Ketchum could lose another historic relic
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
Facing demolition is Louies's restaurant
building constructed in 1881 as a church. (Express photo by Willy Cook)
Ketchums historic roots, in the form of original buildings, have
slowly been disappearing over the years, and another is now slated for demolition.
On Monday, the owner of the old Louies restaurant building, on
the corner of Sun Valley Road and Leadville Avenue, applied for a demolition permit from
the city. Such permits are easily attainable and are usually issued a few days after an
application comes in, Ketchum planner Stacy Matz said in an interview.
There are no local restrictions or guidelines on building demolitions
based on a buildings historic value, Matz said, although the city has had creation
of a historic-preservation ordinance on the back burners for almost a year.
The ordinance would enact a local historic preservation commission that
would advise the city on methods of preserving historic buildings, as well as enable the
commission to recommend acquisition of historic properties and promote and conduct
educational programs on historic preservation and local historic properties.
Only federal protection can preclude a buildings owner from
demolishing it at will.
The building is one of the citys few remaining icons of an era
now long past. It was built in 1881 as a Congregational Church, which later became an
Episcopal Church.
In 1965, Louie Mallane, now a Boise resident, bought the building
and began his successful Italian food restaurant. Mallane currently owns and operates a
Louies in Boise.
In an interview at the historic building yesterday, Mallane told
stories about notables like Ted Kennedy, Diana Ross and Gregory Peck dining there.
"Theres been a lot of happy times but a lot of work,"
he said.
Mallane said he offered the building to his children, but they
didnt want it. He also offered it to Ketchum, but the city doesnt have
anywhere to put it.
"This has been an ongoing process," Ketchum City Councilman
Randy Hall said in a telephone conversation Monday. "The property has been for sale
for several years, and Louie has been working graciously with the city of Ketchum to find
a home for it."
Unfortunately, a home has been hard to come by.
"I think we need to save as much of our history as we can,"
Hall said. "It has value to me. In light of all the development, Im concerned
were going to lose our heritage in terms of the character of the town of Ketchum. We
need to find somebody whos got some land."
Ketchum/Sun Valley Heritage and Ski Museum president Dick Meyer said
the historical society is trying to raise money to save and relocate the building.
But the sands in the buildings hourglass have all but passed.
Mallane said the building will come down before winter arrives, if it
is not relocated. The next few weeks will decide.