Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
P. O. Box 13876
Grand Forks, ND 58208-3876
701-772-8756
Minutes
April 27, 2010
6:30 p.m.
City Hall
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Sharon Bures, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Sylvia Kloster, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Sandy Slater, Judy Swisher
Others: Debra Pflughoeft-Hasset (Office of Urban Development), Nicole Morley, Troy Morley, Debra Pedraza, Juan Pedraza, Randy Torgerson (Easy Livin Insulation & Remodeling), Peg O’Leary
Minutes
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the April 27, 2010, meeting as presented. (Swisher, Kloster)
Motion carries.
Grand Forks Energy Alliance, Office of Urban Development
– Debra Pflughoeft-Hasset Pflughoeft-Hasset provided background on the new city-county Energy Alliance program, which uses federal funding to provide low-interest loans to homeowners for reduction of home energy costs and improved energy efficiency. Program proposals will be reviewed by HPC prior to submission to the SHPO.
601 S. 5
th
Street, built 1878 – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing element in the Near Southside Historic District. The owners propose to frame-over the existing bell-curve metal roof, add attic and wall insulation, air seal the attic and cantilever portions of the bay window, and insulate attic ducts. Pflughoeft-Hasset and the owners explained that roofing is included because the severe leaking of the metal roof must be corrected in order to implement the energy improvements. The metal roof had been covered for many years; the cover was removed ca. 2003 and various methods have been tried to address the leaking. A new roof, in the same style as the existing metal roof, has been estimated at $20,000-$30,000. That is not an option at this time but the homeowners want to retain the original roof under a new, watertight frame. This would make it possible to return again to the original style in the future. The new roof framing would be attached to the top of the eaves and the edge of the flat portion of the roof; the metal portion of the roof would not be affected. Gunderson questioned how insulation would be applied; Torgerson said the attic would be blown cellulose and the walls would be accessed by removing one length of siding around the house, drilling into the underlayment and blowing in the insulation. If fire breaks exist in the walls, a second row of siding would be removed higher up on the wall for dual access. The removed siding is preserved and put back in place after the insulation process is completed. To address the bay window issues, the roof of the bay would be drilled into, insulation blown in, hole repaired, and new shingles applied. The owners presented pictures of the interior damage to the home resulting from the leaks. The continuing moisture problem is causing structural damage and presents mold issues if not resolved before insulation is introduced. Gunderson noted that the unusual metal roof is a significant architectural feature of the house but that the moisture damage is sufficient to endanger the house itself.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect from the work described at 601 S. 5
th
Street
provided that
the significant bell-shaped metal roof feature is preserved in its present condition beneath the superstructure built over it, that the superstructure have the appearance described, and that the introduction of insulating material is handled in the manner described in the discussion. (Slater, Swisher)
Discussion: Iseminger asked who is responsible for assuring that the requirements are met; O’Leary said it is OUD’s responsibility to monitor the conditions of the loan.
Motion carries.
817 Reeves Drive, built 1888 – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing element in the Near Southside Historic District. The owners propose to add attic insulation, insulate slants, and air seal the attic and rim joists. None of the work will be visible from the exterior of the house and no structural modifications will be made.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect from the work described at 817 Reeves Drive. (Leach, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
Red River Valley Community Action
– Kevin Severson
1518 Oak Street, built 1949 – The house is not on the Register nor is it in an historic district. The owner proposes to replace six windows with vinyl double-hung units, replace one window with a bow window unit, reroof, and complete various interior projects.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the proposed work at 1518 Oak Street. (Bures, Slater)
Motion carries.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
Preservation Awards – Gunderson requested reports from the sub-committees. Lien said he hadn’t met with anyone but had been considering names for an annual property award. Kloster agreed to serve on the sub-committee. Slater reported that the only suggestion for the Griggs Award has good potential but this is not an opportune time to nominate the person. Members were encouraged to give thought to both awards and forward ideas to the sub-committee chairs.
Cory Lien left at this time.
Grand Forks Central High School Addition – Gunderson questioned where the proposed Central addition is to be placed; no one knew for sure. Gunderson will contact the School District for more information. Jelliff said that Sergei Rachmaninoff was the first performer in the Central Auditorium when it opened in 1937.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
Grand Forks School Board Letter – O’Leary disseminated copies of a letter to the School Board regarding West and Wilder schools. The letter was approved with slight modification.
State Review Board Meeting – The SRB approved the nomination of the WPA Stone Structures at Calvary and Memorial Park.
2011 City Budget – O’Leary submitted the HPC approved budget and will contact the Mayor’s office to be sure we have addressed any concerns they may have.
Civic Auditorium – Steve Martens has completed the written documentation of the Civic Auditorium. O’Leary distributed copies for review by the Commissioners.
Energy Efficiency Discussion – Postponed.
608-610 Belmont Road – The Commission has supplied a letter to Inspections in support of the homeowner’s desire to replace a deteriorated historic porch railing with one of the same appearance and dimensions.
Downtown Brochure – A proof copy of the brochure was distributed for final review. O’Leary asked that editing remarks be forwarded to her as soon as possible. Jelliff suggested that the name of the architect for the Great Northern Depot should be included.
The Kegs NRHP Nomination – The RFP for the Kegs nomination has been mailed out; deadline for proposals is June 1. O’Leary will prepare the proposals for review by the Commission at the June 8 meeting. Iseminger noted that North Dakota Public Radio had broadcast a “Dakota Datebook” item about the Barrels/Kegs in the area. They mentioned Minot and Crookston but not Grand Forks.
Other Business
Energy Alliance – Bures questioned whether any part of the loan can be forgiven and how the loan would be dealt with if the owners sold the home. O’Leary will inquire and report back.
Central Park Neighborhood Meeting – Meredith Richards, Office of Urban Development, held the historic infill meeting on Thursday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m., at Phoenix School. Flemmer and Swisher attended and said the meeting went well. They both appreciated that there was strong turnout of neighbors and said the discussions were amiable and far-ranging. There was majority support for issuing RFPs for the lots rather than auctioning them off and many felt that it would be better to hold on to lots for awhile, especially those by the water plant, until the timing of the water plant move is finalized. Another meeting will be held, at which OUD will present proposals based on the ideas discussed on April 29
th
.
Sorlie Bridge – Iseminger noted the inclusion of the bridge in the downtown brochure and questioned whether it is still slated for repair/removal. O’Leary said work on the bridge is scheduled for 2015-16 and that she believed the two SHPOs and the two DOTs would not begin discussion of any mitigation until the financing for the project is secured and timelines are set.
WPA Stone Structures at Calvary and Memorial Park – Iseminger noted that there has been some discussion of holding this nomination and submitting it in conjunction with the state-wide WPA multiple resource nomination at a later date. He said he is not in favor of holding the nomination for several reasons, among them that the state-wide nomination could drag on for months or years, that the Grand Forks project could be lumped in with projects of lesser significance, and that the GFHPC issued its RFP and contract with the understanding that the nomination would go forward as an individual nomination.
Motion:
that the Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission is opposed to delaying the nomination of the WPA Stone Structures in Calvary Cemetery and Memorial Park.
(Iseminger, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
Motion:
to adjourn. (Slater, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned. 8:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2010, in A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator