Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 10/08/2003LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting October 8, 2003 Minutes Council Liaison: David Roy (407-7393) Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chairperson: Bud Frick, Jr. (484-1467) SUMMARY OF MEETING: LPC approved reconstruction of a historic sign for the Armstrong Hotel at 259 S. College Avenue as a defining architectural feature of the building and repair of doors and siding at the Deines Barn, 7309 S. College Avenue. LPC resolved not to act as the reviewing entity for state preservation tax credits in 2004. LPC discussed awnings for different storefronts on the same building and received copies of the final draft of the Downtown Strategic Plan. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Commission called to order by Chair Bud Frick, Jr., at 5:40 p.m. at 281 N. College Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. Angie Aguilera, Agnes Dix, Per Hogestad, Ian Shuff and Myrne Watrous were present. Janet Ore was excused. Carol Tunner represented staff. GUESTS: Clark Mapes, City Planner, Steve Levinger, owner, for Armstrong Hotel, 259 S. College Ave.; Doan and Melissa Winkel, Shenandoah Homeowners Association, for Deines Barn, 7309 S. College Ave.; Nicole Haak, CSU student, and Margaret McDonald, novelist, observers. AGENDA REVIEW: Carol Tunner added a presentation by Clark Mapes on the final draft of the Downtown Strategic Plan under Other Business. MINUTES: Minutes from August 27, 2003, were accepted as presented. STAFF REPORTS: Carol Tunner announced that Colorado Historic Preservation Commissions training will be held on Nov. 7, 2003, at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Staff will receive no funding from the City to attend conferences for the next two years, as a result of cuts to the 2004-05 budget. She reminded Commission members to forward National Trust membership forms to her for payment. Ms. Tunner also reported that the Oct. 4 workshop for the National Trust Conference featuring the trolley and an Old Town tour was a great success, and received excellent evaluations from participants. COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS: Myrne Watrous reported on the Downtown Development Authority meeting she attended. New plans for the Pine Street Lofts were presented, showing a number of modifications, some of which had been suggested by the LPC during the developer's presentation to the Commission. The studios mentioned are apartments, not artists' workspace. Ms. Watrous presented a rendering of the proposed redevelopment of the CV Axel Building on Cherry Street, the new Landmark Preservation Commission October 8, 2003, Meeting Minutes Page 2 headquarters of the National Association for Interpretation, across from the Historic Trolley Barn. The developers had announced an anticipated May 2004 completion date. Ms. Watrous said that she had invited the project's developers to a future LPC meeting for a detailed presentation. Ms. Tunner will research the status of the project. The LPC felt a complimentary review would be appropriate, given the proximity of the Trolley Barn. Agnes Dix reported on a presentation by the City's Natural Resources Department on the Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, held at the Lincoln Center on Sept. 30, 2003. The purpose of the plan is to protect natural areas and enhance open lands through acquisitions within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area as well as regionally and the use of conservation easements to maintain natural separators between Northern Colorado communities. The plan has two five-year phases, each of which is budgeted at $27 million; Ms. Dix explained how the funds would be spent to acquire land. Ms. Tunner said that it was important that, especially in outlying areas, there might be historic resources on lands acquired that should receive proper protection under the program. Ms. Dix confirmed that the Meadow Spring area, including the Soapstone Ranch, is under consideration for acquisition, and this is the Lindenmeier archeological site. CURRENT REVIEW 1. 259 S. College Ave., Armstrong Hotel -- Historic Sign Reconstruction, Final Review -- presented by Steve Levinger, owner, introduced by Carol Tunner. Mr. Levinger presented updated drawings of the proposed reconstruction, based on extensive research into historic signs that have appeared on the College Avenue side of the building, above the main entrance. The LPC had asked him to do additional research on historic materials. Mr. Levinger's drawings replicate a circa 1940s sign, with an oval shield below a cross. The sign will be constructed of sheet aluminum painted with high gloss black -and -white enamel and clear red neon, and mounted 14 feet from the sidewalk, attached to the building in the same location as the first sign appearing in historical photographs. Mr. Levinger conducted extensive research into the design and construction of the original sign, which no longer exists, including interviews with an aged craftsman who has been fabricating commercial signs in Fort Collins since the 1950s. Mr. Jackson Brooks has offered to paint the sign freehand if Mr. Levinger cannot find a modern typeface to match the historic design. Staff recommends approval of the sign as a historic reconstruction. Historically, the oval shield contained the American Automobile Association logo, but that is not appropriate at this time. Mr. Levinger would leave it empty for now, Landmark Preservation Commission October 8, 2003, Meeting Minutes Page 3 but would like to add the hotel's logo in the future. Bud Frick suggested the shield appear in final drawings, to be approved administratively by Carol Tunner. Public input: None Per Hogestad moved the LPC approve the reconstruction of the historic sign as proposed as a defining architectural feature of the historic building at 259 S. College Avenue, The Armstrong Hotel. The Armstrong Hotel logo may be approved administratively and attached to the sign in place of the historic AAA shield. Angie Aguilera seconded, and the motion carried unanimously, 6-0. Mr. Levinger explained that cost constraints have resulted in the for the trash compactors in the courtyard trash enclosure being built of brick rather than the previously proposed pressed tin, a minor change to a previously approved item. He presented samples of the "Ballpark Brick" to be used, and Commission members suggested including a flashing cap on the top of the enclosure to maintain structural integrity. LPC directed Ms. Tunner to approve administratively final drawings and colors for the required enclosure. Mr. Levinger invited Commission members to visit the site. He hopes to have rooms available for visitors in April 2004. 2. 7309 S. College Ave., Deines Barn -- Repair Siding and Doors for a 2002 Local Rehab No -Interest Loan, Conceptual/Final Review -- presented by Doan and Melissa Winkel on behalf of the Shenandoah Homeowners Association, introduced by Carol Tunner. Under the new leadership of Doan Winkel, Shenandoah Homeowners Association has received a one-year extension to last year's Local Rehab No - Interest Loan to complete repairs to siding and doors on the barn. Existing doors will be repaired with like material, pine boards, and missing doors and pieces will be recreated to match the old, as substantiated by documentary and physical evidence. Interior diagonal bucks will be added to the sliding doors for increased structural support. The Association has selected Steve Gardiner of Barns by Gardiner to do the work, based on his experience with historic barns in the Longmont area. Staff recommends the proposed repairs. The Winkels reported that while the lower floor and exterior have deteriorated and suffered vandalism, the upstairs loft is perfect inside. Vandalism has been cut down by the installation of solar -powered motion sensor -activated lights. While most of the original hardware is functional, Mr. Winkel added that new locks will not be installed, since previous ones have only encouraged more vandalism. He expects the repairs to be completed this fall. Landmark Preservation Commission October 8, 2003, Meeting Minutes Page 4 Public input: None Angie Aguilera moved the LPC approve the repair of doors and siding as presented for 7309 S. College Avenue, the Deines Barn. Myrne Watrous seconded, and the motion carried unanimously, 6-0. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Discussion of Awnings for Different Storefronts on the Same Building -- presented by Carol Tunner. Ms. Tunner used a series of slides to illustrate the diversity of awnings on storefronts throughout Old Town. She explained that in the 20 years since Old Town Square was redeveloped, new tenants have increasingly wanted to distinguish their businesses through the use of awnings in different styles and colors from the original ones that matched across a building. She asked for direction from Commissioners on approval of future requests for awnings. The feeling of the LPC was that as the area evolves and tenants begin to pay for their own awnings, such individual changes are inevitable. The Commission will leave color selection on awning recoverings to building owners, tenants, and staff, but offer advice. Colors should be compatible across historic buildings. But the color of an awning is reversible. Awnings should also not be attached in a way that damages the historic fabric of the building. Future requests for installing new awnings should still come before the LPC for approval, while requests for recovering existing awnings can be approved administratively by staff. The Commission agreed with Ms. Tunner that the new purple awning on the College Avenue side of the Avery Block did not turn out to be compatible with the building color, and detracted the eye from the historic building's character. But it is reversible. Mr. Frick and Mr. Hogestad said that in hindsight, red tones would have been more appropriate to the red stone and brick building. Annual CLG Resolution Regarding to Act or Not Act as the Reviewing Entity for the State tax Credits -- presented by Carol Tunner. Ms. Tunner explained that until 1992, the LPC acted as the Certified Local Government Reviewing Entity for state historic preservation tax credits. However, the Commission grew uncomfortable giving tax credits for modern interior details, and there was not enough staff time to conduct such reviews, so they stopped doing them. The Colorado Historical Society requires the LPC, as a Certified Local Government, to pass a formal resolution each year stating its position on acting as the reviewing entity. Landmark Preservation Commission October 8, 2003, Meeting Minutes Page 5 Public input: None Myrne Watrous moved the LPC continue to not act as the reviewing entity for state historic preservation tax credits. Agnes Dix seconded, and the motion carried unanimously, 6-0. Ms. Tunner will continue to assist applicants seeking credits, offering advice on preparing forms and providing support throughout the process. 3. Downtown Strategic Plan -- presented by Clark Mapes. Mr. Mapes distributed copies of the first two sections of the final draft of the Downtown Strategic Plan, including the Building Heights Map and architectural guidelines developed with LPC input. He will return to the next LPC meeting to discuss how he is meeting the challenges of translating the more flexible and creative aspects of the design guidelines into the objective legal language of the Land Use Code. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kate Jeracki, Recorder