Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
May 24, 2005
7:00 p.m.
City Hall
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Dave Beach, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger,
Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Rolf Ottum, Ken Polovitz, Sandy Slater
Others: Linda Adams, Easter Seals/Goodwill ND; Leah Hummel, EAPC; Karen Schelinder, Red River Valley Community Action; Curt Siewert, Office of Urban Development; and Peg O’Leary
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the May 10, 2005, meeting as presented. (Slater, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
1614 Lewis Boulevard
– Linda Adams, Curt Siewert
This city-owned property was purchased by Wally Rodgers upon approval of his proposal to rehab the house. He has now sold the house to Easter Seals/Goodwill ND without completing the agreed upon rehab. Easter Seals has used CDBG funds to purchase the house, which is also subject to historic covenants.
Easter Seals is planning the following exterior work: touch up exterior paint, replace missing storm windows with wooden storms, repair rear exterior doors, install gutters and downspouts, and replace east-facing window in kitchen area. The kitchen window is a modern slider and would be replaced with a wooden double-hung to match the east-facing bathroom window; this will facilitate kitchen planning and improve the historic appearance of the rear of the house.
The following interior work is planned: refinish hardwood floors, adjust ceiling in rear hallway, electrical wiring as needed, re-plumb main floor bath, remove kitchen wall paneling, ceiling tile work in kitchen, new kitchen cabinets, remove door to second floor and restore to original opening, build new bathroom on second floor, finish side attic for laundry, repair plaster and texturize, and paint interior.
General discussion ensued regarding the proposed changes. Ottum suggested that Dorothy O’Keefe, a former owner of the home, be contacted for details regarding the original appearance of ceilings, etc.
Motion:
to approve the proposed exterior work, including replacement of the kitchen window in the manner described. (Polovitz, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
Motion:
to concur that no adverse effect will result from the interior or exterior work as presented for the house at 1614 Lewis Boulevard. (Polovitz, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
614 S. 4th St.
– Curt Siewert, Linda Adams
This city-owned property was also purchased by Wally Rodgers upon approval of his proposal to rehab the house. He has now sold the house to Easter Seals/Goodwill ND without completing the agreed upon rehab. Easter Seals has used CDBG funds to purchase the house, which is also subject to historic covenants.
Planned exterior work includes painting the house in historically appropriate colors, installing gutters and downspouts as needed, and completion of other minor repairs. Interior work will include refinishing hardwood floors, installing kitchen cabinets, cabinet and sink/countertop in bath, shelves and door on linen closet, moving the hot water heater, rebuilding a closet in bedroom, redoing second floor for laundry and closet space, and installing a door to the side attic area.
It was pointed out that paint colors had probably been approved by HPC while the house was still owned by the city and that there had been concern about the step unit at the front entrance. O’Leary will try to locate early references to this project.
Motion:
to concur that no adverse effect will result from the proposed work at 614 S. 4th St.,
but to require that the owner return for approval of colors and front steps.
(Polovitz, Leach)
Discussion:
Flemmer also noted that the flare treatment on this house had needed attention last time he looked at it. It was noted that part of the problem with the appearance of the house is that the clapboard originally ran all the way to the ground around the porch; it doesn’t now.
Motion carries.
613 8th Ave. S.
– Linda Adams
Adams said that Easter Seals may purchase the double lot at 613 8th Ave. S. from Wally Rodgers. Since the purchase will be made, at least partially, with CDBG funds, she wondered what sort of house HPC would consider appropriate for the lot. It was suggested that she look at some of the infill homes (particularly 1006 Cherry and 1512 University) as well as the twin-homes in the Promenade development.
1021 N. 5th Street
– Curt Siewert, Leah Hummel, Karen Schelinder
Red River Valley Community Action has purchased the house at 1021 N. 5th St. and plans to tear it down to build supportive housing. It has been established that this constitutes an adverse effect. Siewert read portions of the proposed Memorandum of Agreement to mitigate the effects of the demolition. The MOA (attached) proposes the house may be demolished if a qualified architect is hired to design and oversee construction of the supportive housing facility
and
if the HPC reviews and approves the design of the facility prior to demolition of the existing house. The MOA has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Office.
Motion:
to approve the Memorandum of Agreement regarding the demolition of
1021 N. 5th St. and to authorize the Chairperson to sign said Agreement.
(Slater, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
Siewert and Hummel presented preliminary plans for the supportive housing facility. The area is mixed residential and commercial. The materials proposed repeat those on the corner building, also owned by RRVCA: steel siding with brick façade on the lower third of the front of the building, and sliding vinyl windows. Questions arose regarding the type of windows, roof pitch, and materials. Hummel said budget is a concern with type of window; Siewert said steel siding holds up better than vinyl. Gunderson pointed out the HPC is required to see that the building fits the neighborhood. It was agreed that HPC members would drive through the neighborhood to get a better feel for the area and that streetscape pictures would be available for the next meeting. It was also agreed that planning for the interior could proceed.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
Riverside Survey – All the contract details have been ironed out and the contract has been mailed to the contractor.
Granitoid Documentation – A large binder containing 70+ pictures of Granitoid being cut, lifted and saved is on file in the office. Special Collections also has a copy.
Announcements
812 Almonte Avenue – O’Leary has provided the City Attorney with the HPC response to the Attorney General’s questions.
Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
Metropolitan Opera House – A digitized “walk-through” of the proposed interior loft space was shown to the members.
Motion:
to adjourn. (Polovitz, Slater)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, in room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator