Historic status of Stranahan House and condo site could come Tuesday
June 6th, 2007 - Category: Real EstateAre the Stranahan House and the land next door to it historic?
City commissioners will be asked to vote Tuesday night on that issue. It’s more complicated than it sounds, though.
The home of city pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan on the New River downtown is the oldest structure in Broward County, and few would disagree with its historic status. But should a historic label apply to the land next door, the former Hyde Park Market property?
Currently the former Hyde Market land is planned to be used for a 42-story condo to be built by the Related Group. And if that property is declared historic, the condo plans could be jeopardized.
Commissioners will vote on the historic labels Tuesday at the 6 p.m. meeting, at City Hall, 100 N. Andrews Ave., in Fort Lauderdale. It’s also televised on local government access channel 78 or online at www.fortlauderdale.gov.
At the city’s Historic Preservation Board in March, separate votes were taken to recommend the house and then the Hyde Market site historic under city rules. Stranahan House supporters hope the designation on the Hyde Market site would add weight to their argument the condo is not appropriate there, at 500 E. Las Olas Blvd.
The fate of the Hyde Market land has been argued at City Hall and in the courts.
When the city dropped an effort to forcibly obtain the Hyde Market site for a park, the City Commission was of a slightly different makeup. Then-Commissioner Dean Trantalis, who voted in favor of the settlement, is no longer on the commission. In his place is Charlotte Rodstrom.
In the December 2005 settlement, Commissioners Cindi Hutchinson, Dean Trantalis and Carlton Moore backed the development. Mayor Jim Naugle and Commissioner Christine Teel opposed it. The settlement ended a long legal saga to buy the Hyde Park Market site.
Since then, Stranahan House supporters have continued fighting it in court, alone.
information from : www.sun-sentinel.com
