The Sugar House Business District already has lost two buildings that Simonsen said contributed to the historic nature of the area — the Redman Building at 1240 E. 2100 South, which is being converted from commercial to residential, and the building now occupied by Guthrie Bicycle at 803 E. 2100 South.

Alterations made to both of those buildings have "completely eliminated the historical value of the property," he said. "We've lost both of those buildings, both historic structures. We don't know if there are others."

Cheri Coffey, the city's deputy planning director, said there are.

A reconnaissance-level survey of 150 structures in the district this year indicated that five buildings are at least 50 years old and are very historically significant, and another 24 qualify are at least 50 years old and contribute to the historic character of the district, Coffey said.

A complete report of the survey is expected to be presented to city staff this week, she said.

An intensive-level survey of the historic buildings is slated to begin soon and complete by February 2008, Coffey said.

Councilman Eric Jergensen said he was reluctant to support a moratorium when he's not confident that the surveys will be complete and their findings made available to the City Council at the end of the six months.

"I think a moratorium is a hammer when what we need is more of a surgical knife," Jergensen said. "The more information we can get the better...It's awfully difficult to make a decision like this without all of the information."

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Sugar House buildings on National Register

Five structures in the Sugar House Business District listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• The Sugar House Monument, 1100 E. 2100 South

• Irving Junior High School, 1179 E. 2100 South

• The Richardson-Bower Building, 1019 E. 2100 South

• The Sprague Branch Library, 2131 S. Highland Drive

• Sugar House Postal Station, 2155 S. Highland Drive.

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E-mail: jpage@desnews.com