Committee Minutes


Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
P. O. Box 13876
Grand Forks, ND 58208-3876
701-772-8756

Minutes
December 15, 2009
7:00 p.m.
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Sharon Bures, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger,
Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Dale Sickels, Judy Swisher
Others: Meredith Richards, Joe O’Neil

Motion: to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2009 meeting as presented. (Sickels, Swisher)
Discussion: Bures was thanked for taking notes in O’Leary’s absence.
Motion carries.

Office of Urban Development (OUD) – Meredith Richards, Joe O’Neil
Richards thanked the Commission for holding a special meeting to deal with these imminent funding decisions. She explained that the funds are from the Federal 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act, which authorized four billion dollars for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Of that, $19.6 million has been allocated to North Dakota, which has earmarked $4.6 million for Grand Forks projects. The state funding was approved in March, 2009, and time was consumed while the state requirements were ironed out. The initial project reviewed by City Council was for all the Grand Forks funding to go to the Prairie Harvest project. Council requested that a portion of the funds be used as incentive for private developers to construct on the Civic Auditorium site. Grant requests must be filed at the state by December 31, 2009, and project funding must under contract by March 1, 2010.
Prairie Harvest Building Proposal, 300 Block S. 4th Street – This area is currently a parking lot across from the former Post Office. Prairie Harvest plans to build a three-story structure to contain 14 upper level apartments, serving as permanent supportive housing for Prairie Harvest clients, and administrative offices on the street level. Two million dollars of federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds will be used; Prairie Harvest will invest $300,000 and will be seeking additional funding of $500,000 to finish up the administrative space. The lot falls in the block between the Near Southside and the Downtown historic districts, abutting the NSS district. There will be a net loss of 25 parking spaces at the site if the building is erected. All of the parking lot area is owned by the city. The proposed building (see attached drawings) would be of a scale and style similar to that of the former County Social Services building at 221 S. 4th Street, and is a fairly standard mixed-use design. Finishes are undetermined and cost will be a major factor. Bobbie Hepper Olson is the project architect and could bring plans and materials back to HPC when they are more developed. Jelliff asked who would occupy the building; Richards said occupancy would be determined from mental health referrals. Occupants would typically be employed in the community and would pay rent. Richards said the city has a long term plan to end homelessness in Grand Forks. This project would fulfill some of the goals of that plan. The site was selected for various reasons, including funding requirements and city ownership, but primarily because it is convenient for the needs of the residents: close to county support services, a clinic, a dental clinic and public transportation. The funds have to be used for redevelopment in target areas; a new building, for instance, in the southern Grand Forks would not meet the guidelines. She noted that this project would also bring development dollars to the south end of downtown, which has received less attention than other areas. Prairie Harvest was chosen because they have a strong funding source that does not rely on city funds and because they have a good track record. Richards noted that, at this time, there is no guarantee the project will be funded. Gunderson said, if the design is budget driven, will the cheapest design be chosen? And how will that help a neighborhood that is trying to better itself? Richards said that the surrounding commercial buildings are architecturally simple, for example, the Mission, the old County Social Services building, the former post office, and the old Deaconess Hospital. She noted that plans and materials could come back to HPC for approval. Swisher stated that every effort needs to be made to fit the new construction to the historic districts. Gunderson asked if the siting of the building was subject to change; Richards said the siting was a factor of Prairie Harvest preference for tucking their residential building in with other residences and in conjunction with leaving as much contiguous parking as possible. Swisher said she thought there would be less neighborhood resistance if the siting were flipped 90 degrees and fronted on Division.
Motion: that no adverse effect will result from this project provided that the building design harmonizes with the historic character of the neighborhood and that the ultimate design and materials are subject to approval by the Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission. (Iseminger, Bures)
Discussion: Gunderson asked if a siting change were likely; Richards thought it unlikely. Iseminger expressed concern that the zoning does not require that neighbors be notified of the project.
Motion carries unanimously.
Civic Auditorium, 615 1st Ave. N., built 1956 – A plan is being developed to build residential units, including underground parking, at the site. The project will utilize federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds from the same pot as the Prairie Harvest project. The proposed housing would be a mix of affordable, as determined by program guidelines, and market rate apartments. OUD is requesting concurrence with a determination of no historic properties affected by the demolition of the Civic Auditorium to make way for redevelopment. Commissioners variously noted that the architecture reflected the mid 1950s and some of the engineering features of the auditorium space are unusual. They also noted the significant nature of the building usage over its lifetime. The Civic Auditorium is one of only two structures in the area to predate the Urban Renewal projects of the early 1970s.
Motion: that demolition of the Civic Auditorium will result in adverse effect to a historic property but that effect could be mitigated by thorough photographic documentation of its interior and exterior, by the development of a historic context for the building, and by retention of the original construction plans; full documentation to be archived at the State Historical Society, the UND Special Collections Department, and the Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission also strongly recommends that distinctive architectural features be salvaged and reused in their original or adaptive capacity. (Flemmer, Swisher)
Discussion: Richards said materials for the new construction were likely to be similar to those of The Current downtown.
Motion carries unanimously.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
Downtown Design and Review Board – The DDRB met and approved new signage for Amazing Grains and Freedom Church.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
Energy Efficiency Program – This program has received its funding.
Coordinator Salary – O’Leary noted that the Commission, in April 2009, had amended its City Budget to include a 4% increase in the coordinator salary. The budget was fully funded by City Council. A motion at this time would implement the increase as of Jan. 1, 2010.
Motion: to authorize implementation of the 4% increase as of Jan. 1, 2010. (Swisher, Leach)
Motion carries unanimously.
WPA Cemeteries Nomination – The first draft of the nomination has been submitted by the contractor. At this time the contractor is due $2,098.00 for completion of this portion of the contract.
Motion: to authorize payment of $2,098.00 to Steve C. Martens for completion of Draft One of the Nomination. (Sickels, Jelliff)
Motion carries unanimously.
UND Education Building Expansion – O’Leary attended a campus presentation by Jim Galloway that described the large expansion planned to connect the Education Building to Gillette. It will be three stories high with entrances at grade level. The front façade of the expansion will be set back approximately 20’ from the front facades of the two historic buildings. It is designed to replicate the Collegiate Gothic style. O’Leary has had no further information from the SHPO about Section 106 review of this project.

Meeting adjourned. 9:00 p.m.

The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, in A101 City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator