Minutes_Historic Preservation Commission 5 21 20Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
AA A,eeio City
11111
2007*2012*2013
2017*2019
D") TEN
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Virtual Meeting
Commissioners Present: All Commission members were present virtually via
webviewer in GoToMeeting. Vice Chairperson Brandi Clark, Commissioners Melissa
Daykin Cassill, Christina Monk, David Klavitter, Joseph Rapp, and Bill Doyle.
Commissioners Excused: Rick Stuter, John McAndrews & Craig Reber
Commissioners Unexcused: None.
Staff Members Present: Wally Wernimont and Chris Happ Olson.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairperson Clark at 5:36
p.m. Staffmember Chris Happ Olson announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic
and mandates for social distancing, the meeting was conducted entirely virtually.
MINUTES: Motion by Monk, seconded by Daykin-Cassil, to approve the minutes of the
March 19, 2020 meeting as submitted. Motion carried 6-0 by the following vote: Aye —
Daykin Cassill, Monk, Klavitter, Rapp, Doyle and Clark; Nay — none.
ACTION ITEMS:
Demolition Review
Application of the City of Dubuque Housing and Community Development Department
to demolish structure at 1448 Jackson Street, Washington Neighborhood National
Register Historic District; and Washington Neighborhood Conservation District.
Staffmember Olson presented the staff report. She referred to the location of the
building in respects to the Washington Neighborhood Conservation District and being a
contributing building within the Washington Neighborhood National Register Historic
District. She described the building structure, noting multiple layers of exterior cladding
material and additions. She referred to the age of additions and Sanborn fire insurance
maps. Olson asked the applicant to provide more information about the request and
project:
Housing Inspector Shane Hoeper, representing the applicant, explained to the City's
enforcement history with the property. He noted broken windows and siding issues. He
said the property was sold to Dubuque's True North and the City acquired the property
after the dissolution of that project. He said he has been tasked with the rehabilitation
Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission
May 21, 2020 Page 2
of the structure. He referred to photos of the structure noting ongoing insect damage,
mold and moisture programs, based on the Housing and Community Development
Department's evaluation of the building. He said they are proposing to demolish the
structure and rebuild a new structure.
Olson referred to the staff report, noting the history of the property and architectural
surveys. She said that structure was not identified as NRHP eligible from the 1979
Kriviskey survey. She noted that Jim Jacobsen identified the structure as a contributing
structure to a NR historic district. She explained the role of the Commission with
reviewing demolition permits, describing the two-step process in which the Commission
may evaluate a claim of Economic Non -Viability.
Commissioner Rapp asked if the building is demolished, would the new building be
reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. Olson noted the property is in a
Conservation District for demolition review only and that the role of the Commission is to
review the demolition request and the request for the certificate of Economic Non -
Viability, should the first be denied.
Commissioner Doyle asked if the Washington Neighborhood is listed. Olson referred to
the staff analysis in the staff report which refers to its listing on the National Register of
Historic Places. He noted that if the building is identified to be a contributing building to
a NRHP district, then it is architectural and/or historically significant.
Motion by Klavitter, seconded by Commissioner Monk, to approve the demolition permit
application as presented based on architectural/historical significance. Motion failed 0 -6
by the following vote: Aye — None, Nay — Daykin Cassill, Monk, Klavitter, Rapp, Doyle
and Clark.
The Commission reviewed the application based on economic feasibility. Hoeper
referred to the rehabilitation documents for the property. He noted True North's
purchase price of $20,000 and the cost to rehabilitate at about $196,000. He noted that
it is not habitable.
Commissioner Klavitter asked Hoeper if the cost to rehab this building is the same cost
to build this house. Hoeper said it would be the same to rehab the building and to build
new. He said they would have to take the structure to the foundation because of the
moisture and insect damage. Commissioner Klavitter asked if they have investigated
incentives for the property. Hoeper said the city is not eligible for historic tax credits. He
said the building is not habitable and they are working day to day to inspect homes to
prevent demolition by neglect.
Commissioner Klavitter said he would like more information for him to make a
determination of Economic Non -Viability. He asked about houses that the City took
over for True North. Hoeper said they have buildings they are rehabilitating. He said
this building is the worst condition of the buildings they acquired. Olson noted the
Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission
May 21, 2020 Page 3
Commission reviewed and approved a demolition for True North at their February 2020
meeting.
Commission Rapp asked about the foundation. Hoeper said the joists and sill plates
are deteriorated and the rear half of the house is not on a full foundation. He said they
would have to take the building down to the limestone foundation to rebuild.
Commissioner Monk asked Hoeper if they could receive an updated quote with the
structure repairs. He said the estimate they have does not include those structure
modifications to address the structural damage. Hoeper noted that the Gronen estimate
did not include the structural damage. He said that would add about $20,000 to the
estimate.
Commissioner Doyle ask about the possibility of demolishing the rear addition. Hoeper
noted they did not look into removing just the rear addition.
Commissioner Doyle asked about roof pitch. Staffperson Olson explained that the roof
has been modified, with eaves cutoff. Further discussion followed regarding the rear
addition and egress stairs, as well as interior stairs.
Staffperson Olson referred to the Role of the Commission to review the application for
Certificate of Economic Non -Viability.
Commissioner Klavitter expressed he would be interested in seeing the cost of the
structural repairs to the building. He said if he had the information, he could have a
better decision. Commissioner Monk would like to see the numbers updated with the
structure improvements. Hoeper, noted the numbers would only get worse. He said it
would add about $20,000. He said they would be looking at a $100,000 lost.
Commissioner Doyle asked what is left with historic interior finishes. Hoeper said there
is nothing remaining other than the front door and floor plan. He said his intention is to
build a new building and make it more historically accurate.
Staffperson Olson noted if this were rehabilitated, the Commission would look at the
exterior only. She said that as you peel back the layers, you will expose more of the
historic fabric. She said the eaves have been removed, front porch is modified, and the
windows have been removed.
Further discussion regarding a new rehabilitation cost, with updated structural numbers.
The consensus was that the economic situation would be worse. Staffperson Olson
discussed the Commission's ability to include information gleaned from the application
process and the discussion at the meeting into the motion.
Commissioner Klavitter asked that the city look at available incentives in future projects.
He also hoped that whatever would be built in its place should fit in the neighborhood
Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission
May 21, 2020 Page 4
based on good design. Commissioner Doyle agreed with Commissioner Klavitter. He
said a contemporary building could fit will and not replicate the historic building.
Motion by Monk, seconded by Rapp, to approve the application based on Economic
Non -Viability with the understanding:
1) The building lacks architectural integrity (i.e. loss of porch, materials, eaves,
etc.);
2) The fact that financial incentives are not available; and
3) The structural rehabilitation is not reflected in the rehabilitation estimate.
Motion carried 6-0 by the following vote: Aye — Daykin Cassill, Monk, Klavitter, Rapp,
Doyle and Clark; Nay — none.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: No items from the public
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: The Commission welcomed Commissioner Doyle to the
Commission.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
Preservation Updates
Preserve Iowa Summit: Staffmember Olson reported the Preservation Iowa Summit has
been changed to a virtual conference. She noted the Commissioner have free
admission to the conference. She noted there are APA and AIA CE credits available for
the conference.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Monk, seconded by Rapp to adjourn the May 21, 2020
Commission meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Daykin Cassill, Monk,
Klavitter, Rapp, Doyle and Clark; Nay — none.
The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Manager Adopted