Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
June 14, 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, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: John Crawford, Habitat for Humanity; Todd Feland, GF Public Works; Wayne Gerszewski, Advanced Engineering; Bobbi Hepper Olson, Hepper Olson Architects; Leah Hummel, EAPC; Skye Folkert, Red River Valley Community Action; Curt Siewert, Office of Urban Development; Mike Yavarow, GF Engineering; and Peg O’Leary
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the May 24, 2005, meeting as presented. (Ottum, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
1119 Almonte, Covenant Review
Withdrawn by owner.
Gunderson announced that the agenda would skip to Item 4 to accommodate organization representatives present at the meeting.
Raw Water Intake Building
, 4th and Minnesota – Bobbi Hepper Olson, Wayne Gerszewski
Hepper Olson presented the security lighting and fencing plans for the Raw Water Intake Building. The fencing, of brick and stone pillars with anodized pewter matte aluminum reaches, will extend around the entire perimeter of the building. The pillars are 10’ high, the reaches are 8’ high; a sliding gate will open on the SW corner to allow vehicle passage. The space between the vertical members will be adjusted as needed for safety codes. The security lighting will consist of floodlights hung on the inside of the pillars and aimed at the ground level of the building; one floodlight at the SE corner of the yard will be mounted in the manner of a yard light and will also be aimed at the lower perimeter of the building. Hepper Olson noted that the plans are designed, as much as possible, to minimize ambient lighting escaping upwards or bothering the neighbors. No landscaping is planned within the perimeter of the fencing due to security concerns. A flagpole monument is planned for the yard area on the west side of the building, between the fencing and the sidewalk.
Members concurred
that the proposed lighting and fencing will not affect the historic nature of the neighborhood. Members also noted that the dimming of the blue backlights seems to have met the concerns earlier expressed by Commission members and neighbors. Several members commented on the attractiveness of the project.
1021 N. 5th Street
, Red River Valley Community Action – Curt Siewert, Leah Hummel
Hummel provided copies of the proposed 5th Street elevation for the supportive family housing facility. Siewert noted that the neighborhood is mixed use and mixed styles; the housing facility has been designed primarily to coordinate with the emergency shelter on the corner. The setbacks are to code, providing front and rear yards but very little on the sides. Flemmer noted that the
recessed entrance softens the front and the roof line is more home-like than a flat roof would be.
Motion:
to approve the plan for 1021 N. 5th Street as presented. (Polovitz, Sickels)
Motion carries.
Hummer said construction is likely to begin this fall and take about five months.
512 Oak Street
, Habitat for Humanity – Curt Siewert, John Crawford
O’Leary provided the following background: On August 13, 2002, the Commission approved a plan for a house to be built on the lot at 512 Oak Street. The lot was part of a CDBG post flood purchase by the City and was to be deeded to Habitat for Humanity. Habitat did not proceed with the project at that time but is now ready to do so and is proposing a somewhat different plan for the house.
Siewert stated that the plan now proposed is the same as one approved by the Commission and built by Klave Construction on N. 4th Street. Pictures of the Klave houses were passed around. Pictures of the streetscape show primarily 1½ story and single story homes in the neighborhood. Crawford noted that Habitat for Humanity has no record of the original plan and they are hoping this plan is similar enough to meet the Commission’s needs.
Motion:
to urge Habitat for Humanity to return to the original plan or something closer to it and return to the Commission for review. (Polovitz, Slater)
Discussion:
Slater said the original plan seemed smaller and therefore more appropriate to the neighborhood. It was noted that the new floor plan is more efficient and salable. Several members noted that the Klave house with white siding and green shutters was preferable to the brown version. Ottum said the Klave plan was approved as part of the Infill Program and had been the best plan offered for the lots at the time.
Motion carries.
Two voting no: Iseminger, Ottum.
Siewert will assist Habitat in the development of a plan and it will be brought back to the Commission.
Historic Tours
Pete Haga was not present. Iseminger and Jelliff said they understood there is to be a meeting this week. O’Leary said Haga had told her he is still interested in the project but it may have to be reduced to about one month – depending upon the availability of resources, especially students.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
Downtown Design and Review Board (DDRB) – The Alerus drive-thru at DeMers and 6th Avenue will have some design changes. The landscaping will be redone and the brick wall along the drive-thru will be lowered. The goal is to increase visibility from the street. Members questioned whether the adjacent parking lot still belongs to Alerus and if they are planning to fix it up.
North Dakota State Historical Board and the ND Historical Foundation Board of Directors - Gunderson reported that these two boards will be meeting together in Grand Forks in July. Gunderson has promised the Commission’s assistance with some programming if requested.
Grand Army of the Republic Statue – Gunderson noted that the Grand Forks Rotary Club has caused the GAR statue to be cleaned. The actual cleaning was done by Peterson Construction using a low-powered powerwash from their bucket truck. Rotary Club is celebrating their centennial year and chose this project to commemorate the anniversary. They are also planning to clean the horse trough at Gateway and N. 5th Street.
614 S. 4th Street
, Easter Seals Goodwill ND
O’Leary distributed pictures of the house as it stood on River Street. Linda Adams, of Easter Seals, has committed to replacing the boxes at the sides of the front steps. They will be detailed with trim molding to mimic the detailing on either side of the porch door. Two sets of paint selections were also passed around.
Motion:
to approve the plan for the front steps and the autumnal colors (body, Bunglehouse Gray; trim, Birdseye Maple; trim, Roycroft Copper Red) for the exterior paint. (Jelliff, Sickels)
Motion carries.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
Riverside Survey – The survey is well underway. O’Leary introduced the surveyors to several contacts in Grand Forks and toured the area to select the first twenty site form addresses.
Granitoid Documentation – The book of photographic documentation of the Lewis Boulevard Granitoid removal and salvage was available for members to peruse.
Realtor Brochure – O’Leary is putting together a brochure that will help realtors understand the historic districts and the ramifications of selling/owning a property listed on the National Register. A database is being constructed of all the listed properties in Grand Forks; this will be linked to the City webpage.
Other Business
Iseminger reported visiting with Doug Walters, who invited the Commission to return to his home on Reeves for another meeting. The Commission was willing to do so and Walters will be contacted about an autumn date. This house is often referred to as the Lander or Gordon house.
County Fairgrounds – Iseminger visited with Connie Triplett, County Commissioner, who seems keen on making sure nothing happens to the historic gateway to the Fairgrounds. It was suggested that the Commission make its position on the gateway clear.
Motion:
to support the preservation of the County Fairgrounds historic Gateway and Ticket Booth and to recommend drawing attention to it by stopping traffic through it, planting a garden around it and, possibly, reinstating the wrought iron gates. (Polovitz, Leach)
Discussion:
Polovitz suggested there may be partial funding in the Gateway Drive Fund for the soil amendment and gardening portion of the project.
Motion carries.
O’Leary will direct a letter to the County Commission reflecting this action.
Motion:
to adjourn. (Ottum, Sickels)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 12, in room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator