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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 08/11/1999LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Minutes August 11, 1999 Council Liaison: Scott Mason (226 — 4824) Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chairperson: Per Hogestad (303-292-1875) SUMMARY OF MEETING: The LPC approved the work that was completed at 515 Remington for Part II of the State Tax Credit Program. The LPC determined that the Coca Cola sign at #5 Old Town Square was an eligible element of the Old Town Historic District and should be restored or preserved. The LPC held elections for officers. Per Hogestad was elected Chairperson and Angela Milewski was elected Vice -Chairperson of the Commission. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Ms. Milewski called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m., at 281 North College Avenue. Mr. Hogestad arrived soon after and took over conducting the meeting. Commission members Janet Ore, Bud Frick, Angie Aguilera, Rande Pouppirt, and Agnes Dix were present. Joe Frank, Karen McWilliams, and Carol Tunner represented staff. GUESTS: Steven Mack and Rheba Massey, Local History Coordinator at the Fort Collins Library, for the conceptual request to re -paint the Coca Cola ghost sign at #5 Old Town Square. AGENDA REVIEW: None. STAFF REPORTS: Ms. Tunner announced that this evening they would have elections for LPC officers. She also said that she would set up memberships to .the National Trust for all of the Commission members. Ms. McWilliams updated the Commission on the Local Landmark District designation of the Sheely Drive neighborhood. She reported that twenty-two people attended the second meeting and community members have formed a commission to pursue district designation. Ms. Tunner also announced that the City received a grant for the trolley car bam, mainly for restoration of the front fagade. Ms. McWilliams reported that Pete Cottier's application for a State Historical Fund grant for the Union Pacific freight depot was denied. Grant applications for the Empire Hotel rehabilitation and proposed work to Steve Slezak's house at 231 S. Howes was also denied. She added that the Northern Hotel project did receive grant funding. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Ms. Milewski reported that the Downtown Development Authority would be looking at alternative sites for a minor league baseball park around the area of the Northside Community Center. Landmark Preservation Commission August 11, 1999 Meeting Minutes Page 2 CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. rnCK aeciarea a conflict Or inten any public input and there was none. asked if there was Ms. Aguilera moved to approve the consent agenda item for 515 Remington. Ms. Milewski seconded the motion, which passed unanimously (4-0) DISCUSSION ITEMS: #5 Old Town Square, Hohnstein Block — Conceptual Request to Re -Paint the Coca Cola Ghost Sign (Steven Mack) Ms. Tunner reported that she had previously researched the feasibility of re -painting or restoring the old Coca Cola sign. She presented the information to the LPC, which was included in the Staff Report. She further explained Preservation Brief #26 that stated that a professional should conduct the restoration and it should not be "over restored". She asked the Commission if they considered the sign historic, because it was painted 39 years ago. If they repainted the sign, would it still be considered the work of Don Brown? She also asked the Commission to consider what exactly would be restored. Ms. Tunner had a message that Ed Stoner, Property Manager, and Scott Smith, Manager of Coopersmith's, were both in favor of restoration of the sign. They requested that it be restored to look old and that any work be done at a time, not to disturb business. Mr. Smith also had said that when it rains paint runs off the sign, down to the patio. Mr. Mack explained that he is the conservator for the estate of Don Brown, who painted the Coca Cola sign, as well as many others around town. Mr. Mack said that Mr. Brown was currently in a VA Hospital in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He explained the history of the sign and what it means to the community. He reported on Don Brown's significant contributions, which were made throughout his career as an artist both internationally and within the Fort Collins business and agricultural community. Mr. Mack presented the artist's portfolio, which dated from the 1940s to the 1970s. Rheba Massey, the local History Coordinator, presented additional information on the history of the Coca Cola sign and historical significance of Don Brown's work. She explained that the sign was painted in 1958. After graduating from the Denver Art Institute, Don Brown earned a living by creating commercial art. His work included the cover of a book on the blizzard of 1910, letterheads for local businesses, banners for festivals, the sign on Osborne Hardware, the logo for the CSU Forest Service, and painted signs on commercial vehicles. He also served as the resident commercial artist for CSU and published his work in Omaha and the Triangle Review. Ms. Massey further explained that Pepsi signs were common around the State, but this was the only Coca Cola sign in Colorado. A 1958 photograph showed the signature of the artist, which read "Brown who else". This was added later because of a rivalry between Don Brown and another local commercial sign painter, Harold Asmus. When Don Brown was in the Peace Corps he contributed to a museum in Chile by painting pictures of local bird species Landmark Preservation Commission• August 11, 1999 Meeting Minutes Page 3 and in Barbados, he painted pictures of botanical species. Mr. Mack stressed that Don Brown's work had an historical significance for the community and that this was the most visible piece of his work for people to recognize. He added that the artist left his entire estate to the City Museum of Fort Collins. Ms. Massey discussed the philosophy of restoring historic signs. She discussed why such signs were called ghost signs and why most people feel that they should not be restored. She explained that this philosophy was based on a thesis, which was incorporated into a Park Service brief several years ago. She recently contacted the NPS Brief author and he has since changed his mind in favor of restoration of the signs. Ms. Massey said that these signs were fading fast. Originally, they were painted on the sides of buildings to show what the business was inside. Ms. Massey said that she spoke with Mark Otis, from Denver, who does restorations of old ghost signs. He explained that he does a half -restoration by not repainting the pointing between the bricks. Ms. Massey then discussed theories of art conservation. She is continuing to make contact with other conservators. Other communities have not been restoring ghost signs or doing anything to preserve them. Mr. Mack suggested that this was an opportunity for Ft. Collins to do a pilot study. He reviewed the historical significance of Don Brown's work and encouraged the Commission to develop a policy on the restoration of historic signs. Ms. Ore agreed and added as time goes on signs will continue to fade. Mr. Hogestad asked if there was a point where the paint in the sign would start to stabilize. Mr. Frank said that this issue may parallel art conservation issues and more research should be done. The LPC discussed historic signs and how they evolved with the city streetscape. Mr. Frick suggested that interpretation of the history of the sign should be presented too. The Commission discussed whether the sign was determined to be historic. Mr. Frick explained that the artist's background and contributions to the community made the sign significant. The Commission agreed. Jay Hardy, Downtown Development Association, provided public input by stating that the sign was an important part of downtown, especially in that area. The Commission discussed options for restoring the sign. Mr. Frick recommended that the Coca Cola sign on the side of the Hohnstein Block, at #5 Old Town Square, be an eligible element of the Old Town Historic District due to the size, location, historical association with Don Brown, and the development of the downtown area. Therefore, the LPC supports the restoration/conservation of the sign with the details to be presented to the LPC for approval. Ms. Aguilera seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (5- 0) OTHER BUSINESS: None. Landmark Preservation Commission August 11, 1999 Meeting Minutes Page 4 Elections of LPC Officers Mr. Frick nominated Per Hogestad for Commission Chair -Person, who accepted the nomination. There was no public input. Ms. Aguilera nominated Angela Milewski as Vice -Chairperson, who accepted the nomination. Ms. Ore seconded the nominations, which passed unanimously. (5-0) The meeting adjourned 6:47 p.m. Submitted by Nicole Sneider, Secretary