Title
PUBLIC HEARING & DETERMINATION 3: Nomination of the Frederick W. & Elsa H. Schmidt House (2613 Capitol Way S) for Individual Listing on the Olympia Heritage Register (#16-9054-P)
Recommended Action
Move to individually list the Frederick W. & Elsa H. Schmidt House of 2613 Capitol Way S on the Olympia Heritage Register under the following criterion/criteria [specify].
Report
Issue:
Whether to list the property - which is already designated as a contributing property in the South Capitol Neighborhood Historic District - individually on the Olympia Heritage Register.
Staff Contact:
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8031
Presenter(s):
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer
Invited: Keith & Maria Ciani, Applicants
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia has received an application from Maria and Keith Ciani to place their residence at 2613 Capitol Way S as an individual listing on the Olympia Heritage Register (Register). The historical name proposed for this property is the “Frederick W. & Elsa H. Schmidt House”. Application materials and additional information are provided in Attachments 1 and 2.
The Heritage Review Committee conducted a site visit on October 10, 2016 at the property to begin the formal assessment of the application by making a determination on its condition and integrity (Attachment 3). Based on this visual inspection, the Committee recommended that the property meets the condition and integrity requirements outlined in Olympia Municipal Code 18.12.080 (Attachment 4).
Tonight the Heritage Commission will hold a public hearing and make a determination on whether to list the property individually on the Olympia Heritage Register. The Commission will use the designation criteria in OMC 18.12.080 to make this decision.
Analysis of the Proposal
Following a review of the application, documentation, and the municipal code, City staff suggestions that the property appears to meet:
1. The general requirement that the building have significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, as determined by the other requirements below;
2. The age eligibility requirement of being at least fifty (50) years old, since all documentation indicates that it was constructed over a century ago in 1912;
3. The integrity requirement since, as determined on October 10, 2016 by the Heritage Review Committee, it meets three (3) elements of integrity rather than just the two (2) required by code. These are integrity of location, design and materials. A summary of the consideration of alterations made in the 1940s to the integrity determination can be found in the minutes for the October 10, 2016 Heritage Review Committee meeting (Attachment 3);
4. The condition requirement since, as noted during the October 10, 2016 Heritage Review Committee meeting, the property has been maintained in good condition; and
5. The category requirement, since historical documentation indicates that the property may satisfy at a minimum the following category as outlined in OMC 18.12.080:
E. Is significantly connected to the lives of Frederick W. and Elsa H. Schmidt as the first house reportedly built and occupied by the couple, who were son and daughter-in-law of Olympia Brewing Company founder Leopold Schmidt and also instrumental in running this highly significant business.
Additional Considerations
This property is already designated on the Olympia Heritage Register under its determination as a contributing property in the National Register of Historic Places South Capitol Neighborhood Historic District (Attachment 5). If approved, this proposal would give the property individual recognition. It would also receive an official bronze plaque. Its regulatory status would not change.
Multiple “Schmidt Houses” are listed on local, state, and/or national heritage registers. These include the Frederick W. Schmidt House (Attachment 6), the nearby Muench House (Attachment 7), and the nextdoor Speckart House (Attachment 8).
Staff Recommendation
As a result of the above analysis, staff recommends that the Heritage Commission approve the proposed designation under the criteria category or categories that they believe best reflect(s) the property’s significance.
Attachments:
1. Application
2. Additional Historical Research & Photos
3. Heritage Review Committee Meeting Minutes
4. OMC 18.12.080
5. NRHP Historic District Nomination Form
6. Report on Frederick W. Schmidt House
7. Report on Muench House
8. Report on Speckart House