Batavia studying condition of historic buildings in downtown
Batavia is assessing the exterior conditions of about 75 historic properties in its downtown as part of the city’s historic preservation efforts.
The assessment will identify maintenance concerns and provide information for future preservation and maintenance efforts.
The properties are listed as historically significant. They are in the Downtown Historic District, which the city created in 2006.
Buildings are deemed significant for several reasons, according to the city’s historic preservation ordinance. They may have a distinctive style, period, design or construction method, including Indigenous construction; an important builder, designer, architect or craftsman; illustrate the development, history or culture of an era; be the site of a locally important event; or be identified with a person who made an important contribution to the community.
The Johnson Lasky Kindelin architecture firm is doing the assessment. It will be paid $37,700.
Its workers are examining roofs, chimneys, drainage systems, exterior walls and masonry, windows, doors, foundations, porches, steps and railings. The workers will carry identification confirming they are authorized contractors working on behalf of the city.
Most of the assessing will be done from public rights-of-way.
Many “significant” buildings are listed in a May 6 memo to the Historic Preservation Commission about buildings and other structures in the historic district. They include prominent ones such as the Batavia United Methodist Church, Newton House and the Gammon House, all near the intersection of Wilson Street and Batavia Avenue (Route 31).
The city may request a second phase of inspections for buildings that don’t rank as highly as other buildings in the category for “contributing” to the community’s story.
That would include the Campana Building at Batavia Avenue and Fabyan Parkway, which is not in the downtown. The Art Deco former cosmetics factory is a designated local landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com