Save theWashington NC Pure Oil Station

To:  City of Washington Historic Preservation Committee

We, the undersigned, believe that enough of our Washington, NC architecural history has been destroyed in the name of progress.

We believe that to allow the former Pure Oil Station building located on Second Street in downtown Washington to be demolished is a crime against the citizens of the city.

In a region where historical attractions account for a great deal of the tourism industry, and to where a large portion of the community’s resources are directed, this building would be a welcome addition to the roster of historically significant attractions this municipality has to offer.

The Pure Oil Gas Station building is an excellent example of Tudor Revival architecture of the early part of the 20th century. This particular building is of great historical importance as it still has its original metalwork intact, including the copper roof on the windows and leaded glass panes. Such excellent and original structural integrity is a very rare find amongst these former service stations. There are very few buildings of this nature remaining in America, and it would be a travesty to lose such a splendid artifact in exchange for a parking lot. Indeed, in Hartwell, Georgia a Pure Oil Station is on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly General Statutes the City of Washington Historic Preservation Committee has the legal standing to keep this building from being demolished by working to declare it a historical site. According to the statutes:


§ 160A-400.8. Powers of the Historic Preservation Commission.

A preservation commission established pursuant to this Part may, within the zoning jurisdiction of the municipality:

(1) Undertake an inventory of properties of historical, prehistorical, architectural, and/or cultural significance;

1.Recommend to the municipal governing board areas to be designated by ordinance as "Historic Districts"; and individual structures, buildings, sites, areas, or objects to be designated by ordinance as "Landmarks";


and:

(10) Review and act upon proposals for alterations, demolitions, or new construction within historic districts, or for the alteration or demolition of designated landmarks, pursuant to this Part; and

(11)Negotiate at any time with the owner of a building, structure, site, area, or object for its acquisition or its preservation, when such action is reasonably necessary or appropriate. (1989, c. 706, s. 2.)

and:

§ 160A-400.11. Remedies.

In case any building, structure, site, area or object designated as a historic landmark or located within a historic district designated pursuant to this Part is about to be demolished whether as the result of deliberate neglect or otherwise, materially altered, remodeled, removed or destroyed, except in compliance with the ordinance or other provisions of this Part, the city or county, the historic preservation commission, or other party aggrieved by such action may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful demolition, destruction, material alteration, remodeling or removal, to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to prevent any illegal act or conduct with respect to such building, structure, site, area or object. Such remedies shall be in addition to any others authorized by this Chapter for violation of a municipal ordinance. (1989, c. 706, s. 2.)
and:


§ 160A-400.14. Delay in demolition of landmarks and buildings within historic district.

The full text of these statutes an be read at: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Statutes/Statutes.html.

We believe that a compromise can be reached as to the future of the building that will be beneficial to all members of the community. We respectfully request that all alternatives to the demolition of this building be researched in order to find a way to suit the best interests of the community as a whole.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Save theWashington NC Pure Oil Station Petition to City of Washington Historic Preservation Committee was created by and written by Roger W Most II (sidemouse.seri@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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