Web posted
Friday, March 14, 2008
Window dressing
Ark City takes on boarded buildings
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net
Boarded up windows throughout town will have to be replaced with glass or clear plastic material if a proposed ordinance on the agenda for Tuesday's City Commission meeting passes.
The aim of the ordinance is to make the town more esthetically pleasing and to keep rodents and pigeons out of buildings, according to wording of the proposed ordinance.
"That covers every building in town, including houses," said Matt Rowland, director of building, planning and codes.
Property owners would have a year to put windows in openings that have been boarded up with plywood or metal, Rowland said today.
Rowland listed another concern with buildings that have boarded up windows. They present a fire-fighting hazard. It's almost impossible for firefighters to attack a blaze particularly in a commercial area if windows are all boarded up, he said.
"This is a very vibrant downtown compared to other cities and we want to keep it vibrant," Rowland said.
Ark City businessman and property owner Jim Sybrant said today he is bothered by the proposed law because it would result in a large expense to property owners.
"The city just keeps hammering away at investors," Sybrant said. "It really bothers me. This law is good-intentioned, but it is vague and unenforceable."
Sybrant noted that a family member owns the historic structure at Summit Street and Washington Avenue., now leased by Rex Riggs Tax Services. That building's upper story window openings are covered with metal.
He said he planned to replace two windows on the third floor and one on the second floor.
But many downtown buildings have had windows replaced with wood or brick, as well as many residences in town.
Windows are high-maintenance plus an expense, he said.
Some of the older houses in town used to have small bathroom windows next to the shower and these have been boarded up.
"Now if you drive by a house you can't tell there was a window there," he said. "It can be done so people can see it used to be a window or so that people can't."
City Attorney Tamara Niles said the proposed ordinance would allow buildings to have window openings filled in so that it looks like there are no windows. In such cases, they should be filled in using the same building material, so that it looks like a solid wall.
Sybrant said he planned to attend Tuesday night's commission meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at City Hall. The commission may also discuss the ordinance at their worksession at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
"I don't know whether I'll be wearing guns or carrying a Bible," Sybrant said.
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