STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The City of Ketchum will consider an emergency ordinance restricting the demolition of historic structures today.

The ordinance, which would restrict demolition for 182 days, will take place at 4 p.m. today—Monday, Oct. 19, at Ketchum City Hall.

Lisa Enourato, the city’s public affairs manager, said the city heard concerns from residents over the loss of Ketchum’s character even as developers have inquired about multiple properties on the city’s Heritage Site List.

Among them, the Stevens building on the corner of Second Street and Leadville, which most recently housed Ketchum Realty. It has been slated for demolition this month. Buildings that have already been lost include the Bald Mountain cabins and hot springs pool, which occupied the site the Limelight Hotel now sits on.

The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed several projects over the summer that included demolition of cultural significant structures and members are concerned about the loss of community character the demolition of those buildings would mean, Enourato said.

The emergency ordinance would allow the city time to update the survey and get community feedback on next steps.