Venice council takes first step toward placing 1940s era home on local historical register

VENICE – When developer Orbry Crowley built the two-bedroom, two-bath home in the Gulf View section of Venice at 640 W. Venice Ave. it was part of a post-World War II housing resurgence, as the city of Venice recovered from the Great Recession.

On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to list that home on the city’s local register of historical resources. After a second approval, it will be the eighth structure on the city's register.

Earlier: Venice council to consider application for 1920s era home to historical register

Venice Historical Resources Manager Harry Klinkhamer noted that six of the seven structures now on that register were built during the original late 1920s building push by the Brotherhood of Local Engineers, which also hired John Nolen to craft the city’s master plan.

The other structure, the Lord-Higel House – the second oldest house in Sarasota County – predates the Brotherhood and was built in 1896.

Klinkhamer said the house at 640 W. Venice Avenue is significant in part because of when it was built and partly because of its development by Crowley, – who is part of the family whose home in Old Myakka became the Crowley Museum & Nature Center – and in part because of the era it represents.

Related: Owners of 1920s era homes seek to connect on Facebook

“When you look at the city of Venice, people talk about the boom times of the BLE,” Klinkhamer said. “But we probably have more homes built after World War II in the '40s to '50s era.”

Emblematic of post war rebirth

Klinkhamer called that period significant in the post-war rebirth of Venice.

The home, which has been owned by the family of Robert J. Farrell since the late 1960s, is a virtually unchanged example of mid-century ranch homes popular after World War II through the late 1960s.

“This is a great example of the style,” Klinkhamer said.

The only major change occurred in the 1950s, when a breezeway between the main home and the garage was enclosed.

Farrell, who applied to have his home listed as historical, noted that the city has lost significant structures since his family moved to Venice 54 years ago.

Related: Venice council approves demolition of 1920s era home

He said that the home represents a bridge between the Nolen era and modern ranch style homes.

Limiting historic designation to structures built in the 1920s, he added, “Ignores all that follows.”

Farrell said that other significant homes have been lost to developers that purchase properties, demolish the existing home and build new.

“We can’t afford to lose more ... and proclaim to be historic Venice,” Farrell said. “I wish that the historic preservation board, in its efforts, were taken a little more seriously than they are.

“There’s this forward drive for growth and for change. I understand all if that; it’s natural and it will occur,” he added. “This view that any attempt to preserve historic structures stands in the way of growth is something we need to get past.”

City Council Member Mitzie Fiedler asked Klinkhamer about the historical importance of the home – especially given the number of homes built during that era.

Earlier: Renovation work resumes on Lord-Higel House

She cited the Lord-Higel House, Johnson Schoolcraft building, as well as the other notable structures already on the city’s list.

“Those are extraordinary buildings and I understand why they’re on our list,” Fiedler said. “Is this house in the same caliber to be on your list?”

Klinkhamer, who earlier had said he considered the home a fine – if not the finest –representation of the post-World War II housing boom, responded, “With historic preservation we’re not supposed to save the biggest and prettiest houses.

“It’s about preservation of what makes Venice, Venice.”

He said that architectural styles can be like tree rings, and offer observers a sense of the historical development of a city.

“This is a pretty modest house,” Klinkhamer said. “But it tells a huge story.”

City Council Member Helen Moore, said she was delighted that the home was up for consideration.

“It’s charming, it’s singular, it’s not just another anything,” Moore said. “It’s one of a kind where it is – where it is, is significant.

“I don’t view it as something that will start some kind of domino effect of every kind of mass-produced block house in Golden Beach or wherever,” she added. “One of the things I very much appreciate about it is the owner has requested it.

“I see absolutely zero reason why this should not go on the register.”

In other action

Also on Tuesday, the Venice City Council:

• Approved the second reading of an ordinance revising the regulations governing the docks at Higel Park and Marina Park boat ramps that will prohibit mooring of boats at the dock – other than immediately after launch or prior to being retrieved from the water.

Charles Hand, a disabled veteran who splits his time living in a motor home and on a boat in the anchorage off of Higel Park, asked the city if an exception could be made for a dingy dock, so he could come ashore to buy groceries and other supplies.

Venice Marine Patrol Officer Paul Joyce stressed that the water off of Higel Park is an anchorage and not a mooring field, where people can live aboard their boats – even though four people do just that.

Assistant City Manager James Clinch noted that the new rules mirror those in Sarasota County, where no public docks for short-term anchoring of a dingy exist but later pointed out that here are public lands off of the North Jetty, where one could beach a boat for a brief period.

City Council Member Jim Boldt later added that the change was prompted in part by safety concerns, since members of the Venice Youth Boating Association launch boats there.

“They’re being taught how to sail, so it’s a dangerous issue,” he said.

• Directed staff to schedule a presentation by members of Venice Aviation Society, Inc. on the possibility of building an air traffic control tower at the Venice Municipal Airport. Several residents spoke against the prospect. They cited concerns about an increase in air traffic at the airport, including commercial flights and possible freight aircraft using the airport.

• Heard several residents from Northeast Venice voice concern over the prospect of a proposed supermarket, believed to be a Publix being built at the intersection of Jacaranda Boulevard and Laurel Road in the Milano planned-unit development.

• Approved the annual report and upcoming missions for the city Historic Preservation Board; Public Art Advisory Board; Environmental Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Venice home built in 1940s by Orbry Crowley may be on historical register