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Minutes Historic Pres 1 20 05 nn FT ,'l4 ,~y fii li 'J;~ :",( -':''''f::{t r,! ,.;, .," d., t:: !is Pi ~ MINUTES "".. II ; tll~TCYR.IC PRe~\'1iTIOt.l OOMMl~IOt.l REGULAR SESSION Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:00 p.m. Auditorium, Carnegie Stout Library 360 W. 11th Street, Dubuque, Iowa PRESENT: Chairperson Dave Stuart; Commission Members Terry Mozena, Chris Olson, Jim Gibbs, Mike Coty and Chris Wand Staff Members Laura Carstens and Wally Wernimont. ABSENT: Commission Members John Whalen and Mary Loney Bichel!. AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Stuart at 5:01 p.m. MINUTES: Motion by Wand, seconded by Olson, to approve the minutes ofthe November 18,2004 meeting as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye - Olson, Wand, Gibbs, and Stuart; Nay - None. Abstain - Coty. ACTION ITEM: Nomination to National Register of Historic Places for the Upper Main Street Historic Area for property located from the 1000's - 1100's Main Street. John Gronen, Gronen Adaptive Re-Use, LLP, presented the nomination to the Commission. He noted that he is in the process of restoring six buildings in the two-block area through the use of state and federal tax credits. He noted that these tax credit projects require that the properties be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mr. Gronen noted that the buildings need to be listed in order for the funding to be received. NOTE: Commissioner Mozena entered the meeting at 5:05 p.m. Staff Member Wernimont reviewed the nomination and the criteria for significance. He noted that the nomination indicates that the properties are significant under Criteria A and C. He noted that Criterion A is a property that is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history and Criterion C is that the property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period of method of construction or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distraction. He noted that a letter was sent to all the property owners in the proposed Upper Main Street Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission January 20, 2005 Page 2 Historic District notifying them of the National Register designation. He noted that the listing of the Upper Main Street Historic District on the National Register would not pace any additional regulations on properties. He stated that the structures located in National Register of Historic Places districts are not subject to a design review by the Historic Preservation Commission. He noted that the property owners may make exterior and interior alterations to the structure without Historic Preservation Commission review, and that the Historic Preservation Commission reviews exterior changes to structures located in locally-designated historic districts. He explained that listing on the National Register of Historic Places allows properties to take advantage of federal and state historic preservation tax credits for rehabilitation and federal and state grants when available. The Commission discussed the application and noted that the properties meet the requirements for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Motion by Wand, seconded by Olson, to recommend that the Upper Main Street Historic District be listed on the National Register of Historic Places because the property meets Criteria A and C and to forward the nomination onto the State Nomination Review Committee. Motion was approved by the following vote - Aye - Olson, Mozena, Coty, Wand, Gibbs, and Stuart; Nay - None. ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: 257 Hill Street Addition/Garaqe: Chuck Dupree, 257 Hill Street, requested advice from the Commission on the demolition of an original two-story wing. He noted that he would like to remove the original wing of the house in order to build a garage and larger sun porch. He indicated that in order for his proposal to work, he would need to acquire property adjacent to his property. He went on to explain that the winged addition is original to the house. The Commission discussed that the wing appears to be an addition. The Commission discussed the removal of the wing and construction of a garage with a room above. The Commission recommended a setback from the front wall of the home and to make the addition look in keeping with the original structure. The Commission discussed using similar wall materials and paint The Commission discussed the use of two garage doors with curved headers in order to mimic the curved windows in the home. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: Historic District Preservation Improvement Policv: Staff Member Carstens noted that the Four Mounds Foundation has submitted an application for Historic District Public Improvement Program funding. She noted that only properties located in the city's five designated historic districts are eligible for the funding. She explained that the Four Mounds Estate Historic District is not located in one of the five designated districts; however, it has been designated as a City Landmark site. Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission January 20, 2005 Page 3 Chris Olson, Four Mounds Executive Director, noted that the Historic District Public Improvement Program is for infrastructure improvements that benefit the public. She noted that Four Mounds is a City-owned property, which is available to the public. Chairperson Stuart discussed the possibility of opening the funding to National Register Historic Districts and local landmarks. The Commission noted that the funding was created to encourage property owners to make their properties be city-designated and that if funding was available to National Register Historic Districts, they would have no review authority over them. Staff Member Wernimont noted that the Four Mounds Estate Historic District is a unique property. He noted that it is a landmark site that is composed of several buildings. He noted that all the other City designated landmarks are individual structures. He explained that the Commission may want to look at opening funding only to City-designated landmark sites. He explained that the City designated the Four Mounds Estate Historic District as a landmark site rather than a historic district to avoid the residency requirement for an additional Historic Preservation Commissioner. Commissioners discussed that opening the funding to landmark sites would also need changes in the evaluation criteria, project priority, and links to other programs or funds. Commissioners discussed the uniqueness of Four Mounds due to land area and number of buildings. The HPC noted the property has two owners, with a non-profit foundation responsible for its upkeep. Motion by Stuart, seconded by Coty, to modify the Historic District Public Improvement Program to include City landmark sites and City-designated Historic Districts. Motion was approved by the following vote: Aye - Mozena, Coty, Wand, Gibbs, and Stuart; Nay- None; Abstain - Olson. Restore-O-Rama Restoration Workshop: Staff Member Carstens discussed the date and proposed program. She noted the event will be held in the Holiday Inn Five Flags. The program will be open to Certified Local Governments, realtors, architects, property owners, contractors, etc. She noted that the trolleys are available for use because they do not run their normal routes until Memorial Day. She requested suggestions from the Commission concerning the events. The Commission discussed the possibility of having Thomas Hilton as a keynote speaker. Commissioner Olson noted that Mr. Hilton gives a presentation about historic preservation and urban sprawl. Commissioner Mozena noted that the workshop could be made available for continuing education credits for realtors. Commissioner Wand noted that it could also be made available for continuing education credits for architects. Commissioner Olson noted that a workshop could be held on window restoration. Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission January 20, 2005 Page 4 Pedestrian Wavfindina Sianaae: Staff Member Carstens reported on the Pedestrian Wayfinding Signage. She discussed the program and membership of the Wayfinding Signage committee. She noted that the committee is looking at the use of medallions embedded in sidewalks at noted historic properties. Commissioners felt that the use of plaques that describe historic buildings is interesting. Commissioners suggested looking at similar signage at Fort Dearborn in Chicago and in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Historic District Sianaae: Staff Member Wernimont reported on the historic district entry signage. He noted that he is contacting Gary Olson to complete drawings of the Langworthy Historic District's logo for the use of the Octagon House and the W. 11th Street Historic District's logo for the use of the open archway where the W. 11th Street Elevator came through. National Preservation Conference: Staff Member Carstens reported that Planning and Housing staff submitted a session proposal for the National Preservation Conference in Portland, Oregon. She noted that the proposal was a panel discussion on the HEART program that is a partnership between the City Housing, Dubuque Central Alternative High School, and the Four Mounds Foundation. Great American Main Street Awards: Commissioner Wand noted that Dubuque Main Street Ltd. has been selected as one of the ten finalists for the Great American Main Street Award. He noted that if chosen, we would be the only community to receive two awards. Dozen Distinctive Destinations: Staff Member Wernimont noted that the City of Dubuque has applied to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to be identified as one of a dozen distinctive destinations in the United States. He noted that the National Trust selects twelve communities out of the entire nation to be honored with such a designation. He noted this will be the first attempt to receive the designation. He noted that Galena, Illinois and Bonaparte, Iowa are two communities that have been designated under this program. ADJOURNMENT: The. meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Adopted Wally Wernimont, Assistant Planner