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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 01/14/2004LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting January 14, 2004 Minutes City Council Liaison: David Roy (407-7393) Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chair: W. J. "Bud" Frick, Jr. (484-1467) SUMMARY OF MEETING: The LPC approved tin ceilings and tile floors in storefront entryways at 259 S. College, Armstrong Hotel, and discussed fire code requirements for mounting outside address numbers. LPC designated 516 S. Meldrum St., the Garnick House, as an individual Fort Collins Landmark, and provided a complimentary review for a proposed addition at 316 E. Magnolia St. The Commission also discussed the Demolition Alteration Review Process and Section 3.4.7 of the City's Land Use Code. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Commission called to order with a quorum present by Chairman Bud Frick at 5:30 p.m. at 281 N. College Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. Angie Aguilera, Agnes Dix, Per Hogestad, Janet Ore, Ian Shuff and Myrne Watrous were present. Karen McWilliams and Carol Tunner represented staff. GUESTS: Steve Levinger, owner, for Armstrong Hotel, 259 S. College Ave.; Rena Hansch, owner, for 516 S. Meldrum; Cynthia Reffler and Bruce Brown, owners, for 316 E. Magnolia. AGENDA REVIEW: A Complimentary Review for 316 E. Magnolia was added to Other Business by Karen McWilliams. A discussion of the Demolition/Alteration Review Process was added to Other Business by Bud Frick. MINUTES: The minutes for December 10, 2003 were accepted as presented. STAFF REPORTS: Carol Tunner reminded Commission members to read the article on legal issues from The Alliance Review that was included in the meeting packet. COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS: Myrne Watrous reported on the Downtown Development Authority meeting she attended. The Downtown Strategic Plan was discussed; Ms. Watrous strongly urged the LPC to send a representative to the City Council meeting when the Plan is considered for adoption. The DDA would like a national retailer to take over the space being vacated by J. Pitner on College Ave. The Cortina project is proposing to build a deck over the parking lot on Mason Street, a block from the building, to provide additional parking for employees of the retail businesses on the first floor. There is sufficient onsite parking for residential tenants, but not for the commercial uses. The project will be asking for a variance from the Planning and Zoning Board to rearrange some trees onsite. The 1901 bungalow at 317 Cherry St. has been purchased by Paradigm Partners for use as construction headquarters for the North Mason Street Project on Cherry Street. Developer Mickey Willis announced plans for $52,000 worth of interior and exterior remodeling, and requested $25,853 from Landmark Preservation Commission January 14, 2004, Meeting Minutes Page 2 the DDA. DDA asked for more specifics on the plan before allocating any funds. LPC members also expressed concern that the alterations be compatible with the surrounding area, but no plans have yet been submitted to the City. Several members would like to know about such plans before they are submitted. Ms. Watrous also asked about the status of the move of Bas Bleu Theatre to the Giddings Building, as announced in the local media. Although the theatre owners and benefactor Tom Sutherland have said they plan on opening in September, they see no barriers to the redevelopment. Ms. Tunner said that the Giddings Building is a designated Fort Collins landmark, and when plans are submitted they would come to the LPC. Bud Frick remembered seeing proposed plans for the building a long time ago, but no action was taken. Ms. Tunner reported that there is a current application to Current Planning for a minor amendment for a conforming use, but at this stage, elevations and plans for the redevelopment have not been submitted. Several City departments have raised questions about the minor amendment. Per Hogestad reported on the Final Hearing on Young's Pasture on Dec. 18, 2003, conducted by an outside hearing officer. Mr. Hogestad testified that numerical changes were made to the height of the buildings on the drawings presented at the hearing. These had not previously been seen by any of the interested parties. The plans were approved at the hearing as submitted, but before the neighborhood could appeal the decision, the owners said they would write a letter to the City guaranteeing building heights would be no greater than 25 feet. No appeal was filed. CURRENT REVIEW 259 S. College Ave., Armstrong Hotel -- Storefront Recessed Entry Tin Ceilings and Tile Floors, Conceptual/Final Approval -- presented by Steve Levinger, owner, introduced by Carol Tunner. Mr. Levinger provided photos of the entryways, which have been installed. He explained that because, in earlier meetings, the LPC had approved the use of pressed tin on the ceilings, if not the pattern, he felt he could proceed with the installation. The entryway floors were planned to be concrete but he decided to tile them. The black -and -white mosaic tile color scheme echoes the colors approved for the historic recreation of the sign above the entryways, with the address numbers created in a historic cross-stitch font. Although no historical photos exist of the entryways, LPC members felt that the tile was not only compatible with the project but also aesthetically pleasing. Staff recommended approval of the tin and tile as appropriate historic materials. The current tile floor entries are distinguishable from historic by a size difference. Since the original building had an entire tin ceiling first floor, it is reasonable to interpret the entry ceilings in tin. Public input: None Landmark Preservation Commission January 14, 2004, Meeting Minutes Page 3 Janet Ore moved the LPC approve the storefront recessed entry tin ceilings and tile floors at 259 S. College Ave., Armstrong Hotel, for Conceptual and Final Review, as presented. Myrna Watrous seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0. Mr. Levinger then asked for guidance on a new issue raised by the Fire Inspector. City ordinances require that 6-inch tall address numbers in a color that starkly contrasts with their background be mounted high enough over the entrance to each storefront to be readily visible from the street. Various placements and methods of attachment were discussed. Mr. Levinger will work with the Fire Inspector to see which if any of the options presented would be acceptable. DESIGNATION 516 S. Meldrum St., Garnick House -- presented by Rena Hansch, owner, introduced by Karen McWilliams. This two -and -a -half. -story property qualifies for individual designation as a Fort Collins Landmark under Standard 3, as it "embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction." It is a good representation of American Foursquare architecture in Fort Collins. Built circa 1905, the house has relatively good integrity; the only major alteration is an addition to the rear, built circa 1939 in preparation for the home's transition into an apartment building. This addition dates to the building's period of significance and is in keeping with the house's architecture. A non -historic roof cover for a stairway to the basement apartment has been added to the fagade, and a staircase of unknown age is located on the rear elevation. The Garnick House is known for its original owner, Frank Garnick, who became Fort Collins' first paid fire chief in 1909. It is possible that the house was constructed by the architectural firm of Garnick and Sons, in which Frank partnered with his father, Thomas; this company is credited with the construction of several homes, outbuildings and additions in the Old Town area. Staff recommended approving this request for Fort Collins Landmark designation of the Garnick House, 516 S. Meldrum St., for its significance under Standard 3. Rena Hansch confirmed that she plans to keep the building in use as an apartment house. While the style of the building suggests it had a front porch at one time, Ms. McWilliams reported that there are no existing records or historical photos showing one in place. The boarded -up door on the second floor indicates a balcony was there originally. The Foursquare style fell out of favor nationally after 1912, but reflects the City's growing middle-class demographic prior to World War I. Janet Ore suggested The Comfortable House by Alan Gowans (1986, MIT Press) as a reference for restoration. Other Commission members suggested 730 Olive St., on the northeast corner of Olive and Grant, as a similar style building to study for ideas. Landmark Preservation Commission January 14, 2004, Meeting Minutes Page 4 Public input: None. Angie Aguilera moved the LPC recommend that Council approve for Fort Collins landmark designation the Garnick House, 516 S. Meldrum St., for its significance in embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction. Agnes Dix seconded, and the motion carried unanimously, 7-0. Karen McWilliams reminded the applicant that designation qualifies the property for a number of financial incentives to assist in its restoration, and will follow up with her. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Complimentary Conceptual Review of Rehabilitation and Proposed Designation, 316 E. Magnolia St. -- presented by Cynthia Reffler and Bruce Brown, owners, introduced by Karen McWilliams. Karen McWilliams explained that this property is part of the Laurel School National Register District. This is a complimentary review, requested by the owners. If this were a formal review, the process would be for the Commission to first determine if the property retains sufficient integrity and significance to contributing to the District. The home has had major alterations over the years, including alteration of the front porch, and entrance and front window changed in the 1950s or '60s, as shown in historic photos presented by the applicants. Records indicate that the stucco finish was added in the 1940s, when most likely the roof was altered and the mud porch enclosed. The applicants had planned to increase the home's 740 sq. ft. by adding a second story, to maximize natural lighting and solar gain. They are looking for guidance as to what would be acceptable, because they are interested in utilizing the 20% State Tax Credits. The issues are neighborhood compatibility and creating an addition that remains subservient to the original structure. The Commission reviewed a revised plan for a 1'/z story addition, and was divided over whether the sketches presented by the applicant would result in overwhelming mass and/or height. Mr. Frick suggested that, rather than projecting above the existing house, it would be preferable to keep the addition to one story and expand beyond the sides of the existing house. Other members suggested that lowering the''/: story as much as possible would present less visual intrusion than expanding to the sides. It was recommended that taking the property back to what it looked like in the 1948 photo, especially restoring the porch and entry, would be a good approach. Restoring the front to that era would help mitigate a small addition on in the rear. Landmark Preservation Commission January 14, 2004, Meeting Minutes Page 5 Janet Ore will e-mail a list of resources to the applicants, and asked Karen McWilliams to provide them with a copy of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines to get a sense of what might work. Ms. McWilliams will follow up with the applicants, and reminded them they can return to the LPC in future with new plans. 2. Discussion of Demolition/Alteration Review Process and Section 3.4.7 of the Land Use Code -- presented by Karen McWilliams. There is still some confusion among Commission members regarding the applicability and procedures between the Demolition/Alteration Review Process and the Land Use Code. Karen McWilliams discussed the two processes, and is working with staff to create a visual explanation. Staff has recently found a discrepancy between the wording of the Land Use Code and the Demolition/Alteration Review Process, and is evaluating the impact to determine what action, if any, need to be taken. The question is whether the wording in the Land Use Code eliminates the final hearing of the Demolition Review Process. Karen McWilliams will keep the Commission updated on this issue as it develops. 3. Election of Officers. Janet Ore nominated Bud Frick for the office of Chairman; Agnes Dix seconded. Myrna Watrous nominated Angie Aguilera for the office of Vice Chair; Janet Ore seconded. Officers were elected unanimously, 7-0. All committee appointments remain unchanged, with Angie Aguilera on the CSU Building Review Board Committee and Myrne Watrous as the representative to the DDA. Meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kate Jeracki, Recorder January 22, 2004