HomeMy WebLinkAboutCultural Resources Board - Minutes - 05/28/1980Cultural Resources Board Meet
May 28, 1980
7:30 p.m. Council Information Center
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Cultural Resources Board: Colleen Cassell, Pauline Birky-Kreutzer, Michael
Griffith, Foss Loomis, Jack Curfman, Jim Weitz,
Barbara Cain
Staff: Ellen Thexton, Brian Moroney, John Dewhirst, Edwina Echevarria
Historic Old Town: Dennis Swain, Karate Will, Richard Beardmore
I The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m, by Foss Loomis, Chairman.
II The minutes of the April 23, 1980 meeting are to be approved at the
June 25 meeting.
III Additions to agenda:
1. John Dewhirst of Planning and Ted Johnston of EDAW
2. Film "Mainstreet"
IV HOT (Historic Old Town) Planning Committee
Dennis Swain, Planning Committee Chairman and Jan Sheppard, independent
planner, outlined to the Board Old Town's grant proposal to the Colorado Humanities
Program and asked the Board to endorse the concept contained in the grant request.
The Board concurred on the concept and agreed that Ross Loomis should draft a
letter to the granting agency indicating that support. Ellen Thexton reported
that her office also was preparing a letter in support of the grant proposal's
concept.
V Report by Cultural Resources Director - Ellen Thexton
Mrs. Thexton reported on the May 27 (yesterday) Council work session at which
the CM discussed with Council -the Performing Arts break -even -budget philosophy.
VI EDAW's Old Town renovation plans
John Dewhirst and Ted Johnston of EDAW presented to the Board EDAW's step-
by-step renovation plans for the Old Town district. (EDAW was retained by the
City in February 1980 to plan the phases of the Old Town area renovation plans.)
VII Film - Richard Beardmore of A. E. Design showed the film on downtown
redevelopment, "Mainstreet" (prepared by the National Trust for Historic
Preservation) .
VIII Landmarks Subcommittee
Two members of the subcommittee were present: Karene Will and alternate
member Richard Beardmore. Mr. Loomis announced that he had received letters of
resignation fran June Bennett and Liston Leyendecker and had heard that Jim Cox
was resigning, too.
Discussion on the committee's function plus interaction between the committee,
the CM, developers and Building Inspection followed. Getting the renovation design
review process regarding locally -designated landmarks (as required by the landmark
Ordinance) to work better was emphasized in the discussion. The Board agreed that
Ellen Thexton and John Dewhirst should be the task force to try to refine the
process.
Note: Mr. Dewhirst commented, in reply to questions, that other alternatives
are being looked at regarding the replacement of the Renovation and Preservation
CALlt:ural Rea-c xirces Board meeting, May 28, 1980, Page
Specialist Ui the Planning Departu ent.
I% Naaina r_ ram�3:ee for. CIM officers
Jack: CurfTer, , Barbara Cain and Michael Griifi.th agreed to serve to
nominate a new chairperson and vice -chairperson of the CR8, election to be
held at:. the June 25 CRB meeting, new officers' positions to became effective
July 1, ).980.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
Respectfully sutmmitted,
C �`sL1-J
Edwina Echevarria
Secretary
i
June 2, 1980
Mayor Nancy Gray
City of Fort Collins
300 La Porte Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Dear Mayor Gray:
Enclosed is a copy of minutes for the work session of the Cultural
Resources Board which dealt with the Museum courtyard schoolhouse
issue. As you know from our conversation, the Board does not feel
that the city should obligate the 40,000 estimated by the consultants
to the project. The Board's judgment has added to the considerable
frustration felt by the Questers group which has sponsored the Schoolhouse
project. Boardmember Colleen Cassell has done an admirable job of
maintaining an attitude of objectivity since she is President of the
Quester group involved.
Pauline Birky-Kreutzer of the Board has agreed to work with Ellen
Thexton in searching for alternative solutions to the schoolhouse problem.
Perhaps other parties in the state would be interested in moving the
structure to another site. Or, it might be possible to find private
or grant funds to pay for reconstruction. Also, some Board members have
suggested that if the building has to be taken down, parts of it might
be used for a period room inside the museum.
At any rate, the Board feels that a firm recommendation should be
made regarding the schoolhouse no later than six months from now.
RJL:nf
cc: Thexton
CRB
ff41980
CITY MANAGER
MINUTES FOR
CULTURAL RESOURCES BOARD
MAY 1 WORK SESSION
AVERY HOUSE
Present - Board Members: Colleen Cassell, Barb Cain, Michael Griffith,
Jack Curfman, Jim Weitz and Ross Loomis. Staff: Brian Moroney
and Jack Gianola, Guest: Doug Parker
1. Schoolhouse topic: Brian Moroney reported that the schoolhouse was not a
designated state landmark but was listed in 1976 on the State's Inventory
of Historic Sites. Moroney also reported that Carol Hareley of the State
Historical Society told him that there are not any holds by the State on
the schoolhouse because of a previous grant. It is not known at this time
if the schoolhouse will be included in the District designation of the
museum area.
Doug Parker reported that he thought the reconstruction could be phased
acress three years:
Year One: Take care of foundation and stabilize building
Year Two: Make building weatherproof
Year Three: Complete finish work and install heat and electric fittings
Parker estimated that $10,000 would be added to the cost by phasing across
the three years.
Jack Gianola explained that it would be difficult to coordinate a three year
effort and he recommended going for the whole project at once to insure the
best reconstruction possible. Parker and Moroney agreed that it would be
best to go for the whole project.
The Board engaged in a lengthy discussion and a number of points were made:
1. It would be unfair to tie up the courtyard project or risk additional
funding for the Museum program by spending a large amount of city
funds on the schoolhouse.
2. Phasing the project over three years raises a question about who
would coordinate the project.
3. Members of the Board were skeptical as to how much volunteers could
contribute to the highly technical reconstruction.
4. Council should know the total cost from the start.
5. It is questionable as to whether or not the building is historically
significant enough to justify 30-50 thousand dollars.
Griffith made the following motion (seconded by Cain):
CRB recommends that the schoolhouse not be reconstructed by
the City at an expense of $40,000 in view of the economic, historic,
and re -construction factors.
All members present supported the motion except for one abstention (Cassell).
The Board felt no further action should be taken on the schoolhouse project
until interested groups could be contacted and a number of alternatives
-2-
Minutes for Cultural Resources Board (continued)
proposed. The Board set a period of six months for consideration of
alternatives.
2. Old Town Area Plan topic: The Board discussed the Old Town Area Plan and
the following motion was made by Griffith:
The CRB endorses the concept of a comprehensive area plan for the
Old Town Historic District with the recognition that the design
review of the CRB must be included in any final statement.
The motion was seconded by Weitz and unanimously passed by members present.
Colleen Cassell, Secretary