Opinion: Re-visiting Ed’s Shed

Dear Editor,

The Village Trustees have done it. At the last meeting, the trustees made good on the mayor’s threat to replace the quarter-century-old Preservation Commission with a toothless “committee”. This initiative has never made sense. It has never adequately been explained or justified. But it is done. The mayor refused to vote. Trustee Morton recused himself. (More on that below.) The Village attorney absented himself. So, the remaining trustees voted. It is currently unclear whether they knew what they were voting for.

The Village has relinquished leverage; by that I mean the weight given to our CLG status that, this spring allowed us to secure a grant from the Preservation League. This $5,000 grant, originally proposed by the Owego Revitalization and Betterment Committee (ORBC), funded an engineering study of Central Fire Station. The inevitable loss of CLG status will make it infinitely more difficult, perhaps impossible, to achieve the grants to implement necessary (and soon!) repairs the study advises. For instance, we now know that the superstructure of the forth-floor tower is so compromised that it threatens to blow off the building in a stiff wind. We also know that the Village does not have the money for repairs.

I went back and looked at the first letter the Administration posted in the Oct. 1 edition of The Owego Pennysaver, and I believe the answer is there. The mayor and Trustees accuse the Commission of being arbitrarily punitive. The actual words are, ”selective and sometimes punitive.” I, and we, contend that this is untrue and has no basis in fact. There is, however, a recent instance of our attempting to compel an owner to “undo” an inappropriate installation. I am coming to believe that this as-yet unresolved bone of contention has resulted in the illogical conclusion that the Commission needs to cease operations.

The project in dispute was installed, as sometimes happens, on a Friday. It required review by the Commission because it is a visible change and easily seen from a public space, in this case the sidewalk, street and COB parking lot. It is also out of compliance by virtue of its’ size. Any construction, anywhere in the Village in excess of 170 square feet requires a building permit before proceeding.  A quick weekend delivery without either of these checks constitutes an illegal installation. So, we were not being arbitrary or “selective” challenging it.

Without going into the blow-by-blow of the three meetings wherein we and the owners hashed out a resolution, suffice it to say, it was ultimately determined the prefabricated structure would be moved back on the deep and narrow lot, and the objectionable T-111 (plywood) siding would be replaced with clapboard. Also, a roof in character with the Historic home would be substituted. Suffice it to say, as well, that after two years and counting, nothing at all has been done to satisfy this mutually agreed to legal order. Actually (and surprisingly), the homeowner proposed the thoughtful and curative changes to the structure. The Commission was satisfied it be moved rearward.

So, I ask you to drive or walk over to 51 Front St., look down the driveway and ask yourself, “Is it reasonable to sacrifice Central Station (and ultimately our steady progress becoming a prime attraction in the Southern Tier) for this?”

We will finally have proof of the purpose of Local Law #3, if one of the first orders of business for the new “committee” is to revisit Ed’s Shed.

Mark Trabucco 

Chair, now-defunct Owego Historic Preservation Commission