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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 01/12/2000LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting January 12, 2000 Minutes 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 Part 2 of the State Tax Credit for 514 East Elizabeth and 808 West Mountain Avenue, under the consent agenda. The LPC supported the plan to re -locate the Franz Smith Cabin to the Fort Collins Museum courtyard. The LPC determined that the house and outbuildings at 1125 South Shields are eligible for Local Landmark designation. The LPC reviewed the 2000 Work Program. The LPC supported the annexation and transfer of the Strauss and Strang cabins from the County to the City. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mr. Hogestad called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m., at 281 North College Avenue. Commission members Angela Milewski, Angie Aguilera, Agnes Dix, Bud Frick, Janet Ore, and Rande Pouppirt were present. Joe Frank, Carol Tunner, and Karen McWilliams represented staff. GUESTS: Charles Hagemeister, Chairperson of the Advisory Council for the Fort Collins Museum; Cheryl Donaldson, Curator of Collections and Jill Stillwell, Director, of the Fort Collins Museum; Alden V. and Janice Hill, owners, 1125 South Shields; Margie Marshall, owner, 514 East Elizabeth, Anna B. Miller House. AGENDA REVIEW: Ms. Tunner corrected the meeting agenda to reflect that the meeting would end at 7:15, rather than 8:15. STAFF REPORTS: Ms. Tunner recommended the LPC attend Saving Places 2000, Preservation Partnerships for a New Century, a conference in Denver, February 4 and 5. She also reported that the City was applying for a TEA-21 grant for enhancement of the old streetcar barn, at Cherry and Howes. The application included updating the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, meeting the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, work on the interior of the original railway office, and replacing some of the temporary roof truss support system. Mr. Hogestad signed a letter of support for the grant application. The barn is a local historic landmark. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Ms. Milewski attended the last DDA (Downtown Development Authority) meeting and reported that the Arts Alive Presentation, in empty storefronts in Old Town, will not be implemented. In addition, the owner of the First Baptist Church requested an extension to get the restoration work completed for their grant. Ms. Dix passed around a November 1999 letter to the Colorado State Historical Society, from Jeremy Gates, one of the arsonists who burned down the Strauss Cabin. Landmark Preservation Commission January 12, 2000 Regular Meeting Mirisres Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The October 8, 1999 and October 27, 1999 LPC meeting minutes were accepted as submitted. CONSENT AGENDA: 514 East Elizabeth, Anna B. Miller House — Part 2 State Tax Credit for Interior Renovation/Storm Windows/Door (Margie Marshall) 808 West Mountain Avenue, Clippinger House — Part 2 State Tax Credit for Storm Windows and Screen Door Repair (Neva Lawton) Ms. Aguilera moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Ms. Dix seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (7-0) DISCUSSION ITEMS: Ms. Stillwell explained that the Smith Cabin has already been moved from its original location, where the Clarendon Hills sub -division now exists to the "Forks" on Highway 287. The museum is interested in moving the cabin to a new location in the museum courtyard. They also plan to create a new entrance to the museum through the south courtyard, which will meet ADA requirements and create a wider entryway for people with strollers. Mr. Frick asked if there would be room in the courtyard for other structures in the future. Ms. Stillwell added that they would like to acquire other structures from different periods to add to the courtyard. Ms. Ore asked about security at the site. Ms. Stillwell reported that a major upgrade in their security system would occur, including sweeping camera and videotaping, an alarm, and additional flood lighting. Ms. Ore asked how the history and architecture of the cabin would be interpreted. Ms. Stillwell planned to have signage and conduct tours. Cheryl Donaldson, Curator of Collections for the Fort Collins Museum, added that they would document the restoration of the cabin and integrate that information in the interpretation. She added that they were working with Colorado State University as well. Ms. Dix asked if the landscaping around the cabins would portray the landscape of the period. Ms. Stillwell said that seniors in the CSU Landscape Architecture program were participating in the design. Ms. Tunner recommended that they also plan for public space, to hold events. Ms. Dix added that the public address system needed to be added. Ms. Stillwell said that the same fencing design would be used around the courtyard. Ms. Tunner asked if the LPC was supportive of moving the cabin and redesigning the courtyard, and they were. Five Minute Break Landmark Preservation Comm • January 12, 2000 Regular Meeti Minutes Page 3 1125 South Shields — Determination of Eligibility Ms. McWilliams reported that staff recommended that the property at 1125 South Shields be determined as eligible for Local Landmark designation. The house is an excellent example of Craftsman Style architecture and has an historic association with a prominent lawyer in Fort Collins, Alden Hill, Sr. The house was built in 1920. Few items have been changed, including the garage doors that now overhang. She added that there is a barn on the property and it is intact with all of the stalls and partitions. There is a workshop with an old chicken coop, a machine shed, and another chicken house. She also pointed out the Craftsmen Style entry gate and details on the clothes line poles. Ms. McWilliams reported that CSU students surveyed the property in 1983. The house is believed to be a Sears Roebuck Kit House, in the Hawthorne design. Alden V. Hill, property owner, spoke to the Commission about the history of the property. He provided a Rocky Mountain News article featuring Bob Bland, a blind farmer who had once lived there. He explained that he is currently allowing some people to use the house for office and living space. He talked about selling part of the lot. Mr. Hill had concerns about the house being rented and becoming run down. He explained some other details about the house and property. Two windows may have originally existed on the south elevation of the house. The concrete site on the property was originally a floor for an old metal granary from West Mountain Avenue that Mr. Hill's father had been interested in installing. The first well was dug 300 feet west of the rear door and the second well was located 50 feet west of the third chicken house. Mr. Hill discussed the zoning and plans for the area around the property. He was interested in preserving the house and some outbuildings on one portion of the property, and selling the remaining land to a developer who would likely build multi -family units, in a similar style to the house, on the remainder of the property. Mr. Hogestad asked if there was any public input, and there was none. Ms. Ore moved that the property, including the house and all of the out buildings at 1125 South Shields, is are eligible for Local Landmark designation. Mr. Frick seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (7-0) Ms. Tunner reviewed the 2000 LPC Work Program. She pointed out some changes to their work plan. Incentive A plans to continue the Local Landmark Rehabilitation Grant Program and research its conversion to a low or no interest loan program. Regulation A plans to revise Chapter 14 of the City Code (Landmark Preservation) pertaining to the demolition delay ordinance. Ms. Tunner added that staff would continue to pursue grants from a variety of sources to fund historic preservation projects. Videos and attending conferences will provide continued training for members of the LPC. Ms. Ore asked if they planned to complete a survey of the Alta Vista and Buckingham neighborhoods. Mr. Frank suggested that they pursue a grant for that project. The LPC expressed their support for the 2000 Work Plan. Landmark Preservation Commission January 12, 2000 Regular Meeting WNutes Page 4 OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Tunner requested a letter of support from the Commission for the Strauss and Strang properties to be annexed into the City and transferred from the County to the City. She added that they would like to seek Local Landmark designation of the properties. Ms. Ore asked whether the reconstructed Strauss cabin would be considered eligible as a Local Landmark. It was noted that the site had historic associations and the foundation exists. Mr. Hogestad recommended that they wait until when the LPC receives a formal presentation to further discuss this issue. He requested that the letter not include determination of eligibility for local designation. OTHER BUSINESS Continued: Ms. McWilliams discussed the possibility of Local Landmark designation of the Cal Johnson-Rigden House, Barn, and outbuildings. The Commission discussed the impact on their eligibility of moving the structures to a different location. They agreed that they would like to review the proposed plan for their new location, including the historic buildings' configuration, before determining whether the buildings were still eligible. The meeting adjourned 7:28 p.m. Submitted by Nicole Kaplan, Secretary