Committee Minutes

1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
7:00 p.m.
August 10, 2004
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson (Chair), Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Rolf Ottum, Ken Polovitz, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Brad Kouba, Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of July 13, 2004 as presented. (Slater, Flemmer)
Motion carries.

1119 Almonte – Brad Kouba, owner
Gunderson stated that this is a covenant review of a home that was moved with mitigation dollars. Kouba gave some background about the family’s ability to complete the project and outlined the exterior work proposed. He passed around pictures to show condition of various house elements.
1. Storm and screen windows: replace storms with Marvin “Cottage” wood combination storm and screen windows. These will match the wood mullions on the existing windows. Total of 22 window screen/storms need to be replaced. Kouba said the existing storms and screens are in very bad shape; this was supported by pictures.
2. Roof: reshingle with 30 year Timberline asphalt shingles; professionally installed.
3. Gutters: replace with seamless gutters and 4” diameter downspouts. The preferred new gutter style would require the removal of original crown molding that is now hidden behind the existing gutters. The crown molding shows only on the returns at the gable ends and Kouba would replace those so the visible profile would remain the same. The new gutter would have a crown profile.
4. Shutters: The current shutters are mismatched. There are different styles; some are wood but most are plastic and some windows do not have shutters at all. Kouba proposes replacing all with a shutter made of high quality synthetic material. It was requested that original wood shutters be retained in storage in case a future owner would wish to restore them or see the originals. Kouba noted that they are keeping the green and white color scheme.
5. Paint: House siding to be scraped, power washed, primed, and painted white by Expo Painting.
6. Back of house: a) A glass panel in the kitchen casement window is damaged. Kouba is proposing to replace the glass or to replace the casement with like material. Discussion noted that this window is not original to the house and replacement in kind would be OK provided the size of the window did not change. b) The patio door needs work. He may be able to fix it but if it has to be replaced, does it have to be the same kind of door? Gunderson noted that this door probably is not original either, because the trim doesn’t match the rest of the house, but it is appropriate to the period of the house and the proper proportions for the elevation. Kouba was advised that replacement of this door would require concurrence from HPC and he should return when he is ready to do the work and show what he is proposing as replacement.
7. Garage: The Koubas would like to enlarge and reside the garage, adding on an L-shaped segment that would mimic the gable-end style of the house. Since the garage was on the property before the house was moved there, do they need to consult HPC to make these changes? The covenant covers “the property,” and since the mass and scale of the garage affect the appearance of the house, this work would have to come to HPC when they have specific plans, including a site plan and an elevation of the proposed garage.
8. Soffit vent: The roofing contractor has recommended soffit vents for the house. These would be cut into the existing soffit and would match the color of the soffit. Kouba also noted that the exterior doors would be temporarily replaced while the original doors are being refinished.
Motion: to approve items one through five, with salvage of original wood shutters, to approve replacement of the window pane or casement panel, of same size, in the kitchen window, and to approve the insertion of same color soffit vents. (Sickels, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
Agenda is suspended.
Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  Gunderson announced that the federal government had named the Near Southside Historic District, on July 28, and the Grand Forks Mercantile Company 1898, on July 14, to the National Register of Historic Places. Those present were invited to partake of cake and cider to celebrate. O’Leary said the Mayor will announce the listings at the next Council meeting and the state and local offices will issue press releases. The State Historical Preservation Office notifies owners.
  The Downtown Historic District – Gunderson announced that the nomination for the Downtown District has been temporarily delayed due to an accident Ann Emmons has suffered. She will recover completely but her work schedule has been interrupted. She is still planning to have the draft to us by Sept. 15, 2004.
Dale Sickels left the meeting at this point.

521 S. Sixth Street
Kathleen Kyper and David Eisenbrey are in the process of purchasing this home from the city. It is a covenanted property. They are out of town but have prepared a list of work that they are proposing for the house. O’Leary reviewed the (attached) list with the Commission members. Members expressed concern or had questions about the following items:
1. What exactly is meant by “remove existing roof?”
2. Will 1½” slope be sufficient to solve the problem of pooling water?
3. The arrow indicates the area between the wall and the chimney; what about the area where the upper roof meets the chimney? Also, will the brick at roof grade be preserved during roofing/shingling?
4. OK
5. OK
6. Would like contractor statement regarding how the roof will support the added weight of the proposed tile. Would also like to see the tile.
7. OK
8. Would like clarification about what exactly is “unoriginal exterior material.”
9. “Replacing storm windows” is not explained in the text.
10. OK
11. OK
12. OK
13. OK
14. OK
15. OK
16. OK
17. OK
18. OK
Motion: to approve the actions described in items 4, 5, 7, and 10 through 18 as attached. (Jelliff, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
It was noted that the owners would have to come back to HPC for further discussion of the remaining items.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  Relocated House RFPs – 1119 Almonte Avenue was sold to Brad and Carla Kouba; 521 S. 6th St. to Kathleen Kyper and David Eisenbrey; 614 S. 4th St., 116 Conklin, and 1614 Lewis Blvd. to Wally Rogers. Rogers will rehab and resell the three homes he purchased. Concern was expressed about whether these homes would ultimately be owner-occupied.
  Beacon Tower – The University has moved the Beacon Tower approximately 40 feet SSE of its previous location; it’s still adjacent to the CAS parking lot.
  Downtown District Nomination – We’re trying to figure out exactly when the clock tower was removed from the Great Northern Depot; Jelliff said he was sure it was in the early 1950s. Ann Emmons wants to tie in the two railroad depots and the bridges into the nomination. Her historic context will feature the role of transportation in the development of Grand Forks and, particularly, the downtown.
  2004 CLG Budget – In visiting with Fern Swenson, Director of Historic Preservation at the State Historical Society, O’Leary learned that the GFHPC is likely to receive within $2,000 of its $30,000 request. Formal announcements will be mailed within a couple weeks.
  Campbell House Update – Jelliff noted that only one townhouse remains on the property and that Whalen’s has packed and stored the contents of all the GF County Historical Society buildings to be moved. It was also noted that Melinda Leach has completed a review of the Archaeological Report on findings at the site. Her notes will be sent to the Corps of Engineers as part of HPC’s formal comment on the report.
  Brochure Distribution – O’Leary has placed the “Walking Tour” brochures at GF and UND libraries, downtown antique shops and bookstores, the CVB, and the County Historical Society.
  Donated Time Reports – Members completed reports for the months of March through July, 2004.
  123 Chestnut Street – Duane Klinner, State Review and Compliance Coordinator, supported the HPC conclusion that work at this address must comply with the Secretary of Interior’s Guidelines.

Other Business
  County Court House – Members were curious when the County would be holding an open house to view the recent work on the interior. O’Leary will find out.
  514 University Avenue – Iseminger noted that the windows have been changed out in the house. He questioned whether these were the appropriate size, etc. O’Leary said Urban Development has been monitoring the work on the house; the owner is supposed to have the exterior and at least one unit completed by the end of August.
  Commemorative Plaques – The rust on the stands is quite noticeable; Ottum has tried, unsuccessfully, to reach the company that powder coated them. O’Leary will send a letter to the company.
  Sorlie Bridge Lighting – O’Leary is communicating with the engineer, at Floan Sanders in East Grand Forks, who is working on the lighting project for that city. The engineer understands that he must procure approval from both MN and NDDOT and that those agencies must confer with the MN and ND SHPOs before a lighting system is put in place.
  The First Presbyterian Church building, a.k.a. Dakota Science, has been sold to Cottonwood Community Church.
  Ottum noted that there are two operating trolley cars in running between Mandan and Ft. Lincoln State Park.

Meeting adjourned. 9:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, in room A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator