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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. February 22, 2005 City Hall Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Rolf Ottum, Ken Polovitz, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater Others: JoAnn Brundin, St. Vincent de Paul; Curt Siewert, Office of Urban Development; Peg O’Leary Motion: to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2004, correcting State Historic Preservation Commission to State Historic Preservation Office on page 1. (Polovitz, Iseminger) Motion carries. 1805 5th Ave. N. – Curt Siewert Previously introduced and withdrawn at the Jan. 25, 2005 HPC meeting, Siewert returned with a representative of St. Vincent de Paul to explain the proposed changes to the house. Federal money has been granted to replace shingles, windows, doors and siding, install metal fascia, soffit, gutters and downspouts, and replace concrete sidewalks and driveway as needed. The house is to provide transient housing; the main floor is handicapped accessible. The house was built in 1956 and is not quite 50 years old. Siewert requested concurrence with a determination of “no historic properties affected” by the work proposed. Commissioners expressed understanding of the desire to provide egress windows in the bedrooms and make other changes which would be required by code if the house were built today. However, several members were concerned about major changes to houses as they approach the 50 year mark. Flemmer pointed out that this house is a classic example of a 49 year old house in near original condition, which will be drastically changed, precluding it from ever contributing to an historic district. There was general concern that this is a trend that needs to stop if we are to have any areas representative of mid-century housing developments. Iseminger said he was bothered that the house was bought as is and now they want to change it to meet need. He asked if it could be used for the same purpose if it is not changed, and was told that it could but the owners would feel better if they did what they could to provide a safer environment. Brundin also said the organization is trying to do as much as possible to provide a maintenance free property because there will be little or no rent forthcoming to help with future maintenance. Polovitz asked if the changes would have to come to HPC if no federal funds were involved; Siewert said no. Siewert also noted that several homes in the neighborhood are substantially changed. Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected. (Polovitz, Sickels) Motion fails. Three yes, three no, Chair votes no. Siewert will forward the request to the State with his recommendation and noting that GFHPC does not concur. Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson Downtown Design and Review Board – Signage has been a major topic at recent meetings and there is some movement toward clarifying the guidelines regarding what is and is not permissible downtown. Downtown Housing Task Force - There has also been discussion (at DDRB and elsewhere) about residential dwellings downtown; a task force has been established to look at that question and Gunderson has been appointed to it. Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary CLG Grant – O’Leary reported that there has been no further communication from UND regarding the nomination of their core campus. At the last meeting Slater questioned whether the smaller Riverside Neighborhood survey could be accomplished in the requisite time; O’Leary said she had researched the idea and it seems possible. The original survey, in 1992, recorded 100 features; of those 100, 51 have been demolished and 9 have been moved. O’Leary distributed maps of the area and recommended expanding the survey to the alley west of N. 4th Street; this would result in a survey of approximately 225 features. It was hoped that forms on the demolished properties could be provided to the SHPO by the HPC office, thus avoiding paying a contractor for that work. There was general discussion of boundaries; a west boundary of N. 3rd St. was considered because the houses are newer west of that point and the orientation of the houses changes from north-south to east-west; N. 3rd St. is also the border of the Riverside Park Addition. Motion: to proceed with the historical architectural survey of the Riverside Neighborhood. (Slater, Polovitz) Motion carries. A subcommittee was appointed to help design the boundaries of the survey: Flemmer, Leach, Sickels, and Slater. M&H Gas Station, 423 N. 5th St. – The Planning Office had a meeting to discuss the signage. Chuck Durenburger (Planning), Bev Collings (Inspections), and O’Leary met with an owner of the property. No conclusions were reached. Planning and Zoning Commission will meet the first Wednesday in March and O’Leary will continue to oppose additional signage at this site. UND Carnegie Library – O’Leary distributed copies of the letter sent to Rick Tonder requesting information about the UND Historic Space Committee; specifically when it is called to meet on issues such as the Carnegie window replacement and the proposed new building on the Wesley College quad. Covenanted Properties – O’Leary distributed copies of the letter that Urban Development sent to all owners of covenanted properties, reminding them of the historic covenants. OUD did not include a copy of the covenant. Downtown Nomination – O’Leary has sent the nomination along with local comments to Mary Kate Ryan for review at the state level. Map and resource list adjustments have been sent to Ann Emmons to be incorporated into the work. Other Business Stone Gate, County Fairgrounds – Sickels noted that the gate seems to be deteriorating and is also becoming less visible as things are built up around it. O’Leary was asked to query the County about the prospects for the gate. Metropolitan Opera House – Activity has been noted at the Opera House. O’Leary was asked to find out what’s going on. Meeting adjourned. 8:30 p.m. The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, 2005, in room A101, City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Peg O’Leary Coordinator