Committee Minutes
Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
P. O. Box 13876
1405 First Avenue North
701-772-8756
Meeting Minutes
May 8, 2007
7:00 p.m.
City Hall
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Cory Lien, Gerad Paul, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater, Others: Kevin Severson, Red River Valley Community Action; Peg O’Leary
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.; a quorum was present.
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the April 24, 2007 meeting. (Sickels, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
Red River Valley Community Action
– Kevin Severson
2005 1st Avenue N., built 1954 – The owner proposes to use a federally subsidized loan to remove and replace existing wood shake siding with new vinyl double 4” siding; remove and replace original main floor windows with vinyl to match existing in style, size and design; install one vinyl egress window on the front façade; remove and replace basement windows with vinyl units; install a wooden handrail on back steps; and replace the interior basement floor. The siding currently has an 8” reveal; it was painted last year and is in fairly good shape but cracked and showing wear. The egress window can’t go on the side of the house because of the driveway. All the main floor windows except the picture window would be replaced. Jelliff noted that the architecture in the neighborhood is a mixed batch of bungalows and small ranch style homes. He said they were all built in a short period of time after the University vacated this area, which used to be the UND nine-hole golf course. Gunderson noted that the house is in virtually original condition and is 53 years old. Flemmer said it didn’t seem likely that the neighborhood was a candidate for a historic district and the house is unlikely to be individually eligible. Slater suggested asking the owner to retain the gable detailing, possibly using the same style siding in a different color.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the work proposed for the house at 2005 1st Ave. N., but recommending that the owner retain the gable differentiation. (Slater, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
727 Cherry Street, built 1928 – The owner proposes to use a federally subsidized loan to remove and replace existing siding with new double 4” vinyl siding; replace fascia and soffit; replace windows with new wood tilt-pac units matching existing in size, style and design (3 over 1); install new metal gutters and downspouts; and complete various interior projects. Jelliff said the existing slate siding is probably not original as many older homes added this siding in the 1940s and -50s. Severson said the original wood siding might be underneath but its condition couldn’t be determined until the slate starts to come off. The attic windows, the piano window on the north and the front door with its side lites are not to be replaced; storms and exterior window trim will be retained. The grid patterns on the replacement windows are built in but applied atop a single pane of glass to simulate the existing true divided light windows. Members questioned whether the slate has been on the house long enough to be considered historic. Gunderson said it appears that two or three windows were removed when the slate was applied and that would present problems with returning to the original wood siding. Members also questioned whether the slate could be removed in a manner that would preserve the underlying wood siding. The proposed double 4” siding was compared to the siding on the similar house next door and seemed appropriate. The house is outside the Near Southside Historic District but is in a small group of similar homes.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect from the work proposed for the house at 727 Cherry Street. (Jelliff, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
Office of Urban Development
212 S. 4th Street, Deaconess Hospital, built 1949 – Listed on the National Register as contributing to the Downtown Grand Forks Historic District. Jelliff said the original plans for the hospital included the parcel on the corner of Bruce and S. 4th Street but Hoff Studio was on the corner and the owner held out so the hospital built around him. The proposed work is interior refitting to accommodate a dental clinic serving LMI clientele.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect from the work proposed for the building at 212 S. 4th Street. (Iseminger, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
Downtown Design and Review Board – More downtown restaurants are requesting sidewalk seating. DDRB decided that they can have umbrellas during the day if the umbrellas of a given business match in color and design.
National Trust for Historic Preservation – Gunderson provided some background on the Commission activities immediately following the 1997 flood, which included the immediate response from the NTHP and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. She said Jim Lindberg, Peter Brink and Don Rypkema were all instrumental in the recovery of Grand Forks historic properties. Gunderson read a thank you letter (attached) to the National Trust and copied to Preservation Magazine.
PND Conference, Minot – Gunderson said this was a really good conference and that it was interesting to contrast the very western aspects of Minot against the more urbanized and flat Grand Forks and Fargo. Minot seems to have a thriving downtown and is beginning to convert its warehouses to urban loft living spaces. She said that the Ward County Courthouse is Art Deco style and very original; well worth stopping to tour.
Gordon Iseminger left at this time.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
Regrant Status – The Hook and Ladder Company contract is signed and the work is underway. The Dinnie Apartment Contract is completed and has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s office and the State. Todd Nedberg will be in town to sign the contract next week.
City Maps – O’Leary has ordered the large maps. Anyone else wanting one should contact her.
Federal Building Tour – O’Leary has found someone at the GSA in Fargo who can arrange a tour. The proposed date is Tuesday, June 12, prior to the regular HPC meeting. It is not yet confirmed.
Riverside Nomination – The National Park Service has asked for some changes to the nomination: revise the boundary to exclude permanently vacant lots between Lewis Boulevard and the river, add the contributing garages to the resource count, and explain more fully how the house relocation/demolition decisions were made. Mary Kate Ryan and Steve Martens will work with O’Leary to make these changes and resubmit the nomination. It is Ryan’s sense that this nomination is coming under special scrutiny because it may set precedent for future nominations from Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.
Motion:
to adjourn. (Jelliff, Sickels)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned. 8:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 22, 2007, in room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator