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Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
7:00 p.m.
July 13, 2004
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson (Chair), Dave Beach, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff Randy Lee, Rolf Ottum, Sandy Slater
Others: Keith Danks, Jr.; Curt Siewert, Office of Urban Development; Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of June 8, 2004, substituting “survey” for “nomination” in the budget motion on P. 3. (Ottum, Slater)
Motion carries.

Storefront Rehabilitation Proposals – Curt Siewert
  2203 Gateway Drive, built 1998 – Keith Danks, Jr., an owner of the property, contributed to the discussion of the proposed changes to the laundromat and motel. They propose to add three feet of stone at the bottom of the walls, paint upper walls a light tan color, place a green gable roof at the entrance, install green neon trim along roofline and landscape. Siewert said the laundromat was built in 1998 but that part of the motel was built in 1952. He recommended “no historic properties affected.”
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed changes. (Ottum, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
  2203 Gateway Drive, built 1972, former Plainsman Motel – Proposing to install brick veneer wainscoting, paint the walls a light tan color, place a green gable roof over driveway to tie motel office and west unit together, and add landscaping. Danks said they are trying to upgrade the property to attract a different clientele and present a better appearance on Gateway Drive.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed changes. (Ottum, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
  4001 Gateway Drive, built 1993 – Owners of the Westgate Motel want to add a breakfast nook, entryway, green gable roof and landscaping to the building in an effort to make it appear more like a motel and less like an apartment house.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed changes. (Lee, Slater)
Motion carries.
  120 N. Washington, built 1953, Art and Learn – Owners want to insulate and side the east and south walls, paint the west and north walls, replace railings, install a dumpster pad and add fencing. The building was originally a Phillips 66 filling station and the exterior has had many changes.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed changes. (Jelliff, Lee)
Motion carries.
  1710 N. Washington, built 1951, Lunseth Plumbing and Heating – Owners want to use CDBG funds to pave the parking lot and add landscaping. It was noted that the only building in the vicinity that is in original condition is the IBEW building.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected by the proposed changes. (Slater, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
  820 S. Washington, built 1955, former Cenex Station – Owners propose replacing fascia, windows, entryway doors, garage doors, and painting. Members questioned the need for changing the windows and garage doors. Siewert said current windows are plate glass and would be exchanged for thermal; the individual sheets of glass would be smaller but the openings would not be reduced in size. He thought the garage doors would be replaced by insulated doors with fewer windows.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties are affected if the exterior brick is not painted. (Jelliff, Slater)
Motion carries.

Housing Rehabilitation – Curt Siewert
  1614 Lewis Boulevard – Siewert noted that this item is actually a matter of covenant review but that the work to restore the stone entrance on this house is being bid out. There was some question about the appearance of the original step unit but pictures have cleared it up. He passed around the pictures.
  123 Chestnut, built 1888 – The initial proposal for work on this house came before the Commission at the May 25, 2004 meeting at which time it was determined that there was insufficient information to determine adverse effect. During the interim, Easter Seals has torn down the garage, replaced the front steps and begun siding work. When this came to the attention of the Office of Urban Development, Easter Seals was directed to stop work until the Section 106 review was complete and Easter Seals stopped work at the site. Easter Seals proposes to reshingle, replace two windows, repair siding, remove and replace rotted fascia and cove molding on the rear addition, replace gutters on the rear addition, replace the window on the north side of the basement with an egress window. Concerns at the May meeting were with the removal of the second story bathroom window, installing vinyl window inserts, and placement of the egress window. Easter Seals will not remove the bathroom window and will put the egress window on the north side of the house instead of the originally proposed south side. They are still proposing vinyl inserts in the two windows which are rotting; the exterior trim would not be affected. There have been previous vinyl window replacements in the house. It was noted that original wood shakes remain under the current shingles and will have to be removed to reshingle the house. It will not be possible to put the garage in its original location due to city building codes. There was general discussion about the removal of the garage and other work undertaken without approval.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse effect provided that the reshingling product be Certainteed Shangles, or similar product, that the windows be replaced with wood replacement sashes instead of vinyl, and any garage construction must have approval before work begins. (Flemmer, Slater)
Motion carries.
  1610 Lewis Boulevard – Easter Seals proposes to replace wood shingles with asphalt on this covenanted property. Commissioners requested proof that the shingles could not be repaired and/or that the house cannot be insured with the wood shingle roof. No action will be taken until the requested information is available.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  Granitoid – The city has reserved a lot on 2nd Ave. S. It was resolved after the meeting at the reserved lot is actually at 517 3rd Ave. S.
to place a Granitoid memorial. There is other interest in the lot and the city is wondering if we are still interested in using the lot in this manner. General discussion ensued about visibility of the lot and whether a Granitoid park could be combined with documentation on the early trolley tracks that also run through the area. Jelliff suggested that a small piece of the NE corner of the block that United Lutheran sits on would be the perfect spot for a plaque commemorating both early transportation media. He thought United Lutheran would be amenable to the idea. It was decided to put the project on hold until the actual address of the destination lot was determined.
  Griggs Award – Gunderson read a letter from Andy Swanson thanking the Commission for honoring him with the Griggs Award.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  Central Business District Nomination – The contract is signed and Ann Emmons will be in town for a week, starting July 17, to do on-site research.
  FY04 CLG Budget – Proposal deadline is July 15, 2004 and our request will be sent by Federal Express on Wednesday, July 14.
  Red River Valley Community Action – O’Leary read excerpts from the State Historic Preservation Office response to RRVCA regarding the house at 622 6th Ave. S. The SHPO recommends that the project be modified to conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (i.e., original materials repaired or, if necessary, replaced “in-kind”). This may result in RRVCA not doing any work on the property.
  Campbell House Update – Jelliff said the property is due to move soon. O’Leary reported that the Keeper has approved keeping the house on the Register, pending further paperwork following the move.
  Proposed Red River Foot-Bridges – Melinda Leach, HPC archaeologist, explored the proposed sites for the foot-bridges and recommended further research. The SHPO concurred, recommending Class III Cultural Resources Inventory and possible probing to discover potential cultural resources at the sites.
  St. Michael’s Hospital and Nurses’ Residence Historic Context – The mitigation for the wall around this property required that a historic context be written. The product, by Hess Roise & Co. of Minneapolis, was reviewed by Slater, Gunderson and O’Leary and found to be well written and interesting. A few minor changes, mostly editing, were requested.
  Donated Time Reports – Members filled out reports for Jan. – Feb., 2004.
  City Hall Display Case – HPC has provided a photo display of Grand Forks’ architecture for the display case in the main lobby of City Hall.

Other Business
  Commemorative Plaque Stands – Ottum reported that all of the stands are experiencing some level of rust damage. He believes the installers scratched some and also failed to properly seal holes drilled to mount the plaques; in other cases the powder coating process appears to have not included adequate cleaning before applying the powder coat, causing the coat not to take properly. Ottum offered to call the powder coaters in Argyle. Since the city now owns and maintains insurance on the plaques, O’Leary will visit with Curt Siewert about the problem.
  Dakota Science Building – Beach noted that the former Presbyterian Church is for sale and asked what might be done to preserve the puncheon paving in the driveway. Jelliff said he had visited with Rick Duquette, City Administrator, about the city accepting responsibility for maintaining the puncheon. Since the puncheon is primarily in the berm, Duquette said that shouldn’t be a problem. Jelliff will follow up with the city.
  The cross from St. Michael’s Hospital (now the Medical Science building on N. Columbia Road) – Jelliff and Iseminger have had various conversations with Altru and Calvary Cemetery officials, and with Fr. Sherman, former pastor of St. Michael’s church, about the ownership and safety of the cross. They will continue to try to resolve the situation so that the cross can be used as part of a commemorative Grand Forks’ hospitals display on the Altru grounds.

Motion: to adjourn. (Ottum, Lee)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 9:00 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 10, 2004, in City Hall room A101. Please note that the second meeting in July has been cancelled.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator