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	Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission 1405 First Avenue North Grand Forks, ND 58203 701-772-8756 Meeting Minutes April 10, 2007 7:00 p.m. City Hall Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Gerad Paul, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater, Dave Vorland 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 March 27, 2007 meeting. (Sickels, Iseminger) Motion carries. Red River Community Action Agency – Kevin Severson 714 Cottonwood Street, built 1905 – The 1994 survey of the area says this property would not contribute to a historic district; however, that assessment seems to hinge on the residing and the enclosed porch. These criteria have been loosened in subsequent surveys and this property would probably be reevaluated as contributing if it were in a historic district. The owner proposes to use federal low-interest loan funds to remove and rebuild the rear addition, remove and side over the exterior door on the north side of the house, replace three windows, and complete duct work on the interior of the home. Severson said both the floor joists and the roof are in bad shape in the addition; there’s a lot of water damage. Replacement windows will be wood units, matching the existing windows in size, style, and design; the existing storms will be reused. The existing steel siding on the addition will be reused. The shallow roof pitch will be changed to a flat roof; the house is not on a corner and this change will not be noticed from the street. The side door is typical of houses from this era and of this style; taking it out will significantly change the appearance of the house. Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse effect if the windows and the rear addition are modified as described in the request and if the side door remains in place. (Slater, Lien) Discussion: It was clarified that the federal funding could not be used for removal of the door. Motion carries. 1323 Cherry Street, built 1945 – There is no architectural survey for this house. The owner proposes to use federal low-interest loan funds to vinyl side the house, replace existing windows with vinyl windows, mount a wooden handrail on the front steps, remove existing and install new metal storm doors to front and rear entries, remove and close off existing bathroom window. The existing siding is slate or asbestos shingle with medium-wide wood trim in the gables. This would be replaced with triple-three vinyl siding all the way to the roof line. It is not certain whether the existing siding is original. Some of the existing windows appear to be original 3/1 wood double-hung, but the front façade has replacement casement windows also. It was noted that the house would appear more original if the front windows were similar in size and style. Members determined that the house would not be individually eligible nor would it be likely to contribute to a historic district. Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the work proposed for this house, but requesting that the owner consider delineating the gable with a different color siding as it has been in the past. (Flemmer, Sickels) Motion carries. General discussion ensued regarding NRHP eligibility and the application of Section 106 regulations in housing. Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson Alexander Griggs Award – Gunderson described the criteria for the award and noted that the Commission does not present the award every year. Slater is the only remaining member of the nominating committee. Members interested in participating in the nomination process were invited to contact O’Leary to join the committee. O’Leary will email a list of previous winners to the commissioners. Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary Regrant Status, FY06 – The contract for the Hook and Ladder Co. has been delivered to the owner and should be signed shortly. The negotiations for the Dinnie Apartments continue; a conference call with the SHPO is to be scheduled for this week to clarify issues. FY07 CLG Grant – The State Historical Society received more than $100,000 in requests for funding with only about $65,000 to disburse. Our budget was cut in Travel and Training to $500, which will enable us to get to state-wide meetings but will not fund the National Trust conference in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Flood Anniversary – In addition to working on the “thank you” plaques, we have submitted a flood story about how the Commission was helped by the National Trust and the State and Regional Historic Preservation Offices in the immediate aftermath of the flood. Commission Appointments – The appointments of Gunderson, Jelliff, Lien, Paul and Sickels will expire in May. We also have a vacant seat to be filled. Members who wish to be reappointed were asked to contact O’Leary; suggestions for the vacant position can also be submitted. Everything will be referred to the Mayor for action. UND 125th Anniversary Participation – Pete Haga has contacted us to research aspects of the community’s role in the establishment of the University. George H. Walsh has been identified as key in bringing the U to Grand Forks. Are there others with equally significant roles? Can we help him identify and research this issue, with the result being some sort of tangible presentation during the Founders Day activities next February? Consensus: the Commission agrees to become involved in the process and requests that Haga come to the next meeting to discuss his objectives. Vorland, Slater and Flemmer will serve on an exploratory committee for the purpose of establishing what can be done and how we can participate. Infill Housing – Members asked that Meredith Richards be invited to the next meeting to share her proposal for the upcoming infill development on city-owned property. Motion: to adjourn. (Sickels, Leach) Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2007, in room A101, City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Peg O’Leary Coordinator