Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
P. O. Box 13876
Grand Forks, ND 58208-3876
701-772-8756
Minutes
February 23, 2010
6:30 p.m.
City Hall
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Sylvia Kloster, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater, Judy Swisher
Others: Meredith Richards, Office of Urban Development (OUD); Peg O’Leary
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2010 as presented. (Lien, Leach)
Motion carries.
Civic Auditorium SMMA
– Meredith Richards
The Civic Auditorium (615 1
st
Ave. N.) will be demolished so the area may be redeveloped. Federal funds are involved in the project. A Standard Mitigation Measures Agreement (SMMA) is being developed to meet federal regulations regarding use of federal funding when historic properties are affected. Richards noted that previous discussions among HPC, OUD and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) have determined that photo documentation is necessary and that the existing blueprints for the building will be provided for construction documentation. Richards said the contractor has plans for the wood beams and will reuse part of the mosaic tile; the bronze dedication plaque has already been removed from the building and will be reused somewhere in the new structure. Lien mentioned the flag pole as an element to be reused if possible. Members agreed that the flagpole particularly speaks to the use of the building as a National Guard Armory and it would be good to preserve that. Decisions are necessary regarding the level of historic context required and who will take charge of the contracting process. Richards suggested that the City would commit a dollar amount, perhaps up to $3,000, to reimburse the HPC for costs associated with the mitigation. The HPC would then contract for the photography and the historic context. The SHPO has agreed to this approach, with certain provisions. The SMMA would also have a deadline by which time documentation would be sufficiently completed to allow demolition to proceed. Members agreed that HPC could undertake the contracting process. It was also determined that a limited historic context would be adequate; something on the order of an extended architectural survey. It was agreed that the City could begin demolition no later than May 1, 2010.
Gordon Iseminger arrived at this time.
Motion:
to authorize mitigation for the demolition of the Civic Auditorium that will, at a minimum, include HABS/HAER Level III photo documentation; transfer of original blueprints for archival at the Department of Special Collections, UND Chester Fritz Library; recycle/reuse of material elements of the building; appropriate fill material; and a historic context outlining the history of the building. (Slater, Leach)
Motion carries.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
Downtown Design and Review Board – The DDRB will meet on Wednesday morning (2/24/10) with the downtown owners/operators who have formed a joint committee to review issues, such as window signage, that affect downtown.
UND NRHP Certificate – Merl Paaverud will come to Grand Forks to present the Historic District certificate to Dr. Kelley at the Founders Day Banquet, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
2010 CLG Grant Proposal – The grant proposal reached Bismarck by the deadline.
Cemetery WPA Nomination – The second contractual payment is due upon receipt of the revised draft.
Motion:
to authorize payment of $1,049 to Steve C. Martens per the contractual agreement. (Sickels, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
The Public Hearing will be held at the GFHPC March 23 meeting and the nomination will be submitted for review by the State Review Board at its April meeting.
B’Nai Israel Synagogue and Montefiori Cemetery Nomination – O’Leary will be working with the contractor on a revision of the nomination.
Sorlie Bridge Public Hearing – O’Leary attended the Public Hearing and registered HPC concern that all reasonable efforts be made to maintain this historic bridge. NDDOT representatives said that engineering testing would determine the condition of the bridge and its future.
UND Education Building – Vice-President Potvin responded to concerns of the Social Work Department faculty with a lengthy memo. It reiterates the process followed to get to this point in the addition planning and, essentially, indicates that opportunities were provided for input and the expansion will move ahead as planned. There is no mention of Section 106 review in the memo.
San Diego House Moving – Donovan Rypkema, an acknowledged expert on Preservation financing and the effects of preservation on local economies, is working with the city of San Diego on a house relocation project and visited with us extensively about the moves made in Grand Forks after the flood.
UND Historic District – O’Leary distributed copies of the final nomination. Several entities on campus will also receive copies.
Other Business
Great Plains History Conference – Iseminger said a session on the National Register of Historic Places has been added to the conference. Presenters will include Kim Porter speaking about the B’nai Israel Synagogue nomination, O’Leary on the UND nomination, and Steve Martens and Iseminger on the nomination of the WPA Stone Work at Memorial Park and Calvary Cemetery. The conference is in Grand Forks, Oct. 14-16, 2010 at the Ramada Inn.
Motion:
to adjourn. (Flemmer, Swisher)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned. 7:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 9, 2010, in A101 City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator