Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historical Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
7:00 p.m.
April 27, 2004
Grand Forks City Hall
Present: Marsha Gunderson (Chair), Dave Beach, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Rolf Ottum, Ken Polovitz, Sandy Slater
Others: Curt Siewert, Office of Urban Development (OUD); Peg O’Leary
Motion:
to approve the minutes of April 13, 2004, amended as follows: change date to April 13, and insert “eligible” in the last sentence of the discussion on 513 N. 7th St., following “individually.” (Polovitz, Slater)
Motion carries
.
Community Development Block Grants, FY2004 Projects
– Curt Siewert
Siewert explained that federal expenditures require Section 106 review to insure compliance with federal regulations regarding historic preservation, environmental protections and others. CDBG funding is intended to benefit low to moderate income people and can also be used to alleviate ‘slum and blight’ conditions. Grand Forks has a citizens’ advisory committee which reviews requests for CDBG funding; their recommendations are reviewed by the staff of OUD and presented to City Council, which determines the disposition of the funds. Bricks and mortar projects are brought to HPC for review.
§
1611 4th Ave. N. – This house was moved from Lewis Boulevard. They are proposing to build an unattached garage.
Motion:
to concur that no historic properties are affected by this action. (Beach, Iseminger)
Motion carries.
§
620 4th Ave. S., Senior Citizen Center, built 1976 – Proposing to replace the air conditioning unit on the roof.
Motion:
to concur that no historic properties are affected by this action. (Jelliff, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
§
1624 N. 6th St., Prairie Harvest – Also relocated from Lewis Boulevard. Proposing to replace shingles on the house and fence the yard. The shingles will match the garage shingles.
Motion:
to concur that no historic properties are affected by this action. (Flemmer, Ottum)
Motion carries.
§
624 N. Washington, L.I.S.T.E.N. Center – Proposing to reshingle the building and repair parking lot. Though built in 1948, the building has sustained many revisions. Jelliff thought the building was actually constructed in 1958.
Motion:
to concur that no historic properties are affected by this action. (Slater, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
§
867 S. 48th St., built 1983 – Proposing to install door openers and repair sidewalks to provide accessibility.
Motion:
to concur that no historic properties are affected by this action. (Iseminger, Leach)
Motion carries.
§
1639 24th Ave. S., Homestead Place, built 1978 – Proposing to reshingle, replace fascia, replace windows with vinyl. Window openings will remain the same size and brick will be matched to original.
Motion:
to concur that no historic properties are affected by this action. (Slater, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
§
316 Kittson, Pillsbury Park – Proposing to rehab and tie in, by walkway, to the 3rd and 4th Street Parks. Pavers will be installed and overgrown landscaping will be replaced with new. Siewert said there is some discussion of cutting a door into the Dakota Block to facilitate foot traffic into the restaurant in that building. It is hoped that more openness and general traffic through the park will reduce vandalism and loitering in the area. Members noted that the current request does not include changes to the Dakota Block; any changes to the exterior of that building would have to come back to the Commission.
Motion:
the proposed rehabilitation of Pillsbury Park will not affect the historic properties around it. (Polovitz, Leach)
Motion carries.
A short discussion of the effects of skateboarding on historic properties ensued.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
§
Section 106 Review – In a follow-up to her email to members concerning Section 106 reviews, Gunderson said she feels asking background and general questions of proposers is appropriate as long as the proposers understand that the Commission is bound by the Secretary of Interior’s Standards when the condition of the building and/or its surroundings merit their application. Often our questions help the proposer to discover alternative ways to do something. She noted that sometimes buildings are “too far gone” to be affected by the Standards. Regarding covenant review, the Commission has more latitude because the guidelines are self-imposed and sometimes affect buildings that would not qualify as historic under the Secretary’s guidelines. Often, too, there are no federal funds involved in the covenant reviews. Polovitz asked if the Commission needs to see everything or if staff could handle some items, like the CDBG reviews conducted at this meeting. Ottum said often the Commission reviews because of proximity to historic structures and Iseminger noted that it had taken a long time to establish a good working relationship with OUD on rehab review and that has resulted in a cautious approach of bringing everything to the Commission rather than missing something that should have come.
§
Annual CLG Meeting – Anyone who can is asked to help with set-up on Friday afternoon at the Masonic Center.
§
Downtown Design and Review Board Update – The DDRB approved signage for
311 Kittson (formerly Hoffman’s) and approved another bay on the County Correctional Facility garage on S. 5th St.
§
Long-term Planning Meeting – Gunderson suggested holding a planning meeting and the members agreed. O’Leary will try to reserve the first meeting in May for long-term planning.
§
FY05 City Budget Request – The attached budget proposal for $26,266.80 is based on actual expenditures of FY03 except that it includes increasing the Coordinator salary from $15/hour to $16/hour. Gunderson noted that there has been no salary increase since O’Leary started in the position on 2000.
Motion:
to approve the budget request as presented. (Polovitz, Slater)
Motion carries.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
§
Campbell House Update – The State Historic Preservation Review Board will meet Friday, April 30, to review the request to keep the Campbell House on the National Register through the move. O’Leary and Iseminger will participate by conference call from Grand Forks.
§
112-120 N. 3rd St. Nomination – Virtually complete; waiting for 8”x10” black and white photos and verifying quotes.
§
1508 Lewis Blvd. Update – The paperwork is processed, and the Riley family has taken possession of the house.
§
SHSND/Beautification Grants – The Beautification funds have remained in the budget through committee and OUD review; City Council review remains.
§
Birkholz Farm, 3617 17th Ave. S. – O’Leary toured the farm and the owners are hopeful that the buildings can be preserved at another site. Gunderson mentioned the Rheault Farm in Fargo that belongs to the Park District and is used for private receptions, weddings and parties.
Other Business
§
Infill Report – Ottum reported on the infill process. The goal is to provide affordable housing while filling vacant lots in established neighborhoods. Prices are kept down by providing city-owned lots at low- or no-cost and using HOME funds to underwrite the mortgages. Selling prices have been between $90,000 and $130,000. HPC comes into the picture to help insure that the houses fit the neighborhoods in style, mass and scale. Ottum said the Infill Committee approved four developers to build on six lots this year. Council will have final approval.
§
Gunderson noted that an owner of a FY2003 infill project spoke at the recent CDBG luncheon and was very happy with her house, with the process and with her developer (Andy Swanson).
§
The Griggs Award can be presented at council during May, which is Preservation Month. O’Leary will arrange it.
§
Iseminger said the upcoming State Preservation Board Meeting includes an agenda item about the SHPO updating its list of properties that should be on the State or National Register. He suggested that the UND Historic Preservation Committee could determine what campus buildings should be on the list. O’Leary noted that the UND Architectural Survey lists buildings on campus that are considered individually eligible and/or would contribute to a district. The SHPO has a copy of that survey.
Motion:
to adjourn. (Ottum, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 11, in room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator