Erie City Council has recently considered the historic status of two properties within city limits: the Erie Cemetery and the former Erie Maennerchor building.
The panel will soon hear arguments regarding the historic significance of two other locations in the city.
Public hearing set
At a May 20 public hearing, City Council will weigh possible historic designations, under city zoning laws, for the former South Erie Iron Works building at 1919 Peach St.; and the Erie Labor Temple property, 1701-1707 State St.
The hearing will take place at 7 p.m., during council’s regular meeting in the Bagnoni Council Chambers at City Hall, 626 State St.
Erie City Council will weigh possible historic designations, under city zoning laws, at an upcoming public hearing for the former South Erie Iron Works building at 1919 Peach St.; and the Erie Labor Temple property, 1701-1707 State St.
The meeting can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube. The city’s Historic Review Commission previously signed off on the designations and forwarding them to City Council for final approval.
The commission is a seven-member group with five citizen appointees that advises city officials on historic preservation issues.
Safeguarding the past: Erie moves to finalize citywide historic preservation plan
Erie Iron Works property
The former South Erie Iron Works, which is now owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network and most recently housed a printing business, was constructed in two phases from 1871 to 1891, according to historic nomination documents on the city of Erie’s website.
The company once produced iron stoves and other iron-based products and included commercial storage and a foundry.
The former South Erie Iron Works building at 1919 Peach St. in Erie.
The building is being considered for historic status, according to city officials, in part because of its manufacturing history in Erie and because it is an example of late 19th century Italianate commercial storefront architecture, a storefront design common in the mid- to late 1800s.
That style is characterized by two two-to-three-story brick construction, flat/low-pitched roofs, and decorative cornices.
Erie Labor Temple
Completed in 1923, the Erie Labor Temple was “specifically designed and tailored to the needs of the locals and labor unions that comprised the Central Labor Union,” according to city nomination documents.
The Erie Labor Temple property, 1701-1707 State St.
It is an example of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, popular between 1890 and 1930, and features symmetrical facades, heavy masonry, rusticated ground floors, and classic detailing.
City Council’s role
Sometime after the public hearing, City Council will vote on the historic designations. That is expected to happen sometime this summer.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at@ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Public hearing to weigh historic status of two Erie buildings