Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
P. O. Box 13876
Grand Forks, ND 58208-3876
701-772-8756
Meeting Minutes
May 27, 2008
7:00 p.m.
City Hall
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff,
Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Sandy Slater, Dave Vorland
Others: Kevin Severson, Red River Valley Community Action; Peg O’Leary
Gunderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; a quorum was present.
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the May 13, 2008, meeting as presented. (Sickels, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
Red River Valley Community Action Agency
– Kevin Severson
1501 Rider Road – pulled by RRVCA.
716 6
th
Avenue South – The owners propose to use a federally subsidized loan to replace the shingles on the main roof; replace nine windows with new double-hung vinyl insert units to match existing in size, style, and design; remove existing wood siding and replace with new vinyl triple-three siding, metal fascia and soffit; install a new metal railing at the front steps; and complete assorted interior work. The house was surveyed in 1994 and found to have no nomination potential nor is it located in an historic district. The build date is in question: the County web site lists the date as 1914 but the architectural survey indicates 1888. The latter seems more consistent with the house style.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the proposed work at 716 6
th
Ave. S. (Jelliff, Leach)
Discussion: Slater questioned whether the two leaded windows would be staying; Severson said they will remain in place.
Motion carries.
MPO Minnesota/4
th
Avenue Study
O’Leary reported on the Steering Committee and Public meetings held on May 14
th
. The committee members, the consultants, and the public all seem attuned to the historic fabric of the area. The consultants are in the data gathering stage and will return for more meetings June 25.
Caprice Benoit serves on the Steering committee for the HPC and Fern Swenson is representing the SHSND; both were present at the May 14 meetings.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
Downtown Design and Review Board – DDRB met to deal with more requests for tables and chairs on sidewalks in front of businesses.
Infill Housing Meeting – One of the initial three proposals for the corner lot has been reconfigured for placement on the lot directly to the north. It has been approved by the committee as resubmitted, so now there are approved proposals in place for both of the lots on Belmont Road to the north of 15
th
Ave. S. All proposals must be approved by City Council. Slater asked whether HPC ever receives formal notice when these proposals are finalized or what the outcome is of the RRVCA reviews; Gunderson suggested we request feedback on these projects from the appropriate agencies.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
UND Nomination – We’re waiting for comments from the SHSND and will then forward all comments to the contractor. Gunderson noted that she had not been aware that the fancy brick work on the east façade of Gamble Hall represented a computer punch card or that the punch code actually says “University of North Dakota.”
County Fairgrounds Nomination – Proposals were due at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 22; two complete proposals were received (Steve Martens and Michelle Dennis). Both proposals meet all of the RFP criteria. Both contractors have worked with HPC in the past and presented top quality work. The Martens proposal has a total cost of $4,298 with an additional 32 hours of
pro bono
work committed; the Dennis budget is for $4,500 with no itemization of any
pro bono
work.
Motion:
to award the contract to Steve Martens, pending approval of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. (Jelliff, Slater)
Discussion: Vorland commented that the insurance cost is a large percentage of a contract of this size.
Motion carries.
North Third Street Memorial Plaques – Jim Kobetsky reported to O’Leary that the plaques are in place.
Commission Appointments – The Mayor’s office plans to forward the appointments to the CoW for the June 9, 2008, meeting.
ND History Conference Dates – The History Conference will be in Bismarck on November 7-8, 2008. The focus will be on Abraham Lincoln and the Homestead Act.
Near Northside Charette – O’Leary attended the May 17 meeting, which was set up to discuss ways to improve the quality of life in the north side neighborhoods. About 60 people were present.
Motion:
to adjourn. (Flemmer, Slater)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned.
8:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 10, 2008, room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator