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A closely watched special City Council meeting Monday night ended with no change to the fate of Geneva’s 1840s blacksmith shop, despite extended debate and a narrow vote that fell short of the legal threshold needed to allow demolition.
Here’s what to know:
Demolition denial stands: City Council voted 6–4 in favor of overturning the Historic Preservation Commission’s denial of a demolition permit, but city code requires at least seven votes to reverse the commission’s decision. Because that supermajority was not reached, the demolition request failed.
HPC decision remains in effect: The Historic Preservation Commission’s December ruling denying demolition of the landmarked structure at 4 East State Street remains in place for now.
Mandatory waiting period triggered: Under Geneva’s preservation ordinance, the property owner Shodeen Group cannot submit another demolition request for at least 12 months, effectively pausing the long-running debate for now.
The following officials voted to overturn the preservation commission: 2nd Ward Alderperson Bradley Kosirog, 2nd Ward Alderperson Richard Marks, 3rd Ward Alderpersons Dean Kilburg and Larry Furnish, 4th Ward Alderperson Amy Mayer, and 5th Ward Alderperson Jeff Palmquist.
The following voted against: 1st Ward Alderperson Anaïs Bowring, 1st Ward Alderperson William Malecki, 5th Ward Alderperson Mark Reinecke, and 4th Ward Alderperson Martha Paschke.
What comes next is uncertain, but any redevelopment of the former Mill Race Inn site will have to proceed with the blacksmith shop still standing — at least for the coming year.
Watch the full City Council meeting recording.
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