Grapevine approved the demolition of the fire-damaged Lazy Bones building before the start of the Main Street Days festival because it was seen as a potential safety hazard. But the city will now have a say in how the sports grill looks when it is rebuilt.
Because the building is located in the city's historic district, the owner was required to submit an application to the commission for its demolition. The Grapevine Historic Preservation Commission's approval came on the condition that a historic landmark overlay be established on site.
Sports grill and pub Lazy Bones owner Adam Baker plans to reconstruct the building and restore it to its original appearance. Before the commission voted, Baker told them he preferred not to establish a historic landmark for the property.
"I understand the benefit to the city, I understand the benefit to you guys to landmark the building because it will give you control over the exterior of the building and what goes back, which is great," Baker said. "I understand why you would want that control. What I have a problem with is signing that control over."
A historic overlay will allow the commission input on reconstruction of the building. Their preference is for Baker to use wood windows and doors, and reinstall the existing wood siding from the west wall of the structure. Landmarking the property will help maintain property values and retain the building's appropriateness in the historic district, commissioners said
"We help protect owners from themselves sometimes in design errors that would actually diminish the value of the property," Commissioner Ted Ware said, "and you are not immune to that."
Baker will need to submit an application at a future date to designate the property as a historic landmark. The Historic Preservation Commission will need to approve all paint colors, finishes and exterior materials for reconstruction of the building under a separate certificate of appropriateness.