Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 06/26/2002LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting June 26, 2002 Minutes Council Liaison: Eric Hamrick (226-4824) Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chairperson: Per Hogestad (416-7285) Summary: The LPC moved to recommend approval of landmark designation for the 1924 American-LaFrance pumping fire; favorably heard a conceptual review of play structures in the Old Town Plaza; approved the final door and window details for the First Baptist Church at 328 Remington; and approved the conceptual and final review of the fagade and roof rehabilitation at 226 Pine Street, the historic Asmus Sign shop. The LPC also moved to approve interior mounted air conditioning units for the Northern Hotel. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Per Hogestad called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m., at 281 N. College Avenue. Commission members Angie Aguilera, Agnes Dix, Bud Frick, Per Hogestad and Myrne Watrous were present. Janet Ore and Carole Stansfield were absent. Carol Tunner and Karen McWilliams represented staff. GUESTS: Lee and Ann Swanson, owners of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Shop, # 1 Old Town Square, suite 104; Ed Yonker, former Fire Chief, and John Mulligan, current Fire Chief, for the fire engine designation; Mark Thorburn, University Designers and Builders, for 328 Remington, First Baptist Church and 226 Pine Street, historic Asmus Sign shop; Gina Roe, Executive Director of Funding Partners for Housing Solutions, for Northern Hotel. AGENDA REVIEW: Additions to Agenda -- two items included under Current Review; one for 226 Pine and another for Northern Hotel air conditioners. STAFF REPORTS: Ms. Tunner had four items to report: 1) Rocky Mt. Chocolate Factory is moving into the Northern Hotel, into the space to the south of Starbucks. There will be an exhaust hood down into the basement, over to Walnut St. and then through a concrete foundation wall, exiting in the stairwell. The 9-inch exhaust hood will go under the grate in the stairwell. Approvals for this will be managed administratively. Mr. Hogestad urged Ms. Tunner to be careful of the positioning of the vent, to make sure it doesn't damage any historic fabric. 2) The City is seeking applicants for an advisory committee for the City Plan Update project. 3) The owners of 321 E. Garfield would like to remove a small garden shed and put in a 24x14 ToughShed garage. Staff believes only the house itself was intended to be designated. Landmark Preservation Commission • • June 26, 2002 Meeting Minutes Page 2 4) The new owners of 700 Remington now have a hair salon there. They thought they didn't need a handicapped bathroom and ramp, since it was a historic building. They have learned that they do need handicapped access to the building. They will see if they can provide ADA service in the rear barn. Ms. McWilliams passed around a letter from the City Manager and Historic Fort Collins Development Corporation regarding the Harmony Gas Station. The costs of relocating and fixing up the store will be prohibitive, and will not be available from the City. The store will be put up for bid on July 9. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Mr. Frick said that he and Dick Beardmore have recently gone to view the Strang cabin in order to determine the extent of the fire damage and what to recommend for this property. The cabin will require reconstruction but there is enough evidence to determine that it can be reconstructed. The outbuildings include loafing sheds, grainbins, garage, and a board and batten shed to the south. Mr. Beardmore suggested that they apply for a Historic Structural Assessment grant and do a feasibility study that can be used for pricing. He suggests that the City should try to salvage everything that is there, including the wattle and daub additions that wrap around to the north, and the log structure. The logs can possibly be scraped and restored. DESIGNATION: Local Landmark Designation of the Poudre Fire Authority's 1924 American-LaFrance Pumping Fire Engine. (Ed Yonker, and John Mulligan.) This engine was purchased by the City of Ft. Collins in 1924 and was the fire department's first pumping fire. engine. Modern fire equipment was necessary to support Ft. Collins, which had experienced tremendous residential and commercial growth in the early 201h century. In response to a recommendation by the Fire Insurance Underwriters to purchase an engine with a pump, the City ordered the 1924 American-LaFrance Pumping Engine. A combination pumping fire engine, chemical engine and hose truck, the American-LaFrance Engine included the latest in quality technology for heavy duty fire engines and was built to withstand years of service. This pump engine succeeded the previous equipment, which consisted of a 1915 motor vehicle hose wagon equipped with a forty gallon chemical tank, and a reserve horse- drawn hose wagon for which no horses were readily available. The engine, owned by the Poudre Valley Fire Authority, meets the City of Ft. Collins landmark criteria due to is association with a significant pattern or trend, namely, the development of the Ft. Collins Fire Department. Additionally, it was the City's first pumping fire engine and symbolizes the transition of the Fire Department from a limited fire brigade to an established municipal fire department. This truck is also an important example of automotive and fire apparatus technology of the 201h century. The American-LaFrance Pumping fire engine has served the City of Ft. Collins for seventy-eight years and lives in the memories of many citizens. Landmark Preservation Commission • June 26, 2002 Meeting Minutes Page 3 Mr. Yonker and Mr. Mulligan described the fire engine and agreed that we are fortunate to have a piece of the original fire equipment, and it is well worth the time and effort needed to restore it and keep it for the future of Ft. Collins. It represented a revolution of technology at the time, with its 750 gal/min pump. Prior to that the firefighters would stretch a hose and hope that there was enough water pressure to get water out of the end of the hose. Current fire engines may have 1000 gal/minute, so there has not been that much of a change since then. Ms. Dix asked what a chemical engine and chemical hose are. She was told that before getting this fire engine, they had a 40-gallon tank filled with soda water. When they got to the fire, they would dump in the soda to increase the pressure, and then they'd have 40 gallons of water with which to fight the fire. Ms. Watrous asked about the difference between this truck and the other truck that has been preserved. The other truck, the Diamond T, is a ladder truck, and has been designated already. The other truck is owned by the museum, and is reviewed under museum standards. This truck is owned by the fire department and all issues regarding restoration of this fire engine will come before the LPC. This one is in much better shape that the Diamond T was. It runs and works. It is currently white, but will be taken back to the original red color. Public input: Mr. Steiner, Interim Director of the DDA, said that this is a great idea, and the fire engine should be displayed downtown. Motion: Ms. Dix moved that the LPC accept for landmark designation the 1924 American-LaFrance Fire Engine. Seconded by Ms. Watrous and approved unanimously, 5-0. CURRENT REVIEW: 1) 328 Remington, First Baptist Church, Final details for the rehabilitation of the Church Doors. (Mark Thorburn) On March 27, the LPC gave approval to rehabilitate the exterior of the 1903-4 church building at 328 Remington Street. Undecided items included the repair or replacement of the doors, and material to be used to re -roof the towers. Further information has become available on the doors. After removing one of the southwest corner doors to see how they were constructed and to ascertain their condition, the contractor provided a letter to the LPC explaining that he proposes to replace the doors rather than repair them. Also, because the stained glass windows were in worse shape than anticipated, the decision has been made to not work on the stained glass transoms over the doors, which are in better shape. A letter from Mark Thorbum, University Designers and Builders, was read which described the difficulties they faced with the existing historic fabric, and outlined their proposed solutions. Landmark Preservation Commission • June 26, 2002 Meeting Minutes Page 3 • Mr. Yonker and Mr. Mulligan described the fire engine and agreed that we are fortunate to have a piece of the original fire equipment, and it is well worth the time and effort needed to restore it and keep it for the future of Ft. Collins. It represented a revolution of technology at the time, with its 750 gal/min pump. Prior to that the firefighters would stretch a hose and hope that there was enough water pressure to get water out of the end of the hose. Current fire engines may have 1000 gal/minute, so there has not been that much of a change since then. Ms. Dix asked what a chemical engine and chemical hose are. She was told that before getting this fire engine, they had a 40-gallon tank filled with soda water. When they got to the fire, they would dump in the soda to increase the pressure, and then they'd have 40 gallons of water with which to fight the fire. Ms. Watrous asked about the difference between this truck and the other truck that has been preserved. The other truck, the Diamond T, is a laddar truck, and has been designated already. The other truck is owned by the museum, and is reviewed under museum standards. This truck is owned by the fire department and all issues regarding restoration of this fire engine will come before the LPC. This one is in much better shape that the Diamond T was. It runs and works. It is currently white, but will be taken back to the original red color. Public input: Mr. Steiner, Interim Director of the DDA, said that this is a great idea, and the fire engine should be displayed downtown. Motion: Ms. Dix moved that the LPC accept for landmark designation th American-LaFrance Fire Engine. Seconded by Ms. Watrous and approved unanimously, 5-0. CURRENT REVIEW: 1) 328 Remington, First Baptist Church, Final details for the rehabilitation of the Church Doors. (Mark Thorbum) On March 27, the LPC gave approval to rehabilitate the exterior of the 1903-4 church building at 328 Remington Street. Undecided items included the repair or replacement of the doors, and material to be used to re -roof the towers. Further information has become available on the doors. After removing one of the southwest corner doors to see how they were constructed and to ascertain their condition, the contractor provided a letter to the LPC explaining that he proposes to replace the doors rather than repair them. Also, because the stained glass windows were in worse shape than anticipated, the decision has been made to not work on the stained glass transoms over the doors, which are in better shape. A letter from Mark Thorburn, University Designers and Builders, was read which described the difficulties they faced with the existing historic fabric, and outlined their proposed solutions. Landmark Preservation Commission • • June 26, 2002 Meeting Minutes Page 4 A picture was handed around showing two sets of double doors and some single doors. The single door shown was probably the original door. The door construction does not allow for any strength at the corners. They are made with exterior skins attached to the interior of the doors. The church would like to refinish the SW comer doors with varnish. There are presently knobs on both of the doors that are not functional. They plan to clean them all up and put a panic bar on the active leaf of each of the pairs of doors. The round bar, bronze in color, has a pivot on one side and the strike device on the other. The astragal is on the inside of the inactive leaf. The exterior skins of the four entry doors will be replaced with new CVG and mixed grain fir. They can pull the interior skin nails out and salvage the portion that is long enough, and glue it up so they have an 1 3/4 inches, and then will insert the reproduction panel during the assembly process. When they are done they will look just like the original doors but will work better. There was a lot more broken glass than was anticipated. Many pieces were broken along the caming and the breaks were not visible until the restoration was in progress. Regarding the art glass restoration, all needed reproduction glass was taken from the east window and placed in the west window on site. They found that there isn't one tracery profile that is the same, but they are all a little bit different. The work on the west window is finished and the window is beautiful. The east window is about 99% complete. They are still missing one color of reproduction glass. The East window is about 60% original glass. The rose window wood has been repaired and they are waiting for the rest of the colors. They will perhaps be done by the middle of July. All the windows have been painted and cleaned. Motion: Ms. Aguilera moved that the LPC approve the final details for the church doors at 328 Remington, the First Baptist Church. Seconded by Ms. Dix, and approved unanimously, 4-0. (Mr. Hogestad had to meet with staff during this discussion, and did not participate in the decision.) 2) Old Town Plaza, Conceptual Review of Children's Playground. (Lee and Ann Swanson, owner of Ben and Jerry's, and Chip Steiner, Interim Director of the DDA) Mr. Hogestad returned to the meeting. The DDA would like to install a children's playground in the center of the Old Town Plaza. They feel that they would like to provide more amenities to attract families and family activities. It would be located east of Sangria Rose (Building 23), and replace a planter that contains a Peace Pole and a dead tree. The DDA authorized the expenditure of $1500 for design work, but they don't want to spend the money without some direction from the LPC. Mr. Swanson has been working on this project for a year and a half. He does not think of the proposed area as a playground, which he considers to belong in a schoolyard. This is actually an interactive sculpture, like some of the sculptures that are now in the Landmark Preservation Commission • • June 26, 2002 Meeting Minutes Page 5 downtown area, but there will be no signs on it that say "keep off." All the merchants in eyeshot have pledged to donate some money to the project. Some pictures were handed out of other interactive sculptures, located in Boulder. The Ft. Collins sculptures would be on a rubber base, and in the form of animals. They are made of concrete reinforced fiberglass with a polymer coating. These can be repaired much more easily than bronze sculptures. The designer is well versed with all safety needs regarding this project. At this point, the business owners only need to send a check to the artist, who will then design the sculptures and send a rendering of the design to the business owners. There will be either two or three structures depending on size. There must be enough space for an ambulance to get between Sangria Rose and the planter. The benches will stay, the tree is dead, and the peace pole can be moved. There is electricity going to that area, and those lines will stay. The bright light that is currently located at the area will illuminate the playground. If, in two or three years, it is apparent that there are problems with the design, the play area can be removed and the brick planter replaced. If the idea is approved, a model will be brought back before the LPC for approval. Mr. Frick expressed his concern that the structures be low enough that they not impact the view of the historic buildings. He was told that the structures would probably be no more than 40 inches tall. Ms. Watrous said she is still wondering about the Disneyfication of Old Town, and is a bit concerned about their appearance. Mr. Hogestad said that these are fanciful and fun, and will probably help downtown. He said that in Boulder they do not detract from the streetscape. Ms. Dix agreed that these show a great deal of promise and that she would like to encourage a family environment downtown. Public input: Connie Merrill, citizen, asked what would become of the Peace Pole. She was informed that it will be relocated to somewhere else in downtown Ft. Collins. 3) 226 Pine Street, Historic Asmus Sign Shop — Conceptual/Final Review of Fagade Rehabilitation using the 2002 Loan Program. (Mike Asmus, co- owner of Asmus Sign Building and Mark Thorburn, contractor, University Designers and Builders) This 1909 building was used until 1963, primarily for auto related uses. In 1963, Harold Asmus bought it for his sign shop. He used the overhead door to bring in trucks for sign painting and to haul large signs in and out. Mr. Asmus died a few years ago and his family received an Historic Structure Assessment Grant from the State Historical Fund to delineate what is needed to be done to the building. A prospective, tenant wants to rent the building, and the owners need to proceed with the rehabilitation of the fagade. The work proposed includes stripping paint off the overhead door so that they can make epoxy repairs to the broken and rotted areas, like the bottom rail. The plywood flat insert panels are broken and the quarter round holding them is rotted in places. They propose to replace the lower row of glass with wire glass. Then the door will be painted Landmark Preservation Commission • • June 26, 2002 Meeting Minutes Page 6 back as it is now. A new single -ply membrane roof will be installed along with accompanying interior roof structural stabilization. The current roof is bowed, and needs to be stabilized. These items are all being partially funded by the City's 2002 No - Interest Loan Program. This work is mostly repair with the exception of the introduction of a new material, wire glass. The roof is not visible from the public right-of-way, and not normally under LPC purview, but has come before the LPC because the work will be partially funded by the City's financial incentive funds. Ms. Dix asked why they are replacing just one row of windows with wire glass. Mr. Thorburn said that this is due to the cost of wire glass, and because only the glass at eye level is is getting damaged. The higher glass is not as vulnerable to vandalism. The applicant added that the garage door will remain a working door, even though the tenants will not be using it as a garage. Motion: Mr. Frick moved that the LPC approve the Conceptual and Final Review of the fagade and roof rehabilitation at 226 Pine Street, the historic Asmus Sign Shop. Seconded by Ms. Aguilera and approved unanimously, 5-0. DISCUSSION ITEM: Periodic Review Ms. Tunner reminded the LPC members that the City Council will be meeting to discuss the LPC's Periodic Review on July 161". The LPC needed to look again at questionnaire items No. 2 and No. 7, which have been reworded. The City of Ft. Collins anticipates a loss of revenue this year, based on sales tax revenues and so on. Still, it is proper to ask for what the LPC needs, in anticipation of when things turn around. Mr. Hogestad asked how much will it take in additional funds to do what the LPC feels would more benefit the city. This includes how much should be available for no -interest loans, and what the cap should be. Mr. Frick said that the cap should be doubled, and for the Design Assistance Program, the amounts should be at least doubled, if not tripled. Ms. Tunner said that currently the LPC does not use the whole $10,000. Mr. Frick said that the current cap of $900 per year per property might be better if it were raised. If the amounts were higher, more people would use the service. The LPC still felt that more staff is key. Ms. Tunner said that there is currently a half- time intern and two 80% staff. The commissioners felt that they need the current staff to go to full time, with more full-time staff to do education and publicity, designating districts, identifying districts, and more survey work. Landmark Preservation Commission • June 26, 2002 Meeting Minutes Page 7 Ms. Tunner will make further corrections and send the periodic review report to the City Clerk's Office. CURRENT REVIEW: 4) 172 North College Avenue, Northern Hotel — Conceptual/Final Review on Interior Mounted Air Conditioners. (Gina Roe, Executive Director for Funding Partners for Housing Solutions) The LPC was presented with a letter from Jeff Valloric on issues arising from summer heat buildup in the Northern Hotel. The Housing Authority and Funding Partners have found that the apartments need to be air-conditioned. The inside temperature has been measured at 100 degrees. Air conditioning units have been found that will be interior air conditioning units, with an exhaust hose that goes to the outside. There is a white, three-inch strip that fits in the window, and the window closes to it. From the outside they will be quite unobtrusive. These are not evaporative coolers, but are air conditioners. The water tank will be empted, and no plumbing will be required. The LPC asked if there is a plan in place to install permanent air conditioning. Ms. Roe said this will serve as the permanent solution. The 27 residents that are there currently have had these air conditioners ordered for them. Future tenants will have units ordered for them as they arrive. The units will cool 500-750 square feet, which will be either the bedroom area or the kitchen/living room area. The units are portable enough to be moved from room to room by the tenants. During the wintertime, the units will be removed and put into storage. Motion: Ms. Aguilera moved that the LPC approve, for Conceptual/Final review, the interior mounted air conditioners, with additional information on sealing at the separation of the window sash to be approved administratively. Seconded by Ms. Dix, and approved unanimously, 5-0. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Frick gave his Commission Member's Report, on the first meeting of the Downtown Strategic Plan. The consultants, all people from out of town, introduced themselves and shared their observations. There will be 15 meetings in the 18-month process. Mr. Frick is on the Citizen's Advisory Group. The consultants plan to try to understand the issues from the market side, i.e., what is a good market mix for downtown. They are concerned that there are a lot of bars, but little for families. There are also few public facilities. A hotel and conference center would be good for downtown. They also feel that, since a new library has been approved for the south end of town, this will detract further from the downtown library. They are also willing to hear public comment during the design stage. Meeting adjourned: 7:30 p.m. Minutes submitted by Conn .a Merrill, Recorder.