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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Packet 05 11 17Staff Report May 2, 2017 Historic Review for 619 North Johnson Street District: Brown Street Historic District Classification: Contributing The applicant, Univercity Partnership, is requesting approval for a proposed alteration project at 619 North Johnson Street, a contributing property in the Brown Street Historic District. The project consists of three egress replacement windows, a new front door, removal of a superfluous rear exterior door, stoop, and cover, cleaning and recoating of the roof, tuckpointing and capping the chimney, new railings, and a new retaining wall and fence. Applicable Regulations and Guidelines: 4.0 Iowa City Historic Preservation Guidelines for Alterations 4.1 Balustrades and Handrails 4.2 Chimneys 4.3 Doors 4.7 Mass and Rooflines 4.12 Site and Landscaping 4.13 Windows 7.0 Guidelines for Demolition 7.1 Demolition of Whole Structures or Significant Features Staff Comments This house was built c. 1895 and some site inventory forms describe it as moved to this location in 1924. Staff finds that this is unlikely given that a house is shown in that location in the same configuration on all Sanborn Maps that show the area, including 1906, 1912, 1920, 1926, and 1933. The unusual corner half-porch is original to the house. Otherwise, the house is a 1 ½ story Victorian Cottage with a main hip roof and fish- scale clad gables on all four sides. Several small additions and decks have been built on the back. In 1990 a section 106 review was performed for work to be completed on the house using CDBG funding from HUD. In 2006 the Commission approved the reconstruction of the rear deck and railing. The applicant is proposing to replace the windows on the front and south gables with new metal-clad wood egress windows. They are also currently including the possibility of replacing the central window on the north side with a new window with a raised sill to accommodate kitchen cabinets. The front door will be replaced with a new fiberglass door with a ¾ lite over one panel. Missing railing on the front porch and stair will be replaced with railing to match existing. The metal standing seam roof will be cleaned, repaired, and coated with an elastomeric coating. The existing chimney will be tuckpointed and capped with a metal cap painted dark. On the back of the house, the rear door, landing, and entry cover in the southwest corner will be removed and the siding will match the existing vinyl siding. On the south side of the property the rear fence is failing. Once the property is surveyed, a new concrete retaining wall and fence matching the existing will be built at the correct property line. The guidelines recommend replacing missing balustrades with a style that is consistent with the building. Chimneys should be repaired and tuckpointed instead of removed. New caps should be as inconspicuous as possible. Traditional styled doors in a material, such as fiberglass, which maintains some of the characteristics of historic wood doors are appropriate replacements. Metal roofs should be maintained rather than replaced where possible. The use of metal-clad wood replacement windows is acceptable. Bedroom windows may be replaced for egress purposes when necessary as long as the new window matches the size, trim, use of divided lights, and overall appearance of the previous bedroom window. Removing historic architectural features is not allowed. In Staff’s opinion, the work described meets the guidelines and will improve the historic character of the home. The door, canopy and stair to be removed on the exterior are not original and removing them will help to unclutter the appearance of the rear of the home Recommended Motion Move to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project at 619 North Johnson Street as presented in the application with the following conditions:  Door product information is approved by staff;  Window product information is approved by staff.     MINUTES PRELIMINARY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION APRIL 13, 2017 EMMA J. HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Thomas Agran, Esther Baker, Kevin Boyd, Gosia Clore, Sharon DeGraw, Pam Michaud, Ginalie Swaim, Frank Wagner MEMBERS ABSENT: Zach Builta, Cecile Kuenzli, Andrew Litton STAFF PRESENT: Jessica Bristow, Bob Miklo OTHERS PRESENT: Kumi Morris, 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. NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION: JOHNSON COUNTY SAVINGS BANK, 102 SOUTH CLINTON (MIDWESTONE BANK). Bristow showed the location of the bank on a map of downtown Iowa City. She stated that the nomination includes the main, six-story tower built in 1913; the three-story building to the east of that, which is on the 1882 Sanborn map; and the 1984 addition to the south of that. Bristow said the nomination discusses the different sections of the bank and talks about it as if it were a column: the base, the shaft, the capitol. She said it discusses the different treatment of the exterior of the bank and how much of it has its original integrity. Bristow showed some photographs of the building. She showed the north facade and the lion heads right below the frieze. Bristow said those were on each side of the entries, which were modified and closed in over a period of time, beginning in 1921. Bristow showed a photograph of the three-story building. She said there was originally a three- story building on the site occupied by Johnson County Bank. Bristow said the bank needed to grow, so it then took down most of the corner, leaving the one single bay. She said the bank plans always included the second and third floors of that three-story building as part of the floor plan for the bank, so it was going to be continually occupied by the same space. Bristow said the National Register nomination discusses that in more detail and what happened with the first floor. Bristow said that the stone seen on the base is a 1963 change, so it is a modern or more simplified version of the stone pattern on the six-story tower of the bank. She said that when the six-story tower was built, the facade of the three-story building was updated to have more of a classical, revival feel, so it would fit more in the same language as the new bank building. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 2 of 10   Bristow showed the connection between the six-story bank and the 1984 addition. She stated that there was always kind of a storefront entry in the space. Bristow said that when the addition was put on, the structure of the wall was changed a little to make the connection. She pointed out that the connection is recessed to create a “hyphen” between the original building and the addition as currently prescribed by the National Park Service. Bristow said that the bank did a simplified version of the stone facade along the street level, which ties it together. She said the facade is divided into three bays with six windows. Bristow said that in the new addition, the same kind of pattern is continued. Bristow showed an image of the interior, looking toward the corner, after the more recent remodeling. She said it brought back a lot of the original plan of the bank. Bristow stated that during the remodel some of the same column and ceiling details were brought back or exposed, and the floors remained or were refinished. She said the goal was to return to a lot of what the original bank had, which had been modified over time. Bristow showed an image from just inside the bank, from the south addition looking north toward Washington Street. She said there is a stair, and one of the old vaults was in the bump out. Bristow said one goes up to the second floor from this stair, and then there is a stair tower from the second floor to the sixth floor. Bristow showed a photograph from the third floor looking down the hall from Clinton Street east and into the third floor of that three-story building. Bristow said the nomination also discussed this building as an investigation into how Iowa City could handle having tenants in the upper floors. She said the bank was not originally going to occupy all of the floors, and so the bank investigated whether or not it would be able to get tenants. Bristow said it seems as though it was occupied throughout its history. Bristow showed the fourth floor as one looks east. She said this is where there is no longer a three-story building, so it is the end of the tower. Bristow mentioned the original flooring, stairs, and railing. She said that most of the woodwork around the windows, doors, and transoms is original. Bristow said there were a few places where things were opened a little bit in the recent remodel and that the trim was then moved to areas where the woodwork was missing. Bristow showed a view on the second floor looking south into the addition. She said it is where the tower stairs start and go up to the sixth floor. Bristow showed a view on the fifth floor looking south, over the top of the 1984 addition. Bristow said one of the important things done during the remodel was to remove a fire sprinkler stack running up and down the center core of the stair tower. She showed a view looking down through the stair tower. Bristow showed the sixth floor. She said there was a hidden skylight that was uncovered to make it a workable skylight again. Bristow showed a view looking east, toward the end of the building. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 3 of 10   Bristow said staff went through this nomination. She said staff feels this is one of the premiere downtown buildings, is one of the first "fireproof" structures, and is the first high-rise. Bristow said the architectural integrity is really amazing in this building. She said the fact that the cornice was removed and then put back during the remodel really adds to the historic character of this. Bristow said it was replicated pretty well because of historic photographs. Bristow said that putting this property on the National Register would really be a benefit to the downtown. Boyd said he thinks this can serve as a model for other downtown businesses. He said it is a great opportunity to showcase people investing and can serve as a model for others. Swaim said she learned a lot of interesting local history regarding the banks in Iowa City in the 1930s during difficult times, as well as information about the various tenants who were in the community in the 1930s and 1940s. MOTION: Boyd moved that the Commission recommend that the application be approved for the National Register, under criterion C. Baker seconded the motion. The motion was approved on a vote of 8-0 (Builta, Kuenzli, and Litton absent). CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS: 800 Brown Street, Happy Hollow Park. Bristow stated that Happy Hollow Park is in the far northeast corner of the Brown Street Historic District. She said that the park structures are non-contributing. Bristow said the park currently contains a couple of structures under one roof comprising storage, restrooms, and shelter. She said the proposal is to remove the structure and in the same general location of that structure, there are plans to build a separate shelter and restroom with a smaller storage area in the back of it. Bristow said that the City owns the park. She said that the Parks and Recreation Department therefore went through some research of the Brown Street District and held some neighborhood meetings about this. Bristow said that Parks and Recreation looked at architecture in the district as well as the history. She said there was once a brickyard here, and nearby is a house built by the brickyard owners that served as its office. Bristow said the shelter facility would have a simple, standing seam metal roof. She said it would be a simple park-like structure. Bristow said the general design idea for both of these buildings is something in the Craftsman style, which would be more appropriate for a park structure than other, more formal styles. Bristow showed the columns with a limestone base. She said there would be an open structure for the roof. Bristow said the beams would extend out but not beyond the roof covering. She said it would be a simple, open structure. Bristow said there are a couple of options for the restrooms. She said that at this point, they would go with what works with the bidding. Bristow showed the base bid - the main proposal. She said it is a simple limestone-based structure with some lap siding, some trim, and the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 4 of 10   standing seam metal roof. Bristow stated that there is an option to do an alternate version with columns. Bristow stated staff feels that maybe in a structure of this size, the columns would not be necessary, because columns would indicate a really formal entry or a porch. She said, however, that this is a park structure, and staff feels either option would be acceptable. Bristow said that if the bids come in such that the columns would be affordable, staff would be fine with using that design. Agran said that, in terms of the porch, he feels that either option would be fine. He said that all of the designs are so much better than the very first suggestions. Agran said the one with the little porch on it is nice, and having a little bit of shelter in front of the entrance makes it feel less like it is really adjacent to the elements. He said if that bid is possible, the little restroom will exist for the next one hundred years, so he hopes that it is not too much more expensive. Agran said that when he moved to Iowa City, he had no idea why that park was there or why it was shaped this peculiar way. He said there is a really fascinating story that is part of the history of the neighborhood in terms of the brickyard. Agran said there are a few Craftsman buildings here, but there are a lot of brick buildings here. Agran said the limestone hearkens him more to WPA/CCC-era park structures, which is fine. He said there are a few Craftsman properties around here. Agran said there maybe could be a material change on the foundations, using brick instead of limestone. Agran said the park is non-contributing, but that doesn't mean that the Commission cannot aim to have these be more contributing. He asked if there is any way that these buildings can tell a little more of the story of why this park is here. Miklo said he would not say that the park is non- contributing, but the current structures are non-contributing. Agran said the design would be fine but feels it is also an opportunity to tell a story. He said the park should not feel so random. Agran said the park is there because the material was dumped out into those houses and properties around it. He said that he would approve this like it is, but perhaps in the bidding or design process, if there is another option that feels right, this could utilize the material to tell that story. Agran referred to the map and said that when one looks down Lucas Street, there is a sight line in the neighborhood. He said there is a sight line to these buildings, to this park at the end of the street. Agran said that right now, that sight line goes to a parking lot and then to the awful building that is there right now, so it is great that it will be removed. Agran said that when he looks at the proposal and thinks about how to make this park look nicer, especially as related to what is seen from the neighborhood and how these buildings fit in the neighborhood, he thinks the placement of these buildings makes them feel quite clunky. He said the connections between them feel really disparate; they don't feel like a unified blueprint there. Agran said that in the old structure, even though it was not nice, it really looks in on the park. He said the park is a vessel, and it is a vessel by its very creation by having taken out all that HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 5 of 10   clay and everything. Agran said the shelter doesn't really look into the park, which he says is kind of a strange orientation. He added that the restroom is also at this kind of oblique angle. Agran said the sightline is then towards the restroom, which is the very first thing one sees from the neighborhood. He said he finds that a little bit strange. Agran said the solution to him could be to have the sidewalk be one, graceful, long arcing curve that really embraces the park. He stated that it might only be tenuously related to the Commission's role, but the buildings will exist for a long time, and he would like them to be as contributing as they can to the park and really embrace the park. Agran said that right now they just feel a little bit plonked down there in a way that doesn't seem considered in terms of what that park is as a space in the neighborhood. He said he would vote to approve, but those are his thoughts as related to the park and the park's role in the neighborhood. DeGraw asked Agran what his priority would be in terms of the plans. Agran replied that it would be nice to see what the landscaping might be. He said that if the restroom was turned at more of a 90 degree angle to that path, one would see more of the side of the building and not the front, from the Lucas Street vantage point. Agran commented that mostly he thinks it is strange that the buildings no longer look in on the activity of the park. Swaim asked if the sidewalk in the plans is already there. Bristow said that with the demolition of the structure, there would be a new sidewalk. Boyd said his first thought when he saw the plans was why brick is not involved. He said it seems like an obvious place to use some kind of brick in a structure that used to be in a brickyard. Agran said that if others on the Commission feel sympathetic to this, the Commission could vote on the motion saying it is approved as is, while allowing also for an option in the material. He said it would open that as some kind of option, if it is deemed desirable. Agran said he would not want to see this sent back to square one. DeGraw asked if it would be possible to use brick in an ornamental way, perhaps in the sidewalks. Miklo said that Morris, who is managing the project for the City was available for questions. Morris said that initially, the Parks and Recreation Department looked at brick, since it made sense for a facility in a former brickyard. She said that the first designs had brick in both the restroom facility as well as the shelter. Morris said there is about $150,000 budgeted for both structures on the site. She stated that most of the restroom facilities in the City have been coming in around $90,000. Morris said the budget is pretty tight for this. Morris said they then went back to the drawing board and had the architects, who are looking holistically around the neighborhood, look at prototypes that will be done at many of the park shelters. She said that one of the things to be careful about when putting together restroom projects or projects in neighborhood parks is the issue of equity. Morris stated that what is invested into one neighborhood park should not completely override what is done in other HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 6 of 10   neighborhood parks. She said it is something to be careful about when considering materials and the investment. Morris said that a number of things with the restroom project were discussed. She said that in the second, third, or fourth iteration, when it was realized that using a complete brick structure would be completely out of the budget and would prevent construction of the shelter, it was toned down. Morris said they went to a partial limestone base with a split-face block with some kind of brick trim added in. She said that when they started to play with the language of the architecture, they realized that they were getting further and further away from what they were seeing in the context of the historic neighborhood. Morris said that what they ended up doing was going back to looking at houses and the construction. She said they were seeing limestone bases and, in terms of what could fit within the budget, Craftsman style, and that is how the plan was derived. Regarding placement, Morris stated that they looked at a number of things. She said they wanted to make sure there was enough of a distance between the shelter and the restroom. Morris said that, because of the budget, they wanted to align as closely as possible the utilities of the existing structure. She said that unlike many renovation projects, demolition will also be part of the $150,000 budget. Morris said they found that if they could align as closely as possible certain parts of the foundations and the existing utilities that more could be invested into the actual structures. Regarding another issue, Morris said that if one looks at the site where the shadow of the trees is, there are some low elevations and a lot of ponding. She said they want to keep the park as open as possible, but they are looking at natural landscaping to absorb some of the issues with the landscape moisture and ponding on the site. Morris said that the way the sidewalk is set up will allow for a fairly landscaped area in front of that as well. She said that is being worked on by the Parks Department. Boyd asked, outside of Commission members' roles, but as citizens, what the best way would be to weigh in on this. Morris said that anyone can send her an e-mail or send one to Julie Seydel-Johnson, the Director of the Parks Department. Miklo said that Bristow could forward on any e-mails sent to her. Swaim said that if the budget allowed for it, it would be nice to have a sign explaining who the park is named after or information about the neighborhood. Morris added that they are trying to find a way to fit brick into the design that makes sense aesthetically as well as historically. MOTION: Agran moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 800 Brown Street, Happy Hollow Park, as presented in the application including either Option A or Option B. Clore seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 8-0 (Builta, Kuenzli, and Litton absent). REPORTS ON CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY CHAIR AND STAFF: Certificate of No Material Effect - Chair and Staff Review. 523 Grant Street. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 7 of 10   Bristow said the garage at this address had a combination of a few different pieces of siding which are failing. She stated that it will be resided with wood to match the original siding profile. 228 Summit Street Apt. 4D. Bristow said that one of the apartments on the top floor needed vents in the roof. She said this was approved, and it was not going to damage anything nor would it be visible. Minor Review - Staff Review. 610 Jefferson Street. Bristow said this is a local landmark. She said that it has always had a very small entry deck on the back. Bristow said that it was rebuilt without a permit, and the owner needed to change the railing. Bristow said that during discussions of how to make the railing work to meet the guidelines, the owners came up with idea of enlarging the deck. She said it is still set in well beyond the sides of the house and will now be a usable deck instead of just an extended stoop. Bristow said it will be about 12 feet by 13 feet and will have a railing that meets the guidelines. 719 Ronalds Street. Bristow said this house will become a rental property. She said that a railing was needed at the stairs. Bristow said there was a railing in the garage, and the owners will re-use it if it fits the current stair configuration. She said that if it does not fit, it will be the model for the new site stairs. 332 Ellis. Bristow stated that because this building is one of the City's historic fraternity buildings and is eligible for the National Register, the Board of Adjustment put a condition for meeting the historic preservation guidelines on its exterior rehabilitation. Bristow said staff worked with the owners to make certain that what they plan do meets the guidelines. Bristow said she has a list of things that are relevant. She said this rehabilitation should help and greatly improve this property. Bristow said there is currently a window where the front door will go. She said the window will be removed, and an appropriate door will be installed in that location. Bristow said the owners need to come up with an ADA accessible first floor. She said therefore a ramp will be constructed to fit between the columns. Bristow said they will shorten the pilasters that are the trim, just against the wall next to the door, so the ramp can go in and up to the stoop, because it is a little bit raised. She said they are shortening the trim but not removing all the trim. Bristow said the owners are replacing all of the remaining exterior doors with fiberglass doors that would all meet the guidelines. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 8 of 10   Bristow said that in the front, there are below grade egress windows and window wells. She said the owners are removing all of those and covering over the window wells along the front, so it will be more like the original, probably concrete, running along the front. Bristow said the owners are replacing all of the windows on the property. She said that when she visited the property, there were only storm windows on the first and second floors. Bristow said the building does have original windows on the third floor, but there are some that are missing and other issues. She said staff worked with the owners to come up with details for this.Bristow said that the top of the third floor window is an arched piece. She said the new windows will have that as well. Bristow stated that there is a stair tower on the north side that does not meet the guidelines. She said the owners will be replacing the bottom third of it and will match what is there for that part. Bristow added that if for some reason it is determined that the whole thing needs to be replaced, then the railing will meet the guidelines. Bristow said the dormer in the front has been altered so that it does not match all of the others. She said the owners will be rebuilding it to match what was originally there. Bristow said the owners will be adding some trim in the arched area above the first floor windows. She said there was never glass there, and it was never an arched window but was some kind of a wood-paneled area. Bristow said that now the owners will be doing an arched trim and a little bit of a pattern, which staff found to be appropriate. Bristow said the owners have some shutters and will be consistent with the use of shutters. She said they will be replacing them if missing or removing them if they shouldn't be there. Bristow said that there is original copper flashing in the vertical piece below every single window in the third floor at the Mansard roof. She said the ones in the front have been painted white or replaced with wood and then painted white. Bristow said the owners will either strip them if they are copper, replace them if they are wood, put in new copper, or something along those lines to make them match so that they are no longer white. Bristow said the building has its original slate roof, and the owners have been instructed to repair it because it appears to be in good condition. She said that was not part of their original plan, because the company that owns the house is also involved with Brava tile and intended to remove the roof and put on Brava tile. Bristow said the company will need to get approval before the roof work is done. Bristow stated that any deteriorated trim will be repaired and replaced with material that follows the guidelines. She said that there are a few windows on the back that are currently removed. Bristow said there will be a total of three windows on that back that will no longer be there. She said the owners will either come up with a matching brick that will be approved or put in a window like all of the others with black spandrel glass. Bristow said she thinks the owners will do a good job of bringing this back to having some historic character and helping save this area. She said the property is in the far east side of the overall Manville Heights Neighborhood. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 13, 2017 Page 9 of 10   CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR MARCH 9, 2017: MOTION: Boyd moved to approve the minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission's March 9, 2017 meeting, as written. Agran seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 8-0 (Builta, Kuenzli, and Litton absent). COMMISSION INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION: Preservation Summit - Fort Dodge, IA June 8-10, 2017. Bristow said the Preservation Summit will be held from June 8-10, which has led to the rescheduling of the June Historic Preservation Commission meeting. She asked any Commission members who would like to attend the Summit to let her know. Bristow said she would need to register anyone who is interested by May 11. Miklo said that travel expense, meals, hotel, and registration would be paid by the City. Copy of 2017 Annual Work Plan Report. Bristow said this is a copy of the report that she sent to the City Council. Other. Agran said he received confirmation that perhaps in the next month or so, all of the concrete façade extensions are coming down off the Jefferson Building, and maybe some of the original transoms and everything will be restored. He said it is unclear what is underneath them. Agran said that other downtown building owners may see how much improvement this makes and do it to their own buildings. He said he hopes it all goes according to plan. Trimble said that Friends of Historic Preservation has a couple of events coming up. She said that the Craft Your Environment Craft Fair will be on April 23. Trimble said she is still taking applications from vendors and added that it will be held at the East Side Recycling Center. Trimble said on that the weekend of April 28 - 30, Friends of Historic Preservation is having a garage sale to support the final push on the Houser-Metzger House. She said that it will be held at the Houser-Metzger House on College Street. Trimble said there will be another passive floor restoration class on May 6. She invited anyone interested to attend. Trimble stated that the Parade of Historic Homes, which will be in Manville Heights and River Heights, will be held on May 28. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m. Minutes submitted by Anne Schulte HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD 2016-2017 KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a Member    NAME TERM EXP. 4/14 5/12 6/9 7/14 8/11 9/8 10/13 11/10 12/8 1/12 2/9 3/9 4/13 AGRAN, THOMAS 7/1/17 O/E X X O/E O/E X X X X X X O/E X BAKER, ESTHER 7/1/18 X X X X X X X O/E X X X O/E X BOYD, KEVIN 7/1/17 --- --- --- --- --- X X X O/E X X X X BUILTA, ZACH 7/1/19 X X X X X X X X X O/E X X O/E CLORE, GOSIA 7/1/17 X X O/E X X X O/E X X X O/E X X DEGRAW, SHARON 7/1/19 X X X X O/E X O/E X X X X X X KUENZLI, CECILE 7/1/19 O/E O/E X X X X X X X O/E X X O/E LITTON, ANDREW 7/1/17 X O/E O/E X O/E X X O/E O/E X X X O/E MICHAUD, PAM 7/1/18 X X X X O/E X X X X X X X X SWAIM, GINALIE 7/1/18 X X X X X X X X O/E O/E X X X WAGNER, FRANK 7/1/18 X X X X X X O/E X X X X X X