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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Packet 8.11.16.pdf MINUTES PRELIMINARY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JULY 14, 2016 EMMA J. HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Esther Baker, Zach Builta, Gosia Clore, Sharon DeGraw, Cecile Kuenzli, Andrew Litton, Pam Michaud, Ben Sandell, Ginalie Swaim, Frank Wagner MEMBERS ABSENT: Thomas Agran STAFF PRESENT: Jessica Bristow, Bob Miklo OTHERS PRESENT: Alicia Trimble RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (become effective only after separate Council action) CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Swaim called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA: There was none. CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS: 318 South Lucas Street. Bristow explained that this house was originally a UniverCity Partnership house but is non- contributing to the Governor Lucas Street Conservation District. She said that the applicant proposes to add an entrance canopy to the front entrance and remove and replace the entrance canopy on the side entrance. She said the side canopy needs to be replaced because it is sloping too far away from the house. Bristow showed photos of the two areas and photos of the similar proposed canopies. She said that the canopy would be an open gable and that the roof pitch would be similar to the pitch on the front-facing gable on the house. She referred to a photo and said that the ends of the brackets would not project because that would be typical of a Craftsman style which this house is not. She said the bracket ends would be covered by the fascia similar to another photo she showed. Bristow said the canopies would have roof shingles to match the house. They would also be painted to match the house. Wagner said to make sure the roofers use short enough nails that they don’t protrude through the open roof below. Typical nails are too long. MOTION: Litton moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 318 South Lucas as presented in the application. Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 10-0 (Agran absent). HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 14, 2016 Page 2 of 7 813 Ronalds Street. Bristow explained that this house is representative of popular vernacular house styles in the Goosetown area. Built in 1913, it has similar details to popular homes available by catalog at the time. Bristow noted that the garage is new construction approved in 2007. Bristow said that the applicant is proposing to install 20 solar panel modules on the garage roof with 10 on each side of the north/south facing gable end garage. Because of the lower elevation of the alley and garage area, the solar panels would not be visible from the street. Bristow explained that these solar panels will not mount as previously approved solar panels that were mounted to the vertical seams in metal roofs. Because the garage roof is asphalt shingles, the panels will be attached through the roof structure. Some panels and similar elements will be located on the rear of the house. Kuenzli asked if the edge of the panel could be dark instead of white so it would blend in with the roof. Bristow said she would contact the contractor to see if that is possible. MOTION: Litton moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 813 Ronalds Street as presented in the application. Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 10-0 (Agran absent). REPORTS ON CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY CHAIR AND STAFF: Certificate of No Material Effect - Chair and Staff Review 728 College Street. Bristow said this property is in the College Green Historic District. She said the applicant is reconstructing the stairs and moving them in slightly to the east so that they do not extend past the edge of the house into the driveway. Bristow said that the applicant originally wanted to dismantle part of the brick porch wall and move the stairs to that location but that would have compromised the architectural character of the house. The driveway will be replaced at a lower elevation too. Michaud asked about the garage. Bristow said that the applicant wanted to rebuild the garage but that the original location was not possible due to code requirements. The garage, destroyed in the 2006 tornado is no longer grandfathered in. 807 South Summit. Bristow explained that this house is a duplex in the Summit Street Historic District. The south- facing front door was destroyed by accident and will be replaced with a door that matches the east-facing front door. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 14, 2016 Page 3 of 7 511 Ronalds. Bristow said that this house in the Brown Street Historic district will have the 3-tab asphalt shingles replaced with architectural quality shingles in the same light brown color. 730 Iowa Avenue. Bristow said that this house in the College Hill Conservation District had its front steps replaced. The existing brick steps were probably not original. The steps were replaced with wood steps and the existing simple metal railing was reused. The porch skirting will be extended to fill all of the area next to the new stairs and will match the existing. Minor Review - Preapproved Item - Staff Review 617 Dearborn Street. Bristow said that this house in the Dearborn Street Conservation District has many replaced windows and that two windows on the north side and one obscured by a tree on the east side are rotten and will be replaced to match the other windows on the house. 304 South Summit Street. Bristow said that this house in the Summit Street Historic District has a new owner and is being rehabbed. The owner is repairing all of the windows on all three sides of the original main section of the house. The windows on the additions on the north, south and west sides will be replaced. Bristow showed a current photo of the house and said that the front fire escape structures are no longer necessary and have been removed. The photo also shows a new coat of paint to match the original brick color. 120 Fairchild Street. Bristow explained that two sets of casement windows that were installed on this Iowa City Landmark in the 1940’s are being replaced with wood double hung windows. 501 Oakland Avenue. Bristow said that the railing and stairs for this Longfellow Historic District home area being replaced. The porch stairs are being rebuilt in wood. The concrete stairs to the sidewalk are being rebuilt in concrete that is narrower so that they can be separated from the retaining wall. The three different railings will be replaced with one simple metal railing. AMENDMENT FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER COLLEGE GREEN HISTORIC DISTRICT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 14, 2016 Page 4 of 7 Bristow said that information about the house was submitted to the State to get it to issue an opinion that the house would still be considered eligible for the National Register, once it is moved. She said that this can be controversial because it is a moved structure not in its original location. Bristow said that because Iowa City has a history of moving structures, it is not as controversial here. Bristow said the State provided a written opinion that the State would still consider the structure eligible for the National Register. She said the opinion also stated that the district should probably be amended, because if the building is considered contributing, then any future owner could get tax credits, etc. Bristow said it would be more cohesive if this is considered a contributing structure. She said that involves removing the original house from the district and including this one in the district. Bristow said the information will include comparing the sites and comparing the neighborhoods from the original location to the new location. She said that most of this has been compiled in the original document to the State. Bristow said the packet contains just the first draft of the information that needs to go to the State. Bristow said the draft will go to the State with a deadline of August 1st. She said the State works with staff to tweak the draft before the final deadline of December 1st. Bristow said it will be on the national agenda in February. MOTION: Kuenzli moved to amend the College Green Historic District to include the Houser-Metzger House, as outlined by staff. Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 10-0 (Agran absent). UPDATE ON POTENTIAL LANDMARK DESIGNATIONS: Swaim said this is an ongoing project. She said the subcommittee met and will be meeting again. Swaim said the subcommittee is putting together the narratives and will be sending those out to the homeowners and having discussions with them. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR JUNE 9, 2016: MOTION: Baker moved to approve the minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission's June 9, 2016 meeting, as written. Clore seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 10-0 (Agran absent). COMMISSION INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION: Correspondence with Mayor Regarding House Move Project. Swaim said that a letter was sent to the City to thank everyone involved in the house move. Memo to City Manager Regarding Manville Heights. Swaim said a memo was sent by Miklo regarding Manville Heights. Preserve Iowa Summit. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 14, 2016 Page 5 of 7 Miklo said the State Historic Preservation Summit will be held in Davenport in September. He said that Bristow and Swaim are attending, and the City would pay for the registration and travel expenses of one more Commission member if anyone is interested. Henry Fisk Reception. Swaim stated that the Commission has been contacted by someone who has been documenting the architect, Henry Fisk, regarding sharing in some kind of event in honor of his work. Miklo said the owner of one of his houses, which received a preservation award in the past, has formed a group of owners of his houses. He said that Fisk was active in Iowa City from the 1930s through the 1960s, and his firm designed the Iowa City Airport terminal. Miklo said he also designed the City Hall building, in partnership with Roland Wehner, although the building looked much different initially. Miklo said that Fisk also designed several quite interesting houses throughout Iowa City and several north of Iowa City in the Dubuque Street area. Miklo said that the Fisker group would like to hold a reception and is requesting that the Commission co-sponsor it, which also makes it easier to hold the event in a City building. He asked if the Commission would like to co-sponsor this event. Swaim said that one of the advantages is that this would be something proactive that the Commission could do that would bring attention to more recent architecture and housing, a lot of it in the Manville Heights area. Trimble said that Friends of Historic Preservation would be more than happy to co-sponsor the reception with the Commission. Miklo suggested the Johnson County Historic Preservation Commission as another co-sponsor, because several of the buildings are in the unincorporated part of the County. Swaim stated that part of the Commission's work plan is to hold events that are educational and to build its audience and such. She said this is a good opportunity. Swaim said the website was put together by Sue Rhomberg and is called HenryFisk.com. Swaim asked for a volunteer to be a point person to work with Friends of Historic Preservation and Rhomberg. Swaim said that Rhomberg would like to hold the reception at the Airport terminal, which was designed by Fisk. Builta agreed to work on the project. Other. Bristow announced that Friends of Historic Preservation helped staff write an HRDP grant to rehabilitate the City Park cabins, specifically for $25,000 that would be matched, to do the roofs with wood shake instead of asphalt and to also repair some of the deteriorated roof structures. Bristow said the City will be getting $25,000 from the State in order to help with that proposal. She said that more will be going on with that project, but this money is earmarked for the roofing. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 14, 2016 Page 6 of 7 Kuenzli said that at the last meeting, the Commission had discussed water issues with regard to the Habitat for Humanity house to be built on Seventh Avenue. She asked if any additional information had become available since that time. Bristow said that she has talked with the builders. She said they do plan to make sure the house is waterproof. Bristow said she does not know all of the methods to be used, but the builders plan to do everything they can to prevent water issues. Swaim added that Joyce Carroll, of the Parks and Recreation Department, has been working for several years to draw attention to the cabins and to try to get money and grants, and finally the right combination of grant writing has been put together. She said this is a big first step. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Swaim said the Commission offices are for one-year terms. She said she would be interested in running for Chair again, and Baker has expressed interest in the Vice Chair position. Swaim asked if anyone else had an interest in running. MOTION: Wagner nominated Swaim for Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission and nominated Baker for Vice Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. Clore seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 10-0 (Agran absent). ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Minutes submitted by Anne Schulte HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD 2015-2016 KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a Member NAME TERM EXP. 8/13 9/10 10/8 11/12 12/10 1/14 2/11 2/25 3/12 4/14 5/12 6/9 7/14 AGRAN, THOMAS 3/29/17 X O/E X X X O/E X X O/E X X O/E BAKER, ESTHER 3/29/18 X X X O/E X X X X X X X X X BUILTA, ZACH 3/29/19 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- X X X X CLORE, GOSIA 3/29/17 X O/E X X X O/E X O/E X X X O/E X DEGRAW, SHARON 3/29/19 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- X X X X KUENZLI, CECILE 3/29/19 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- O/E O/E X X LITTON, ANDREW 3/29/17 O/E X X X X X X X X X O/E O/E X MICHAUD, PAM 3/29/18 X X X O/E X X X X X X X X X SANDELL, BEN 3/29/17 X X X X O/E X X X X X X X X SWAIM, GINALIE 3/29/18 X X X O/E X X X X O/E X X X X WAGNER, FRANK 3/29/18 O/E O/E X O/E X X X X X X X X X