Downtown revitalization discussed

A group of about 30 people interested in downtown revitalization met at the Washington Free Public Library Wednesday afternoon. The event was Washington Main Street?s ?Let?s Do it Downtown? and featured six guest speakers. Washington resident Mary Patterson spoke about the city?s historic building code.

Patterson said that when a building owner remodels or makes significant changes to his business, he has to follow a building code. If the building he owns is historic, the owner can request to meet the standards of a special historic building code. Patterson said the historic building code is rarely used because few people know it exists and the owner must specifically request it.

The historic building code allows the owner more flexibility when updating his facility. Patterson said the building receives a ?score? based on fire safety and general safety. Buildings are given points for their positive characteristics and have points taken away for negative characteristics. For instance, Patterson said two-story buildings get more points than three-story buildings because three-story buildings are more difficult to evacuate in case of a fire. The points are added up and the building must finish with zero points or more to meet the code.

Patterson said that the point system allows property owners to more efficiently improve their buildings. Some safety features are easier for an owner to add than others, so an owner will choose those improvements to make which earn him the most safety points at the lowest cost.

?Maybe you?ll install fire rated drywall rather than expensive sprinklers,? Patterson said. ?They achieve the same level of fire safety. The historic building code allows you to create best plan for your building.?

Patterson said the art deco railing in the Bryson Block Building is actually one-half inch lower than code allows. The Bryson Block Building was faced with having to add another railing, but because the existing railing was a historical element, and because it was only short by less than an inch, the building was given a variance.

Emily Meyer, an associate developer for Ryan Companies US Inc., spoke about federal and state tax credits for rehabilitation projects on historic building. In an interview Thursday, Meyer said she got a great tour of Washington, which included previously rehabilitated buildings and buildings which could be rehabilitated. She said the mix of businesses in the downtown was impressive.

?The energy in Washington is palpable,? she said. ?It was great that so many people who are key to getting these projects underway?owners, lawyers, bankers, city officials and CPAs?took an interest in this topic.?

Maura Pilcher, chairwoman of the Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission, spoke about the National Register of Historic Places nomination process and about the Secretary of the Interior?s standards for rehabilitation. She said she and Meyer often attend similar events and are disappointed in the attendance, but that was not the case in Washington.

?Washington?s downtown is inspirational,? she said. ?I am impressed by the number of individuals taking an interest in preserving Washington?s greatest asset?its sense of place.  So many small towns and cities have lost their identity in trying to become like their big brother/sister, but Washington has retained what makes it special and what will draw new businesses and residence. No other town has the exact make-up of oriel windows, brick commercial buildings, and a central-square fountain.?