HomeMy WebLinkAboutA020 - Letter dated September 5, 1989 from Diane S. Corson 811 Kellogg
Ames , IA 50010
September 5, 1989
Mayor and City Council
City of Ames
621 Main Street
Ames . Iowa 50010
Gentlemen and Ladies :
The first reading of the ordinance to establish an historic district
in the Old Town area of Ames is scheduled for the Sept . 12 Council
meeting, and I am writing to express my support for this proposal . My
family and I are homeowners and residents of the Old Town area, and we
feel very strongly that the ordinance is needed in order to preserve
the integrity of this earliest settled portion of the City of Ames .
The relevence that many of the structures in the proposed district
have to the history of the city is alone reason enough to warrant the
unanimous passage of this ordinance .
One need only drive or walk through the Old Town district and observe
the enormous amount of renovation work which is being done on houses
and other buildings to be aware of the strong sense of pride in the
community ' s history which is present here . Some order and guidance to
assure that the historically significant structures in this section of
Ames will not be haphazardly removed or inappropriately altered is
both correct and necessary, and I urge your support of it .
The proposal to establish design guidelines for this and future
historic districts similarly deserves your approval . Although it is
difficult to establish guidelines that satisfy all concerned
interests , the proposed guidelines are fair and protect the
architectural integrity of structures they cover while recognizing
the changing needs of property owners and the availability of modern
materials and construction techniques which may, in some cases , be
more appropriate than materials and methods which were used at the
time of original construction . The guidelines are the best possible
reconciliation of owners ' interests and architectural integrity, and
I urge you to support the ordinance establishing these guidelines .
Thank you for your consideration . Your votes in favor of both of
these ordinances are votes for the ensured future of Ames ' past .
7� z
Diane S. Corson