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Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756


Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2006
7:00 p.m.
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Melinda Leach, Rolf Ottum,
Ken Polovitz, Sandy Slater
Others: Susan Quinnell, Mary Kate Ryan, Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2005 meeting as presented. (Ottum, Flemmer)
Motion carries.

Introduction of Guests
Susan Quinnell, Review and Compliance Coordinator, and Mary Kate Ryan, Architectural Historian, both from the State Historical Society of North Dakota were introduced to the Commission. They were in Grand Forks to meet with Rick Tonder about the demolition of West Green I and the plans for future development on the site. The three (with O’Leary) also visited UND’s Carnegie Library, various Granitoid sites, the Metropolitan Opera House, Griffith’s Department Store and the Campbell House site.

Ryan announced that the nomination for historic district status for the Grand Forks Downtown Historic District had been approved by the National Park Service. The district was listed on January 6, 2006. Ryan said she would like an opportunity to visit with property owners in the district to explain the advantages of National Register listing. Several alternatives were considered including a joint meeting that would discuss a broad range of tax issues and the possibility of taking part in Business After Hours. Ryan suggested she could distribute individual National Register Certificates to property owners, too.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  2006 CLG Grant Priorities – Members reviewed the five-year plan and discussed potential projects for FY06. The request for funding might include individual nominations of eligible campus properties, building an HPC website, surveying a portion of the near north side, and/or developing an “old home” brochure for purchasers of historic homes. O’Leary will research costs.
  Commission Appointments – A letter has been sent to the Mayor requesting the reappointment of Marsha Gunderson, Rolf Ottum and Dale Sickels, and the appointment of Cory Lien (for the community position previously filled by Dave Beach) and Gerad Paul (for the attorney position previously filled by Randy Lee). The new members, should they be appointed, are well qualified and very interested in serving on HPC. The Mayor makes appointments to the Commission; the appointments are approved by City Council and by the CLG Coordinator at the State Historical Society.
  Downtown Design and Review Board – DDRB meets Wednesday, 1/11, to review the final plans for the Elite Brownstones.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  2006 Meeting Dates – The Commission will continue to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, except June, July, August and December when only one meeting will be held each month on the second Tuesday.
Motion: to confirm the 2006 meeting dates as noted. (Polovitz, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
  Grand Forks Rental Rehab Program – A new rental rehab program is being implemented in Grand Forks, which will rely solely on low- or no-interest loans to assist Renaissance Zone landlords in improving their properties. Use of the loans would require that owners of historic buildings meet Secretary of Interior Standards in their construction.
  Christmas Decorations – The County Historical Society is looking for Victorian and 1950s style Christmas decorations so they can dress the Campbell House and the Lustron in appropriate holiday finery next year. Please don’t throw – donate.
  411 Reeves Drive – O’Leary has written the owners in response to their offer to host a meeting at the house. Arrangements will be made when they get in contact with her.
  Near Southside Historic District Plaque – One bronze plaque is in place in the triangle park at the corner of Reeves Drive and 4th Ave. S. The second plaque will go on the park corner of Belmont Road and Lincoln Drive next spring.
  UND West Green I – Quinnell, Ryan and O’Leary met with Rick Tonder, UND Assoc. Director of Facilities and Planning, and Craig Swenson, Capitol Project Coordinator for Facilities, to discuss the demolition of West Green I and the plans for new construction. West Green I constitutes a block of one- and one-and-a-half-story apartment complexes on University Avenue between the Chester Fritz Auditorium and the Williamsburg Apartments. The 39 units, built in 1956 for married student housing, were designed by Wells and Denbrook. An architectural survey states that they could contribute to a potential district given their association with the early post-WWII construction campaign from the late 1940s through the 1950s. The units are to be replaced with residence halls that will house approximately 260 upperclassmen in modified suites that include sleeping rooms, baths, sitting rooms and kitchenettes for every four students. The new building will be L-shaped, three stories with dining area and public spaces, and constructed of brick, sandstone and glass to reflect the style and colors of nearby CAS buildings. Quinnell explained that UND is planning to LEED certify the project, which means that it will meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design criteria, the national standard for green building design and construction. It will be the first state-owned building in North Dakota to be so certified. Gunderson asked if there were concerns about the project and Quinnell said no, it should result in an upgrade for the area. Ryan said that other areas of discussion included the proposed parking ramp for the Swanson parking lot and the Carnegie Library. O’Leary had suggested to Tonder that the Commission hold another meeting at the Carnegie and that they would like to meet with Tonder and V.P. Gallagher or President Kupchella at that time. Tonder agreed that that could be arranged with enough lead time.
  Reimbursement – O’Leary announced that the State has reimbursed $5,723.62 for overhead expenses for FY05.

Other Business
  Babcock Hall – Leach noted that the Dean of Arts and Sciences is planning renovations for the second floor of Babcock. She wondered what sorts of questions should be addressed in order to protect the historic fabric of the building. Ryan said she would send Leach some material and that the State office would be happy to review the plans.
  Old Science Hall – Iseminger questioned whether the placement of the columns in the Barnes and Noble bookstore fulfills the mitigation requirements for the demolition of Science Hall. O’Leary will check the language of the mitigation.
  Log Cabin - Ottum reported that a log cabin north of town is endangered. The building is privately owned.
  City Beautification Funds – The committee meets to decide its recommendations on Thursday,
Jan. 12.
  UND Adelphi Fountain – Iseminger reported that there are efforts underway on campus to resurrect the Adelphi Society, which would then attempt to raise funds to restore the fountain to its former glory. Slater said Plant Services people have researched the fountain and she doesn’t think there’s any plan to recreate the figures because there’s insufficient data for recreation of the figures.

Motion: to adjourn. (Leach, Ottum)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:30 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006, in City Hall room A101.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator