Another Historic House Headed For Demolition? (Updated)

Fairhope, Alabama 

 Update 2: After a lengthy discussion on June 5, the planning commission tabled this item until its September meeting.

Update: More details about this project were released to the public Friday afternoon. See plan at very bottom.

 

101 Fairhope Avenue

101 FAIRHOPE AVENUE

During its June meeting, the planning commission will consider preliminary and final multiple occupancy plan approvals for 'Bella Vie' on a B-3b zoned lot at the corner of Fairhope Avenue and Bayview Streets in the Bayfront Historical District across from Knoll Park -- where a home of early Single Taxer George Knowles has stood for over a hundred years.

Born in Clarendon New York, Knowles also lived in Wisconsin and Kansas before coming to Fairhope in 1897 where he became known as "Father Knowles," a "loyal and devoted colonist."

Originally the project was for six buildings but it has been reduced to only four to better fit on the property; Trae Corte is the applicant. Senna Inc. is the current owner.

This is the same property where a 39 room boutique hotel was proposed in 2021; but subsequently denied by the commission on various technical grounds.

Details of the new proposal have not been made available to the public yet. (SEE UPDATE AT TOP)

New details

UPDATE: STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL

Planning staff comments: "Public hearing to consider the request of Trae Corte, on behalf of the Owner, Sena, Inc., requesting a Preliminary and Final Plat approval of Belle Vie, a 4-unit Multiple Occupancy Project (MOP). The property is approximately 0.4 acres and is located on the northeast corner of Fairhope Avenue and North Bayview Street.

The subject property is zoned B-3b and currently has one (1) home built on two historic lots of record. The Applicant wishes to combine both lots into one and create four (4) condominium lots with the intention of building four (4) single-family homes.

Comments:

In 2015, the City of Fairhope engaged Schneider Historic Preservation, LLC, to perform an inventory of historic properties in Fairhope. The existing home on the subject property, built in 1906, is listed as a contributing structure within the Bayfront Historic District Survey. The summary for this home, listed as Site Number 14, is included within the packet. The City of Fairhope does not have a formally adopted Historic Preservation Ordinance, therefore preservation of historic properties is at the discretion of each property owner ... ."

City planning staff is recommending denial of this proposal for numerous reasons but the commission could decide to go ahead anyway.