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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 07/08/1997LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting July 8, 1997 Council Liaison: Scott Mason Staff Liaison: Joe Frank Commission Chairperson: Jennifer Carpenter (226-0690) SUMMARY OF MEETING: The Commission and Staff welcomed the new LPC members. Per Hogestad was elected Vice -Chairperson of the Commission. A rear railing guardrail was approved for the One West Art Center in the old Post Office, 201 South College. Matt Rogers, a local artist presented his proposal to repaint and restore the old Coca Cola sign on the Hohnstein Building, #5 Old Town Square. Ms. Tunner discussed painting different buildings within the Ranch Way Feeds building complex and Susan Daly's proposal to paint a mural on the silo. Different designs for Old Town entrance markers were reviewed. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Per Hogestad, called the meeting to order at 5:42 p.m., 281 North College Avenue. Commission members Bud Frick, Angela Milewski, Diana Ross, Stephen Short and James Tanner were present. Jennifer Carpenter, Commission Chairperson was absent. Carol Tunner and Karen McWilliams represented Staff. GUESTS: Angela Brayham, Director, One West Contemporary Art Center; Dick Hill, Architect; Matt Rogers, restoration painter and artist. AGENDA REVIEW: Ms. Tunner added a discussion under Other Business of installing plaques at the entrances to Old Town. STAFF REPORTS: Ms. McWilliams reported that the owners of the Harmony School do plan to move the teacherage on the site to the southwest portion of the property, as originally depicted in their plans. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The June 10, 1997 LPC meeting minutes were accepted as submitted. Introduction of New Members Ms. Tunner introduced the newly appointed LPC members: Angela Milewski and Stephen Short. Election of New Vice -Chairperson Landmark Preservation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July H, 1997 Page 2 Ms. Ross moved to nominate Per Hogestad as the new Landmark Preservation Commission Vice -Chairman. Mr. Tanner seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (6-0) CURRENT DESIGN REVIEW: 201 South College Avenue. the Old Post Office — Rear Fence Replacement Ms. Tunner explained that the railing at the rear of the old Post Office had been vandalized. The iron railing around the rear steps had been pulled apart and strewn across the parking lot. She added that Angela Brayham, Director, One West Art Center, had planned to replace the rear railing in the near future. Now there is an urgency to replace the railing immediately because the broken and missing railings pose a hazard. The existing railings are not original to the building. They were installed in the early 1970s, when the Post Office Plaza was completed. Ms. Brayham explained that they received a Colorado State Historical Society Grant to do a number of fagade improvements and to replace the railings around the building. She added that the stairs down to the basement have been left exposed since the vandalism, and it presents a liability. She and her architect, Dick Hill, proposed a number of solutions and different styles for the railings. Mr. Hill presented sketches of a utilitarian handrail for the rear of the building. He explained that the applicant is presently seeking conceptual approval. The design is very solid with round steel piping and vertical spindles, four inches on center. He added that the design could be circular or square with round piping. The attachment to the concrete has not been designed. They plan to paint the railing a chocolate brown, which would be coated with a matte finish. Across the front of the building a more ornate, transparent design is proposed. Ms. Tunner added that originally, no railing existed on the front of the building. Mr. Hill said that the north and east sides of the building are more ornate and the south and west sides, the rear of the building and the service entrance, are less ornate. Mr. Frick suggested that the bollards be increased to three feet, so they will be more visible in a rearview mirror. The proposed railing will be installed in the same location as the existing railing. Mr. Tanner moved to approve that portion of the application addressing the utilitarian guard rail and railings on the west side of the building, and to require more details be presented for a full dress version at a future meeting. Ms. Ross seconded the motion. Mr. Frick added a friendly amendment to amend the bollard height to three feet. Ms. Ross accepted the friendly amendment. The motion passed unanimously. (6-0) Ms. Brayham brought forth another issue to discuss with the Commission. She explained that the awnings, which had been removed, contained the signage for the art gallery. They Landmark Preservatbn Cornmissbn Regular Meetkp Minutes July 8, 1997 Page 3 are currently looking for a signage design which works with the historic building. She showed examples of several different types of signs from galleries. Ms. Brayham likes the idea of a changeable banner within a steel framework. Mr. Hogestad suggested incorporating the signage into the railing. Mr. Short suggested that the sign make a connection with some architectural feature of the building. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards suggest to use a sign band on the building, but not to hide any historic feature. Mr. Hill added that the original Post Office letters are available. The LPC discussed possible locations for the sign and the appeal of a colorful banner in juxtaposition to the historic building. The LPC agreed that a ground sign is appropriate and that the Art Center could use the Design Assistance Program for their project. DISCUSSION ITEMS: #5 Old Town Square, the J. L. Hohnstein Block — Repair Coca Cola Sian Conceptual Discussion Discussion Ms. Tunner explained that Matt Rogers had inquired about repainting the Coca Cola sign on the J. L. Hohnstein Block. Harold Asmus and Don Brown originally painted the sign in 1958. Mr. Rogers stressed that the sign is fading and that the community would lose it. The sign needs to be restored to be preserved. Mr. Rogers spoke with Mr. Asmus regarding the original bulletin paint colors. Ms. Tunner spoke with Tom Koehan of the National Park Service, who stated that the significance of a sign is its ability to portray a message. To restore the sign, you can fill in the spaces, which are missing paint, or paint over the entire sign with its original colors. Mr. Short inquired about the preparation of the sign before painting. Mr. Rogers explained that the prep work is minimal. Where the lip of the paint is turned up, it will be gently scraped away. The paint will be purchased from the same firm, where Mr. Asmus originally got it. Mr. Rogers added that the new brick on the building to the left of the sign could also be made to look older. He added that the owner of the building, Ed Stoner approves of the project. Mr. Hogestad asked how long the sign would last if they did not restore it. Mr. Rogers answered maybe ten or twelve years and at that point it will be too faded to be restored. Ms. McWilliams said that there are several other old advertising signs in town and maybe Mr. Rogers could work on a less significant sign first, to see how the restoration would look. Mr. Tanner discussed the status and function of old signs in town. He explained that they are no longer serving a purpose. Their appeal may be based on their transitory status and their charm is created by the fact that they are fading away. He said that the signs are not like buildings, which can be used and reused. Mr. Tanner has reservations about painting the sign, because of the charm associated with its chipping and fading away. The Commission discussed whether the sign could be painted over or the missing pieces filled in. Mr. Rogers explained that it would look like a checkerboard if the chips are filled in with fresh paint. Ms. Milewski said that she would feel a sense of loss if the sign were Landmark Preservatlon Commissbn Regular Meeting Minutes July8, 1997 Page 4 completely lost. Ms. McWilliams asked when the new paint would look faded. Mr. Rogers thought that it would take five to ten years for the paint to fade. Ms. Tunner explained, this is a controversial issue and that public input would be necessary. Mr. Tanner suggested that they think about the theoretical issues involved. The LPC and Mr. Rogers discussed alternative means to preserve the sign. They discussed sealing it with a substance called Red Lead. Mr. Short stated that according to Western philosophy, you preserve the physical structure or form; according to Eastern philosophy, the craftsmanship and the spirit of the creator are preserved. Mr. Frick requested that Mr. Rogers submit his portfolio and suggested he look into getting involved with the Design Assistance Program, because of his expertise. Mr. Rogers will also provide information on the Red Lead sealant and the proposed color palette. The LPC agreed that if a sign was to be painted, Mr. Rogers should start with a less conspicuous sign. Mr. Tanner added that many older Signs exist on the second floor of historic buildings, which are very faded. OTHER BUSINESS: Paintinq Ranch Way Feeds and Proposed Mural for Silo Ms. Tunner reported that Ranch Way Feeds has repainted some of their buildings. After the Design Review sub -committee visited the site, Ms. Tunner approved the painting administratively. The owner explained that they painted the brick buildings a brick color, as recommended in the Old Town Design Guidelines. Ms. Tunner explained that they were not able to remove the existing white paint from the brick. They matched the green trim which exists on the Harmony Mill. Ms. Tunner informed the LPC that they would also like to paint the second building from the road and the stacked plank building, both of which are older historic buildings. Ms. Tunner also reported that Susan Daly made a proposal to the owner to paint a mural on the Ranch Way Feeds silo. She has offered to paint an historical scene with a river and a mill. Ms. Tunner provided photographs of some of her other murals, and a copy of the June People magazine, which contained an article on barn art. Mr. Tanner said that they have already declared the building as a work of art and it should not be used as a blank canvas. He asked why cover up the building, and what if a request came in to paint a mural on the side of the Northern Hotel. Mr. Frick said that the signs were advertising businesses and these are murals. Ms. Milewski said that these projects should be reviewed on a case by case basis. The Commission as a whole, generally discouraged painting a mural on the silos. U1151U" 01 f IdULIV3 iUF CrIIIGrI{iC5 lV MY r WWII -yOI WI I unncI Ms. Tunner reminded the Commission that they had received a Certified Local Government Grant last year to place plaques at the entrances to Old Town. Four markers Landmark Preservation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Juty8, 1997 Page 5 will be cast in bronze and then welded to steel pipes. She presented choices for the proposed historic marker. Slides of the proposed locations for the markers were shown and other possible sites were discussed. The LPC discussed the layout, size and shape of the plaque. They picked a design, decided that the plaque should be an eighteen inch square, and suggested removal of the enforcement language. Mr. Tanner also suggested that the words, °welcome to", be eliminated, but the LPC decided that the text will be left the same as presented. The Design Sub-Commiftee will review the revised plaque design in a breakfast meeting next week. Mr. Frick moved to approve the eighteen square inch sign plaque as presented without the enforcement language. Mr. Short seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (6-0) The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Submitted by Nicole Sneider, Secretary.