When a historic building encroaches upon public property, should the building be moved or demolished? What would be the remedy?

The Covington City Council faced such a dilemma last Tuesday night when it passed an ordinance allowing for a lease of the southwest quadrant of an ox lot in Square 4 of the Division of St. John, bounded by East Rutland Street, North New Hampshire Street, North Columbia Street and Independence.

The property in question is a historic building with outbuildings, including a carriage house that partially sits on the ox lot. The City Council approved a 30-year lease of $15,000 total for use of the ox lot. As a stipulation of the ordinance, only repairs to the current footprint of the building will be allowed, and no expansion to the building is allowed. The ordinance was unanimously approved. Other ordinances passed at the meeting included the amendment of the zoning map to reclassify property from neighborhood commercial district to highway business district.

The property is located on a triangle between North Lee Road, Collins Boulevard/U. S. Highway 190 and the revoked portion of Jesse Jones Street. The ordinance was unanimously approved.

Two resolutions were also adopted unanimously. One is in support of the Northshore Community Foundation facilitating the creation of a neighborhood revitalization plan to guide future growth and development of the West 30s neighborhood in Covington.

The second resolution supports the identity theft prevention program of the city designed to comply with federal regulations relating to red flag and identity theft.

Proclamations by the mayor presented to the council included the recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention month and the naming of the week of March 22 as Boys and Girls Club week.

Rick Brunner, co-owner of Brunner Galleries on North Columbia Street, has been appointed and confirmed as the newest commissioner for the Covington Historic District Commission, filling the seat vacated by the resignation of Craig Babylon. His appointment and confirmation completes the five-member board consisting of Randy Aultman, Shiloh Moates, Peggy Schoen and Peter Link.

Scott Quillin of the Evangelican Lutheran Church in America National Youth Gathering offered the assistance of a number of youth during their national conference July 23-25 to assist the city in cleanup or other projects. Quillin said the youth, about 160 including chaperones, would be available to do whatever community projects the city decides are appropriate, but the city would need to provide the tools. Quillin said that Mandeville and Slidell have also received the offer of assistance. Transportation and food, as well as insurance for the young people will be provided by the ELCA.

Councilmen Lee Alexius and Francis Dunn said that a lot of organization would be needed on the city’s part to partake of the offer and they will be examining how best to utilize them. Dunn also said the project could be used to spur the youth of the city to clean the city and become active in the community.