Print VersionStay Informed
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
(as amended)
7:00 p.m.
June 8, 2004
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson (Chair), Dave Beach, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Melinda Leach, Randy Lee, Rolf Ottum, Sandy Slater
Others: Wayne Riley, John Riske & Kevin Severson (Red River Valley Community Action), Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of May 25, 2004. (Ottum, Leach)
Motion carries.

1508 Lewis Boulevard Covenant Review – Wayne Riley, owner
The matter of covenant review for the house formerly located at 1508 Lewis Boulevard was removed from the table and the owner explained that the poured concrete porch will be natural concrete color, fully footed and poured in concert with the foundation of the house. Three concrete steps will come down from the front, for a porch height of about 2’ above grade. The yard will have a retaining wall about halfway from the porch to the public sidewalk, so the yard will have two separate grades: from the house to the wall and from the wall to the sidewalk. The steps will not be carpeted.
Motion: to concur that the proposed concrete porch is consistent with the covenant restrictions placed on the house. (Lee, Beach)
Motion carries.
Riley said they are considering enlarging the 2’x 2’ window in the master bedroom at the back of the house; they would like it to be consistent with the other windows in the house and would like to improve their view of the park. Gunderson noted that the rear of the house is an addition.
Motion: to grant permission for the 2’x 2’ window in the second floor rear to be replaced with a window consistent with other windows in the house; size and type of said replacement window subject to review and approval by Chairperson and Coordinator prior to replacement. (Lee, Flemmer)
Motion carries.

Red River Valley Community Action – John Riske, Kevin Severson
  1507 S. 15th St. – Withdrawn
  1529 Robertson Court – Built 1952. Exterior work proposed: install two steel insulated doors and two steel combination storm doors on rear and side (front door not being replaced), paint, install new gutters and downspouts, install metal handrail.
Motion: to concur that no adverse effect will result from the proposed changes. (Lee, Slater)
Motion carries.
  2014 2nd Ave. N. – Built 1951. Exterior work proposed: repair four basement windows, install new steel garage door, install new vinyl siding, install five new wood single-hung windows. The house was originally a cement block house that has been steel sided. There is no insulation and the siding has been painted and is peeling. They will put in tilt-pack windows and add insulation. They are not planning to replace the front window by the garage. They will be keeping the brick trim throughout. Gunderson noted that if the crank windows are original to the house, they should be replaced with crank windows. Further discussion concentrated on whether the house has enough original fabric to be considered historic. Members determined that it did not.
Motion: to concur that the proposed changes will have no adverse effect and that no historic properties will be affected. (Lee, Beach)
Motion carries.
  622 6th Ave. S. – Built 1908. Exterior work proposed: install two steel insulated doors, replace four basement windows and twelve main house windows with vinyl windows, install new vinyl siding, install new gutters and downspouts, repair exterior cellar door, replace three window sashes, reshingle roof. Riske said the original wood siding is rotting and can’t be patched. His program can’t afford to reside the house in wood; they would side in triple 4 vinyl; wood siding that is not rotten will remain under the vinyl. He said the structure is sound; they’d keep the fish scale trim and paint the porch. No molding would remain around the windows. The leaded window would be kept and the single pane under it would be replaced with thermal. Riske noted that there is a chance the leading could break apart during the work. Riske and several members considered that, without the proposed work, the house will come down in the near future. Ottum and Lee noted that the vacant lot next door will have an infill home this season. Riske noted that if the work to be done on the house totals more than $20,000, his agency can’t do it.
Motion: the proposed work will cause no adverse effect. (Iseminger, Lee)
Discussion: Slater said removal of the trim and replacement of the wood siding has to be adverse effect. Flemmer said he was concerned with our credibility if the Commission makes an exception to the Standards because we think the house will fall down. Gunderson suggested members could decide not to concur with anything but could comment on the discussion regarding saving the structure. O’Leary suggested that it is possible to declare adverse effect but recommend no mitigation. These possibilities were discussed.
Motion withdrawn. (Iseminger, Lee)
Motion: the proposed work will result in adverse effect to an historic property however, due to the condition of said property, it is recommended that there be no required mitigation.
(Lee, Ottum)
Motion carries.
  628 10th Ave. S. – Built 1928. Exterior work proposed: install two steel insulated doors, paint house, install nine vinyl windows. It was noted that the windows needed to be wood.
Motion: to concur that no adverse effect will result from the proposed work if wood windows are used. (Slater, Leach)
Motion carries.
Dave Beach left the meeting at this time.
Long-term Planning Prioritization
Based on previous discussions, Commissioners established the following high priorities for the next five years: architectural surveys, historic district nominations, development of a plat map that would identify development dates in the city, and education. Development of the plat map information is of primary importance and will assist in the identification of potential survey areas. Within the Survey category a Near Northside survey will have first importance, a resurvey of Riverside will be second and a survey of the University Avenue corridor will be third. Historic District nominations will follow the surveys if survey information supports nomination; also, UND will be approached about pursuing nomination of the campus, which has already been surveyed. Among the Education options, getting preservation information to people who may be affecting historic homes, developing a brochure for the Near Southside Historic District, and developing a website are first priorities; speaking engagements, PSAs, and print information were identified as secondary.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  FY04 CLG Budget – Gunderson explained that the due date of June 15 was a typographical error in the State’s request for proposals (deadline is actually July 15), but since the email/telephone consensus was to pursue funding for a survey of the Near Northside the attached budget could be reviewed at this time. O’Leary explained that the operational budget period begins March 1, 2004 but the project budget period will not begin until August 1, 2004; both will end on Sept. 30, 2005. Slater pointed out that the proposed operational budget is based on twelve months worth of expenditures even though the heading indicates nineteen months. O’Leary will clarify, on the submitted copy, that the operational budget reflects twelve months.
Motion: to approve a budget request of $30,000 to reflect a twelve month operational budget, training/travel, and a district survey. (Lee, Flemmer)
Motion carries.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  112-120 N. 3rd St. Nomination – Mary Kate Ryan has sent the nomination to the Keeper.
  Near Southside Historic District Nomination – We are waiting for the US Geologic Survey maps from HRA. As soon as those get to Bismarck, Ryan will send that packet on to the Keeper.
  Central Business District Nomination – We received a proposal from Ann Emmons, the writer of the Near Southside nomination, for $11,422 to write the downtown nomination. The proposal is under budget and from a reputable source. Members concurred in the acceptance of the proposal.
  SHSND Funds for NRHP Properties – The State has $100,000 available for preservation of Register properties. Their focus is on publicly owned properties. The Commission will take it under consideration but no local properties came to mind.
  Griggs Award – The award will be presented to Andy Swanson at the Council Meeting on Monday, June 14, at approximately 7:00 p.m.
  1016 4th Ave. N. – The property owner says he has found evidence of an old foundation in his back yard.

Other Business
  Historic Brochures – several sites were identified for placement of the brochures for dissemination, particularly antique stores and book stores.
  Members decided to begin a summer schedule of meeting once a month. The June 22, 2004 meeting is cancelled. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, July 13, 2004.

Meeting adjourned. 9: 45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator