New owner would replace historic buildingCANNON BEACH – A proposal to demolish Osburn’s Grocery and Delicatessen and replace it with two new commercial buildings has raised concern among residents who want to save the old structure.

The Cannon Beach Design Review Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday about the application to construct the new development in place of the Osburn’s building at 240 N. Hemlock St.

“This is, as far as I can tell, the oldest structure downtown,” said John Fraser, a Cannon Beach business owner and a resident for 25 years who used to live in an upstairs apartment of the building. Fraser said he and others are trying to preserve the historic integrity of the structure, believed to have operated as a market intermittently since 1910.

In voicing concern about the issue, residents opposed to the new buildings are stressing that they mean no offense to the present or future owners of the property, but simply want the historic preservation to be considered, Fraser said.

City hall staff members acknow-ledged the receipt of considerable correspondence urging reconsideration of a re-model instead.

“Osburn’s Market is the most significant historical building in Cannon Beach after the Oswald West House,” wrote Cannon Beach architect Jay Raskin. “It is a beautiful example of coastal commercial architecture and has been the heart of this community since its construction.”

The Osburn family confirmed in April the planned sale of buildings and land to Coaster Properties, a

limited liability company under Mike Clark, which owns other properties in town. The Osburns offered to sell the business of grocery and delicatessen to Ned and Norma Roache, owners of Mariner Market in Cannon Beach.

“We have an offer to purchase the property, but it’s not final,” Steve Osburn said Tuesday. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment until it’s final.”

The sale to Coaster Properties included a two-month period before closing, while Clark had indicated options for the grocery store – which also houses a popular ice creamery – would be reviewed.

Osburn’s family has owned the grocery store since 1974, he said. He reiterated that the decision to sell arose for a number of reasons, including a goal for him and his wife, Emily Osburn, to return to Texas to be with more members of their family.

The proposal for the new buildings meets zoning code requirements, according to a report prepared by Rainmar Bartl, city planner. He had reviewed the proposed siting, height, floor area ratio (building bulk in relation to lot size), landscaping, lighting and parking plans.

Raskin commended the Clark family for what he called a heritage of excellent design in other properties downtown. He also acknowledged costs and difficulties with restoring historic structures, but said often they are exaggerated and influenced by preconceived notions about old buildings.

State and federal tax credit incentives are available, the building’s potential status as a landmark could offer flexibility in meeting new building codes, and historic preservation generates goodwill among residents and visitors, he added.

Historic pictures of the Osburn’s market and ice creamery building have been a staple of Cannon Beach Historical Society calendars for years, Raskin said. “It will be a sad day for Cannon Beach when the calendars become the only way to see Osburn’s.”