Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Meeting Minutes
December 12, 2006
7:00 p.m.
City Hall
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Cory Lien, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater,
Dave Vorland
Others: Ed Nierode, Grand Forks County; Todd Mitzel, ICON Architects; Curt Siewert, Office of Urban Development; Peg O’Leary
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2006 meeting. (Flemmer, Slater)
Motion carries unanimously.
Grand Forks County Courthouse
– Ed Nierode, Todd Mitzel
Mitzel projected a computer image of the Courthouse with the proposed accessibility ramp in place. General discussion ensued and focused primarily on the size and color of the guard rail atop the ramp. Mitzel said the horizontal detailing is slightly wider than that of the building. There will be four-feet between the ramp and the building; they expect to do some landscaping in this area as well as in front of the ramp to help it blend in. Existing steps will be removed, cleaned and put back in place. Lien asked if there are other options for the railing; Mitzel said he didn’t check others. Sickels suggested a smaller pipe railing and lighter paint tone. There is a strong possibility that one of the large fir trees may be lost in construction. They will make every effort to avoid losing the tree. Nierode said the ramp will be part of a larger project that will include work on the old correctional building to prepare it for new tenancy. The ramp will account for approximately $355,000 of a $2,000,000 project. There will be no federal funding in the project. Flemmer questioned whether changes to the correctional building would come before the Commission; Nierode said he did not expect to bring them to HPC because they do not feel the changes will impact the Courthouse. Nierode said the County Commission would consider the project at its Dec. 19, 2006 meeting and he would like to go into that meeting with a specific recommendation from HPC.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect if the railings atop the ramp are smaller in diameter and lighter in color. (Slater, Sickels)
Motion carries unanimously.
Mitzel suggested the possibility of two smaller pipes to keep the strong horizontal element and avoid having more upright supports between the railing and the top of the ramp wall. Nierode agreed to return to HPC with the final drawings, for possible tweaking, before implementing the project. He also pointed out that, should technology provide an alternative in the future, the entire ramp could be removed and the building would be exactly as it is today.
1200 Block, South Washington Street
– Curt Siewert
City Council has expanded the Storefront Program to include the mini-mall on the west side of the 1200 block of South Washington. The program is managed by the Office of Urban Development and is funded with federal dollars. Siewert said the actual parcel addresses are 1210, 1218, and 1224 S. Washington. They were built in 1963, 1965, and 1976 respectively. It is the mall in which the Mexican Village is located. Gunderson noted that the area now housing Ultra Cuts was, early on, the Montgomery Ward catalog outlet. Siewert said the owner is planning a general face-lift for the whole mall. The grant requires a 2:1 match, with the owner providing $2 for ever $1 the city provides. The project will total between $75,000 and $100,000; the city will provide a maximum of $25,000.
The plan shows more variety in the roof line and the use of cultured stone and EFIS to give the appearance of brick and stucco throughout the façade. The canvas canopies on the drawing are contingent upon budget availability. Members noted that the signage is significantly changed; Siewert said the program doesn’t pay for signage so those changes would be the responsibility of the owner if they occur. Siewert said he was looking for concurrence with a determination of no historic properties affected, since neither this mall nor any of the buildings in the vicinity are 50 years old.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected. (Flemmer, Lien)
Motion carries unanimously.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
Metropolitan Opera House – Former owners of the Met have contacted Gunderson to say that some original chairs from the building are available. She didn’t know the condition or number of chairs available. She has contacted Lonnie Laffen with that information.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
2007 Meeting Dates – The Commissioners decided to continue to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, except June, July, August and December. In those months they will meet only on the second Tuesday. Gunderson noted that, as in the past, the Commission will hold special meetings as necessary. A copy of the 2007 meeting schedule is attached.
Lustron House – Leah Byzewski reports that a few more roof rafters went up over the weekend.
FY05 CLG Allocation – O’Leary reported that the FY05 grant is completely and successfully closed out. FY05 included the Near Southside brochure and the Riverside Neighborhood Nomination.
HPC Web Site – The request for proposals has appeared in the Legal Notices of the GF Herald and will run in the City Briefs. O’Leary has also contacted some possible contractors directly to notify them of the project.
Other Business
Olgierson Open House – Sickels said he and his wife attended the open house to which the Commission had been invited. He reported that the owner has done an amazing amount of work to restore and stabilize the exterior of the house and the interior appears to be in near original condition. They enjoyed the tour very much.
Water Tower, DeMers and South Washington – Lien asked if there is any new information on the status of the tower; no one knew anything that hasn’t been in the newspaper.
Meeting adjourned. 8:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator