Committee Minutes

Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
7:00 p.m.
July 22, 2003
Grand Forks City Hall


Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Randy Lee, Rolf Ottum, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Diamond Pipiles, Curt Siewert (Urban Development), Andy Swanson, Mike Yavarow (City Engineering), Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of June 10, 2003, as distributed. (Lee, Slater)
Motion carries.

Agenda was suspended to handle matters first when representatives were present.

Fourteen Residences Mitigation – Mike Yavarow
§ Yavarow reported that the Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract, in the amount of $228,000, to move the brick house at 1502 Lewis Boulevard to 28 Conklin.
§ Yavarow also said that the destination lot for the Murphy house (currently 1412 Lewis Boulevard) needs more fill and he requested direction from the Commission as to whether funding for the fill should be charged against future proceeds of house sales (the mitigation fund) or whether the cost should be transferred to the Murphys. He noted that the original $250,000 set aside from mitigation funds for house moves is pretty much gone. Gunderson asked for an accounting of where the funds have gone and a list of how the houses in the mitigation package were handled. Yavarow said he would provide a report at the next meeting of HPC (Aug. 12, 2003). Group discussion led to the conclusion that the lot should be ready for relocation when ownership is transferred to Murphys.
Motion: to approve the use of mitigation funds to complete fill on the destination lot for the Murphy house. (Slater, Ottum)
Motion carries.
§ Request for Proposals, 1508 Lewis Boulevard – Mike Yavarow said that the proposal process is currently set up so the successful proposer submits buyer bond and sale price prior to initiating move; the bond is returned when the house is moved. Yavarow requested direction regarding the return of the bond: would the Commission prefer that the bond be held until the project is completed and, also, would the Commission prefer that a detailed site plan be submitted during the RFP process? Consensus: the Commission would prefer to see a detailed and binding site plan included in the proposals and that the bond be held until completion of the process.



1006 Cherry Street – Curt Siewert, Andy Swanson
Swanson requested approval for changes to the previously approved construction plan for this lot. He presented a new plan which is 4’ wider and has a bigger porch. There was concern that this plan did not seem to be taken from the plan originally approved by HPC. Siewert agreed to see how the mix-up occurred and report back to HPC at the next meeting (Aug. 12, 2003). Swanson has a buyer for the newly proposed plan at a price of $95,500.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by building the currently proposed plan at 1006 Cherry St. (Lee, Ottum)
Motion carries.
Swanson reported that he is building the hip-roofed plan at 728 Chestnut. He also said he is looking into the possibility of building a subdivision of “old-town” styled houses: garages at back, alleys, angled roofs, etc.

514 University Avenue – Curt Siewert, Diamond Pipiles
This is a rental rehab project which has been on hold pending resolution of the window dispute. Siewert said Pipiles is prepared to purchase windows which will fit the original openings and in the original styles. Pipiles is proposing 6” trim molding on three sides with a sill on the bottom; wood trim and wood windows. He is proposing Crestline windows and Marvin storms. Siewert said he would find a pre-flood picture of the house and would measure the rough openings of the house. He also suggested that Pipiles use individual double-hung windows in the porch instead of a picture window and two side windows. He asked the Commission whether this proposal is headed in the right direction. Flemmer noted that this is a very high profile, noticeable house and that inconsistencies are very obvious. Pipiles said he wants to put in aluminum soffit and fascia, and he proposed plastic/vinyl fish scales for the gables. The Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation indicate the need for placing wood with wood in all three areas. Ottum said a drip cap over the windows would also be appropriate to the house. It was decided that the information was insufficient for a decision and Siewert will return with more complete information at the next HPC meeting (Aug. 12, 2003).

CVIC, 211 S. 4th St. – Curt Siewert
CDBG funding has been requested to remove and replace north side entrance door with baked on enamel aluminum in the existing opening, and to install signage on the front, side and rear of the building. Pictures of the building and the signs were available for perusal. The door to be replaced is not original to the building. The sign over the front door is 11”x 14”, white metal. The other two signs are plywood, painted and cut-out; approximately 4’x 8’ each.
Motion: to concur that there is no adverse effect to replacement of the door as described. (Sickels, Iseminger)
Motion carries.
Motion: to concur that there is no adverse effect to placing the described sign over the front door. (Slater, Lee)
Motion carries.
Motion: to concur that there is no adverse effect to placing the described signs over the side and rear doors. (Slater, Sickels)
Motion carries.



Storefronts – Curt Siewert
CDBG funding for the following projects requires 106 review. HPC decisions will be conveyed to the state for final determination.
§ 1804 Gateway Drive (built 1948) – Request: to change out the signs to reflect new ownership; place signs on garage doors. It was noted that one garage door has been in-filled but in a reversible manner.
Motion: to concur that the described work will create no adverse effect to 1804 Gateway Drive.
(Slater, Lee)
Motion carries.
§ 500 Gateway Drive (built 1946) – Request: completely rework the façade of the building. Lee said the proposal involved the wholesale destruction of the façade of the building; it is impossible to say that there is no adverse effect. Siewert will return with historic picture of the building and find out whether part of the building is older than 1946. No action taken.
§ 1117 N. Washington – Request: paint and change façade to match the other corporate buildings behind Acme Electric. Ottum suggested that the building might be WPA. Siewert will return with more information.
§ 1711 S. Washington (built 1958) – Request: put up parking lot lights and bury wires. The lights are like Hugo’s: shoebox lights.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed actions. (Sickels,
Slater)
Motion carries.
§ 3401 Gateway Drive (built 1975) – Request: change top and colors.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed actions. (Lee,
Ottum)
Motion carries.
§ 3903 Gateway Drive (built 1974) – Request: landscaping and paint a stripe on the building.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed actions. (Slater,
Flemmer)
Motion carries.
§ 1506 S. Washington (built 1960) – Request: primarily painting and placement of an awning over the pump islands.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed actions. (Sickels,
Flemmer)
Motion carries.
§ 910 S. Washington (built 1995) – Request: pave the parking lot, build a garage bigger than the sales office, landscape, and put in sidewalk.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed actions. (Slater,
Lee)
Motion carries.

419 River Street
Patrick and Mary Lunak, whose proposal has been accepted to purchase the property, request permission under the covenants for the following actions:
§ power wash paint off the chimney,
§ replace old asphalt shingles with new asphalt shingles (Certainteed cranberry),
§ paint house yellow,
§ repair stucco on house and garage,
§ replace fascia on house and garage as needed,
§ paint and glaze storm and screen windows as needed (burnt red color),
§ sand, scrape and paint front and back door (burnt red color),
§ paint all other outside trim (white),
§ remove carpet from front steps and paint,
§ remove front light, sand, repaint, replace,
§ replace back light with new (no back light is in place now), and
§ replace black metal screen door with new screen door.

417 River Street
Patrick and Mary Lunak, whose proposal has been accepted to purchase the property, request permission under the covenants for the following actions:
§ repair and patch stucco and paint stucco with the same color as the house is now,
§ paint trim green,
§ hang mailbox,
§ paint or stain the front wooden steps (maroon),
§ paint front and back doors maroon, and
§ repair and paint all screen and storm windows a maroon color.

Motion: to approve the above described work on 417 and 419 River Street with the stipulation that fascia be repaired with wood unless otherwise approved by this Commission. (Lee, Slater)
Motion carries.

Sub-committee Reports
§ Beacon Tower – O’Leary reported that UND has been paid $1,020 to mount the beacon on the tower. That work is completed.
§ Friends of Preservation – A meeting will be held the first part of August to establish organizational procedures and goals.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
§ Lewis Boulevard – Following discussion at the last meeting regarding the allocation of lots at the north end of Lewis Boulevard, Gunderson, O’Leary, Meredith Richards and Mike Yavarow met to discuss options and possibilities. It was determined to divide the space available into two lots and leave the boundary flexible to allow moderate adjustments with prospective owners.
§ Preservation North Dakota/Certified Local Government (PND/CLG) – Grand Forks has been asked to host the annual meeting April 30, May 1, 2, 2004. Gunderson requested that members keep these dates open on their schedules and be thinking of programming/tour/meal activities. It was suggested to reserve the trolley.
§ DDRB (Downtown Design & Review Board) – Gunderson heard, at the last meeting, that a new restaurant will soon be opening in the Stratford Building (Red River Café).

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
§ Riverside Bathhouse and Pool Update – No new information.
§ Commemorative Plaques – Hoping to coordinate putting up stands with the time when the plaques will arrive.
§ County Historical Society – A nice thank you to the Commission in the CHS newsletter, for assistance with the Campbell House mitigation.
§ Metropolitan Opera House – O’Leary noted that Tom Kenville has expressed some interest in the Met. His plan would include demolishing approximately one-third of the building, the southwest corner, leaving the full front façade, full north (railroad) wall, about the front third of the south wall and a small portion of the rear wall. The open space would then be used for parking and greenspace. He would also try to put parking in the basement of the building. His plan would require an easement from the county to put a driveway between the Met and the County Parking Ramp. He is wondering if he would be able to get historic approval to do this work on this National Register listed property. The plan was discussed without decision.

Meeting adjourned. 10:15 p.m.

The next regular meeting will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003 in room A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator