The request included a simple rendering showing a five-story mixed-use development with 120 housing units and 240 parking spaces, cautioning that it is a “future development exercise only.” It was denied on a vote of 7-0.Īlong with being a city historic landmark, the building is within the city’s Cattleman Square Historic District. The commission considered another request by the family to remove the historic designation from the Whitt Printing Co.

“Without a proposal, it’s almost like the cart is before the horse,” said commissioner Gabriel Q.

building next to the former Golden Star restaurant on West Commerce Street is being eyed for redevelopment. “I would imagine that that would be something this commission would be much more receptive to, rather than this thing gets razed to the ground … and it becomes yet another example of an empty lot in a community that’s getting eroded pretty quickly,” he said.

Carpenter suggested that the family could submit another request along with a feasibility study for a development for the site. The commission voted 6-1 against the request.Ĭommission member Scott W. He proposed that the family could preserve the building’s distinctive façade while demolishing the exterior, which consists largely of cinder blocks.īut members of the commission said they were reluctant to allow the destruction of a historic landmark when no specific development was planned to replace it-especially on the West Side, where urban blight and renewal projects have led to mass demolition of historic structures. building, their attorney Patrick Christensen said at the virtual meeting. Commerce, but has been unable to enter into any agreements because of the presence of the historic but derelict Whitt Printing Co. The Lim family, which has owned and operated the restaurant for decades, has been getting inquiries from developers interested in building on the site at 821 W. The city’s Historic and Design Review Commission on Wednesday voted down a request to demolish a historic building next to the Golden Star Café in west downtown to clear the way for potential development. The former Golden Star restaurant property at 821 W.

Golden star restaurant