COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Coeur d'Alene City Council declared a temporary moratorium on demolishing historic buildings.
The City of Coeur d'Alene says City Council found that there was an "imminent threat to public health, safety and welfare from the loss of important historic and cultural assets" in the downtown area, excluding homes.
The Roosevelt Inn was established in 1905 in Coeur d'Alene, and after this week's City Council meeting, the building and others like it are under this six-month moratorium.
"It was a potential risk of demolition," Hilary Patterson, community planning director with the City of Coeur d'Alene, said. "A developer is looking at purchasing the property, and indicated they were looking at demolishing it and putting townhouses in its place."
Patterson presented the concern of the historic building's potential demolition, which then led to City Council declaring the temporary moratorium on all historic assets in designated zones of the city.
You can find those designated zones in the image below.
The decision does not allow demolition or moving permits, as well as significant changes to outside of the buildings in the zone.
Patterson said the temporary decision is designed to help raise awareness of what is deemed a historic sign in the Coeur d'Alene community.
"[We're] trying to help educate the community on the importance of historic preservation and what are our opportunities including partnerships, grant opportunities, tax right-offs and whatnot," Patterson said.
The moratorium will be in effect until December 17, 2024, and all homes and buildings in the zone 50 years or less will not be affected. Other buildings and areas the moratorium excludes include outbuildings like garages, dangerous buildings, interior demolitions and the Fort Grounds and Garden District neighborhoods. Fort Grounds is a historic neighborhood, and the Garden District is pending a historic designation.
In recent controversy, Patterson said the decision for the moratorium was not in relation to the City Council's approval of the new Marriott Hotel Project.
RELATED: Coeur d’Alene City Council approves Marriott hotel project despite opposition from the public
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