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Provo Tabernacle
Historic Preservation in Provo
This afternoon at 1:30pm the Provo Municipal council has a discussion on Historic Preservation efforts in Provo. This is an excellent opportunity for us to implement one of the most important goals outlined in our Vision 2030 process. Some time ago, the council passed Title 16 of the City Code which provides the legislative basis for the city’s stated intent of safeguarding our historical heritage. For a few years the city was very successful in working towards a comprehensive historic preservation effort.
When I ran for office I had the opportunity to speak with many of the residents in Provo’s historic downtown. They told me that the historic preservation efforts seemed to have slowed significantly. Many mentioned their concerns that key Provo Landmarks such as the Catholic church building, Hotel Roberts, and the Maeser School Grounds could have perhaps been maintained had the city been more aggressive in Historic Preservation efforts.
They often cited the success the city had in preserving the Library at Academy square as a great example of the willingness of Provo residents to go the extra mile to make sure our city maintains its historic character.
It can be a tough battle. Critics of the Library often cited its run-down condition as evidence that the building was past the point where it would be worth saving. As is unfortunately the case with most old buildings, they do tend to be in less-than-new condition and often require some work to maintain. In support of this the city has a program that provides a no-interest loan to home owners interested in fixing up a historic home.
The last two years have not been our brightest when it comes to making an effort to preserve historic properties. The Tabernacle has burned down, a number of historic properties including the Kress Building were slated for demolition for downtown construction projects, and last council meeting a vote passed that will likely lead to the Provo Housing Authority razing the George Taylor Jr house pictured above.
We also have been seeing a net loss to the number of properties our Landmark registry. The use of our registry seems like an excellent tool which has been under-utilized in recent years.
I believe we can do better and look forward to a discussion that can lead to the council taking more aggressive steps to implement Provo’s Vision for what our city should look like in 20 years.
A Sad Day for Downtown Provo
Early this morning, as many have heard, the Provo Tabernacle caught fire. The cause is unknown – sadly the building lost its roof and has been burning throughout the day.
Many of the windows have been lost, as well as much if not all of the interior. I walked around the building and it appears that much of the brick frame has thus far survived.
The mayor was at the site and seems to have spent much of the day on site helping – I saw several representatives from the LDS church, as well as many other city employees, residents and even other members of the city council. We all share in this tragedy and will do all that we can to help rebuild.
We have all, regardless of faith, age, or origin – shared an appreciation for the historic icon that was the Provo tabernacle. It was host to countless musical events, multi-faith meetings, and a pillar of Provo’s pioneer heritage. It will be missed.
