HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Agenda Packet 9.8.2022
Thursday
September 8, 2022
5:30 p.m.
Emma Harvat Hall
City Hall
IOWA CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Thursday, September 8, 2022
City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street
Emma J. Harvat Hall
5:30 p.m.
Agenda
A) Call to Order
B) Roll Call
C) Public discussion of anything not on the agenda
D) Certificate of Appropriateness
HPC22-0057: 829 Kirkwood Avenue – Local Historic Landmark (garage demolition and new garage
construction)
E) Report on Certificates issued by Chair and Staff
Certificate of No Material Effect –Chair and Staff review
1. HPC22-0055: 120 North Dodge Street – Goosetown/Horace Mann Conservation District (removal
of non-historic front balustrade)
2. HPC22-0058: 930 East College Street – College Hill Conservation District (front porch wall repair
and reconstruction)
3. HPC22-0060: 404 East Jefferson Street – Jefferson Street Historic District (stained glass removal,
repair, and reinstallation)
Minor Review –Staff review
1. HPC22-0056: 525 Iowa Avenue – College Hill Conservation District (west side step and stoop
replacement)
2. HPC22-0059: 619 Ronalds Street – Brown Street Historic District (roof replacement - internal gutter
removal approved in 2013)
3. HPC22-0063: 823 Bowery Street – Governor-Lucas Street Conservation District (rear deck
construction)
Intermediate Review –Chair and Staff review
HPC22-0054: 324 Fairchild Street – Northside Historic District (rear entry canopy added to previously
approved project)
F) Consideration of Minutes for August 11, 2022
G) Commission Discussion
Historic Preservation Awards
H) Adjournment
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact Jessica Bristow,
Urban Planning, at 319-356-5243 or at jessica-bristow@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow
sufficient time to meet your access needs.
Staff Report September 1, 2022
Historic Review for HPC22-0057: 829 Kirkwood Avenue
District: Kirkwood Avenue/Lucas Farms Neighborhood
Classification: Local Historic Landmark
The applicant, Brad Pouleson, is requesting approval for a proposed demolition and new construction project
at 829 Kirkwood Avenue, a Local Historic Landmark property in the Kirkwood Avenue Neighborhood. The
project consists of the demolition of the small historic single-car garage on the property and the construction
of a new two-car garage with studio space. .
Applicable Regulations and Guidelines:
4.0 Iowa City Historic Preservation Guidelines for Alterations
4.3 Doors
4.11 Siding
4.12 Site and Landscaping
4.14 Wood
6.0 Guidelines for New Construction
6.2 New Outbuildings
7.0 Guidelines for Demolition
7.1 Demolition of Whole Structures or Significant Features
Staff Comments
Property Description
This Italianate Style brick house was built in 1874. It is asymmetrical in form and consists of an L-shaped two
and one-half story main block, with a one and one-half story rear wing, and a one-story addition behind the
rear wing. It features a hipped roof over the central portion with cross gables facing the front and sides, a
wrap-around porch, tall windows, bracketed eaves, and a projecting square bay in the front.
The house is located on the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Keokuk Street, on land that was originally part
of the historic Plum Grove property. Walter Eckel had the house built in 1874 and lived there until 1897
when it was sold to William Clark. The Clarks lived in the house from 1897 until 1914. The house is known
as the historic Clark House.
In 2007, the Historic Preservation Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for work that
included replacement of the existing stone foundation walls, replacement of the existing basement windows,
construction of window wells to accommodate the new basement windows, and construction of retaining
walls on the south side of the house to accommodate a new walk-out basement door. This work remained
unfinished for years and the house empty until the current owners purchased it and finished the project.
In 2013, the Commission approved roof replacement on the flat roofs, the configuration of a stone veneer
for the foundation, some brick repair and some basement and rear addition replacement windows. In 2015
repair to the exterior wood details and a new cellar door entrance and cover were approved. In 2019 repair to
the porch and replacement of the roof shingles was approved.
The existing one-car garage was built prior to 1933 where it appears on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (the
first map to include this area). The garage was turned into an artist studio in the 1960s. A small addition was
added to it at some point creating an Ell-shaped structure. The garage has a clipped gable roof with Dutch lap
siding, 6-pane fixed windows, a single car overhead door and two passage doors.
Proposal
The applicant is proposing to demolish the existing garage in order to build a two-car garage with studio in
roughly the same location. The new garage will be a 24 foot by 32 foot two-car garage with additional space
for a studio. The garage will have a gable-on-hip roof with a 4:12 slope. The exterior will be clad in cement
board siding that must be smooth and a 3 to 5-inch lap to meet the guidelines. There will two single car
overhead doors on the alley side, a smaller overhead door on the west side, a passage door on the west and
windows on three sides. The roof will be shingled in asphalt shingles to match the house. The gable will be
shingled instead of including a window or vent. The soffit will be a closed soffit with a smooth profile to
match the house. The applicant proposes a cement board soffit and cement board trim on the exterior. The
windows will be wood or metal-clad wood double or single-hung windows. The passage door will be wood or
fiberglass. The overhead doors will be a carriage house-style door that has composite overlays to create the
“board” pattern.
Guidelines
The guidelines in Section 7.0 Demolition, states that the decision to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness
for the demolition of outbuildings will be made on a case-by case basis. It further recommends retaining
historic garages. If the period garage is insufficient for modern-day vehicles, efforts should be made to
construct a new garage on another portion of the site. Where it is not possible to save an existing garage, the
guidelines recommend designing replacement garages to be compatible in design with the primary structure
and/or other outbuildings in the neighborhood.
6.2 New Outbuildings states that new outbuildings should be constructed to the rear of the property and
subordinate in size and ornamentation to the primary structure but should reflect the style of the primary
structure. Carriage-style garage doors may be used if they are a style appropriate for the property. Windows
should be relatively small and rectangular. The garage doors should have trim that matches the trim of other
doors and windows on the building.
Section 4.3 Doors recommends substituting a material in place of wood for doors only if the substitute
material retains the style and appearance of historic doors and is durable, accepts paint, and is approved by
the HPC. Fiberglass is commonly accepted as a replacement for wood doors.
Section 4.11 Siding recommends substituting a material in place of wood siding only if the substitute material
retains the appearance and function of the original wood. The substitute material must be durable, accept
paint, and is approved by the HPC. Fiber cement board with a smooth finish is an approved wood substitute
for siding. Lap siding most often has a lap exposure of 3 to 5 inches.
Section 4.12 Site and Landscaping recommends providing parking behind the primary structure on a lot
where possible and providing vehicular access from an alley when available.
Section 4.14 Wood recommends substituting a material in place of wood only if the substitute material retains
the appearance and function of the original wood. The substitute material must be durable, accept paint, and
is approved by the HPC. While fiber cement board with a smooth finish is often an approved wood
substitute for wood, it has not been commonly approved as a replacement for wood trim and would need to
be approved on a project-by-project basis.
Review
In Staff’s opinion, the proposed location for the new garage is the only location that is along the alley, behind
the house, and allows for adequate separation distance from the house. The rear yard of this property is
smaller than the front yard, making it impossible to construct a new garage that meets modern needs without
removing the existing garage. Staff recommends approval to demolish the existing garage if the Commission
can approve the new garage proposal.
The design of the new garage was reviewed by staff. Comments were provided regarding the guidelines and
the garage design was revised as shown in the current version. Revisions included changing the roof from a
Hawaiian-hip (which either doesn’t exist or is rare in Iowa City) to a gable-on hip roof, changing the east
overhead door from a two-car door to two single-car doors, and including the proposed trim material on the
drawings.
The originally proposed Hawaiian-hip roof, where the slope changes midway from a low-slope to a high
slope, did not follow the requirement that a new outbuilding reflects the style of the primary structure or a
style prevalent within the district (or area/neighborhood). The current garage roof, a gable-on hip, roof is
common among carriage houses in Iowa City. While the roof slope is much lower at 4:12 than is typical, staff
finds this roof shape acceptable.
The overhead doors meet the guidelines as single-car doors. While it is unusual to have an overhead door
without a corresponding driveway, the west facing door will allow for flexible use of the studio space. The
door will follow the guidelines like the others with a carriage house style and a separate composite material
creating the board pattern. Staff recommends approval. The passage door is shown as a full-lite door. Typical
garage passage doors are a half-lite with panels below. Staff recommends this door, as a street-facing door is
revised as a half-lite door unless the goal is for additional light in the space and the Commission can approve
the removal of this condition.
The proposed siding material is cement board which is commonly approved as a substitute for wood lap
siding if the material is smooth and can create a 3 to 5 inch typical exposure. The applicant also proposes to
use smooth cement board in the vented soffits and all other trim. This is not a commonly approved substitute
for wood trim and the Commission will need to approve it specifically for this project to remove this
condition.
Recommended Motion
Move to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project at 829 Kirkwood Avenue as presented in
the staff report with the following conditions:
The passage door is revised to a half-lite door with panels below
The soffits and trim are revised as wood.
829 Kirkwood Avenue
829 Kirkwood Avenue- garage seen from Keokuk Street (2008 photograph)
829 Kirkwood Avenue site outlined in black with existing garage in SE corner
Existing garage- west side
Existing garage- south side showing extension
Existing garage- SE corner
Original Hawaiian Hip garage design
Gable-on-hip carriage house example
Gable-on hip carriage house example
Proposed site plan
Proposed plan
Proposed East Elevation
Proposed west elevation
Proposed north and south elevation
Proposed design
MINUTES PRELIMINARY
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AUGUST 11, 2022
EMMA HARVAT HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Margaret Beck, Kevin Boyd, Noah Stork, Deanna Thomann,
Nicole Villanueva, Frank Wagner, Christiana Welu-Reynolds
MEMBERS ABSENT: Carl Brown, Kevin Larson, Jordan Sellergren
STAFF PRESENT: Jessica Bristow
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (become effective only after separate Council action)
CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Boyd called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA:
There was none
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS:
411 South Summit Street
Bristow introduced this as a contributing property in the Summit Street Historic District. The
proposal is to demolish the existing 2-car garage and replace it with new construction. The
existing garage is structurally unsound, with few salvageable materials. The entire structure is
falling in. Staff recommends that if the design for the new garage can be approved, the building
should be demolished.
Bristow described the new design and presented slides. Staff requested some changes to the
original plan, and the contractor agreed to those changes.
MOTION:
Beck moved to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project at 411 South Summit
Street as presented in the staff report with the following conditions: Changes suggested by staff
in the staff report are implemented: all windows are rectangular, follow the guidelines, are
appropriately sized, and are approved by staff, the passage door is approved by staff. Stork
seconded the motion.
Stork asked how the design of the original garage could be known and replicated with the extent
of deterioration. Bristow replied that the guidelines allow for designing a garage similar to others
in the area and using a generic design with details to match the house.
The motion carried on a vote of 7-0 (Brown, Larson, Sellergren absent).
CERTIFICATE OF NO MATERIAL EFFECT:
910 East Burlington Street
Brick sidewalls and column piers were deteriorated. Both sidewalls have been taken down and
new concrete footings have been poured. They are salvaging the old brick.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AUGUST 11, 2022
Page 2 of 3
26 East Market Street – Old Brick
Internal gutters are being repaired.
MINOR REVIEWS:
713 Iowa Avenue
New rear stair railings are being installed.
111-113 East College Street
New sign installation downtown.
914 Dearborn Street
A sliding glass door is being installed to replace the existing rear door.
426 Church Street
The synthetic siding is being removed and the original siding underneath is being repaired.
INTERMEDIATE REVIEWS:
516 South Lucas Street
Rear pergola installation
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR JULY 14, 2022:
MOTION: Wagner moved to approve the minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission’s
July 14, 2022, meeting, as written. Villanueva seconded the motion. The motion carried on a
vote of 7-0 (Brown, Larson, Sellergren absent).
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Historic Preservation Awards:
Bristow stated that an email was sent to all awardees. She is still waiting for some responses.
She appealed for help from commission members to help write and deliver scripts and general
help preparing for the ceremony. Several commission members volunteered to help. Boyd
stated he doesn’t think refreshments are necessary, but no decision was made.
ADJOURNMENT:
Reynolds moved to adjourn the meeting. Beck seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 6:06
pm.
Minutes submitted by Kathy Fitzpatrick
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AUGUST 11, 2022
Page 3 of 3
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD
2022-2023
NAME
TERM
EXP. 9/09 10/14 11/18 12/9 01/13 2/15 3/10 4/14 5/12 6/9 7/14 8/11
BECK,
MARGARET 6/30/24 X X X X X X X -- X O/E O/E X
BOYD, KEVIN 6/30/23 X X X X X O/E X X X X X X
BROWN,
CARL
6/30/23 X O/E O/E X O/E O/E X X O/E X X O/E
DEGRAW,
SHARON 6/30/22 X X X O/E X X X X X X -- --
KUENZLI,
CECILE 6/30/22 X X X X X O/E X X X X -- --
LARSON,
KEVIN
6/30/24 X O/E X X O X O -- X X X O/E
SELLERGREN,
JORDAN 6/30/22 X X O/E X X X X X X X O/E O/E
STORK, NOAH 6/30/24 O/E X X X X X O/E X O/E X X X
THOMANN,
DEANNA 6/30/23 O/E X O/E O/E X X O/E X X O/E X X
VILLANUEVA,
NICOLE 6/30/25 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X
WAGNER,
FRANK 6/30/23 X X X X X X X -- X X X X
WELU-
REYNOLDS,
CHRISTINA
6/30/25 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
--- = Not a Member