

Councilman Stephens' motion to reconsider fails by a 4-3 vote

By Bill C.

Yeah! The mature and forward looking majority of the City Council have preserved for now the integrity of Historic 25th Street.

I know some of you have been holding your breath far too long. In a 4-3 vote, the Council defeated the motion to revisit the vote on height limits for the 25th Street Historic District.

If, as it seemed to be, the most important aspect of this whole consideration was not to jeopardize the entire district, how could 3 have voted the way they did? There was no new evidence presented, nor a rebuttal from Murphy's boss. All his response was (after the vote) that no letter exists. How's that for a political appointee's solicited response? There's a lot more but I gotta run.

Update 10/15/08 8:40 a.m. MT: Scott Schwebke provides his own report of last night's meeting in this morning's Std-Ex edition, in which he also confirms our speculation of yesterday that Ogden Properties has made demand for monetary compensation from Ogden City, under threat of legal action.