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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 09/10/2008LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting September 10, 2008 Minutes Council Liaison: David Roy (407-7393) Staff Liaison: Mr. Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chairperson: Ms. Earen Russell SUMMARY OF MEETING: The Commission approved the Conceptual and Final Design Review of roof repairs to the Fred W. Stover House’s Shared Barn, 509-515 Remington Street. The Commission discussed preservation options and treatments for Ghost Signs in Historic Old Town. The August 27, 2008 minutes were approved as submitted. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Commission called to order by Chairperson Russell with a quorum present at 4:34 p.m. at 281 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado. Earen Russell, Ian Shuff, John Albright, Allan Ballou, Sondra Carson, and Bud Frick were present. Karen McWilliams, Preservation Planner, Alyson McGee, Preservation Planner, and Josh Weinberg, Preservation Intern, represented City Staff. GUESTS: Carl Patton, Owner of 515 Remington Street, the Fred Stover House, Garage and Shared Barn. AGENDA REVIEW: No changes. STAFF REPORTS: Ms. McWilliams handed out the revised LPC members list and requested to let staff know if there are any changes. Ms. McWilliams passed out information received from the City Clerk regarding recruitment for boards and commissions, and encouraged Commission members to encourage others to serve. Mr. Albright’s term expires in 2008; he has reapplied to continue serving on the Commission. Ms. McWilliams reported that the owner of the Warren House property, at 619 South College Avenue, has withdrawn their application for historic designation. COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS: Ms. Carson attended the Downtown Development Association (DDA) open house for the alley improvements project. The presented drawings to obtain feedback from the community. Ms. Carson liked what they had presented overall and found the kinetic sculptures an interesting concept. She was concerned whether the sculpture would be attached to historic buildings. Ms. McWilliams reported that the DDA has been asked to give a presentation to LPC. LPC does have review authority over alleys in the Old Town Historic District. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  August 27, 2008 Minutes – Approved as submitted. PUBLIC INPUT: Chairperson Russell asked if anyone present wished to discuss any item not on the agenda. There was none. Landmark Preservation Commission September 10, 2008 Meeting - 2 – DESIGN REVIEW:  515 Remington Street, Fred Stover House, Garage and Shared Barn – Conceptual and Final Design Review of Barn Roof – Dr. Carl Patton, Owner BACKGROUND. Ms. McWilliams reported that the Fred W. Stover House, Garage and Shared Barn, at 515 Remington Street, were designated in 1997 for architecture significance and for the property’s association with Fred W. Stover, a Fort Collins judge and mayor. The barn, shared with 509 Remington Street, is a rare example of a once common historic resource. It is a wood framed structure, clad with white painted corrugated sheet metal. The roof is of unpainted corrugated sheet metal. Likely built circa 1890 for the William C. Stover Residence at 503 Remington, the barn became associated with 509 and 515 Remington when the Stover family built residences on these two lots in 1904. The barn roof is beginning to deteriorate, and is leaking in spots. Water damage has caused sections of the fascia to rot. The proposed work includes: tearing off the existing garage roofing, and installing new 28 gauge corrugated roofing, with rake metal and ridge (the current roofing is nailed, while the new roofing will be screwed down); removing and replacing deteriorated perlins with 1x8 #2 pine; remove gutter and replace/repair the deteriorated fascia; prime and paint all fascia material, and reinstall gutter as is. COMMISSION DISCUSSION: Dr. Patton said his tenant has been asking to have the roof on the barn fixed. Dr. Patton stated the roof is in incredibly good shape and it could be repaired, but given the price from Empire Carpentry, he is just as happy to put in 28 gauge corrugated roofing, like the original roof from 1890. Mr. Ballou asked what the spacing of the perlins was. Dr. Patton replied it is standard spacing, approx. 16”. Mr. Frick asked what the roof rafters spacing was. Dr. Patton answered they are the standard 2 x 4’s. They show no water damage and they look substantial and in incredible shape. Dr. Patton stated he is happy with using screws and felt they would be more secure than nails. Public input: None. Mr. Frick made a motion to approve the Fred Stover Shared Barn at 515 Remington Street, as proposed, finding that the work meets the criteria contained in Section 14-48 of the Municipal Code and the applicable Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Mr. Albright seconded the motion. The motion carried (6-0). DISCUSSION ITEMS:  Ghost Signs in Historic Old Town – Preservation Options and Treatments Ms. McGee gave a preliminary conceptual presentation of the plan to submit a State Historical Fund grant application for restoration of the Coca-Cola and Champion sparkplug ghost signs. The Coca-Cola sign was painted by local sign painter Don Brown, who painted a many of these advertising signs over the years. Ms. McGee will bring more specific plans and specifications to the LPC for formal review if the grant is awarded and after documentation has been conducted. The DDA is willing to provide funding towards the Landmark Preservation Commission September 10, 2008 Meeting - 3 – project. It is likely Coopersmith’s (tenant) and Ed Stoner (owner) will provide funding as well. Ms. McGee stated the proposal for treatment of this sign is not intended to set a precedent for the treatment of all “ghost signs” in the City, but is strictly intended for these two signs. These two signs, especially the Coca-Cola sign, can be documented fairly well, and wouldn’t be covering up any early signs which might be underneath. Ms. McGee reviewed the scope of work for the two signs which includes documenting the existing signs, preparing plans and specifications, surface preparation, repainting of the signs using appropriate paint product(s), and public outreach, including design and installation of interpretive signage. Ms. McGee stated she does not want to remove the existing paint entirely, only the paint which is failing, plus repair the masonry as needed since the mortar joints look very good. Ms. McGee offered suggestions for the restoration process including: 1. Outreach to the public through the Beet Street program; interaction between the restoration painter and the public; design and installation of interpretative signage related to the topic. Ms. McGee commented that the CU architecture planning department has students who may be willing to participate in documentation. Evergreen Paint Studio out of Chicago, with conservation expertise and staff based in Denver, might be approached to carry out the documentation, preparation, and repainting. Ms. McGee is looking into a treatment involving application of a varnish to allow for reversibility of the repainting treatment. Ms. McGee stated that an issue that might come up, if the signs are repainted, did the façade and painting of the sign occur at the same time. Ms. Russell asked if the Angell’s Delicatessen sign is also part of the proposal and Ms. McGee indicated it was. Mr. Albright wondered if thought had been given to stabilizing signs as they are now rather than full restoration. Ms. McGee replied that may be creating a condition that is not sustainable and that her research indicates that restoration (per the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties) is an appropriate treatment for this condition. Mr. Albright suggested that this presumes an important era in life of the building is in the past, and would argue that the way it is now might honor importance of the building in the present. Ms. McGee stated there is no consensus in the preservation community that addresses this issue of treatment but feels letting it deteriorate would be unfortunate. Mr. Albright expressed he feels it should be done as preservation. Mr. Ballou stated he thought he would like to take it back to its original state from1956. Ms. McGee reiterated that it would be important to make it clear to the public that the signs were repainted in 2009. Mr. Albright questioned if Coca-Cola still sells 12 oz bottles whether there were legal ramifications with Coca-Cola or Champion companies. Ms. McGee had been told the Coca- Cola distributor in Denver was very interested but hadn’t indicated they would contribute any funds to assist with the restoration. Ms. McGee reiterated that she was only seeking approval to submit the State Historical Fund grant application with the proposed conceptual scope of work at this time. She pointed out that if they application was not submitted on October 1, the City would have to wait another six months to submit as part of the State Historical Fund’s April 1 grant round. Landmark Preservation Commission September 10, 2008 Meeting - 4 – Mr. Albright indicated this proposal might be a problem but because it would result in a big, bright and shiny sign, that possibly didn’t meet historic preservation standards. Mr. Frick suggested a patina finish, but Ms. McGee responded that would be difficult to achieve. Mr. Shuff commented that there are both restoration and preservation have been found acceptable in other communities. Ms. McWilliams responded there is a third option: to preserve with varnish as is. Mr. Shuff felt that might be a maintenance issue. Ms. Russell responded the varnish would be shiny and tactile and expressed her concern about repainting in the cases where three or four different signs are layered over each other with earlier signs being visible. Ms. McWilliams reiterated the importance of treating signs differently, depending on the conditions etc. Ms. McWilliams remembers the Coca-Cola sign in the 1980’s as bright and vibrant and expressed concern about the changes in the last 20 years or so. Ms. McGee reported that Aspen repaired a sign with a State Historical Fund grant in the early 2000’s, Denver restored a sign on the Firefighter’s Association Building, and Pueblo restored a historic wall sign also. Ms. McGee summarized that it would need to be made very clear to the public that this is not how every sign will be treated and each sign will be reviewed on a case by case basis and she needs a letter of support from the Commission, signed by Ms. Russell, to submit with the grant application. Mr. Albright moved to approve submittal of the State Historical Fund grant application for restoration of the two signs per the proposed treatment option with the caveat to present more detailed plans to the LPC in the future. Mr. Frick seconded the motion. The motion carried (6-0). OTHER BUSINESS:  Colorado Preservation, Inc. has set the date for its upcoming conference for February, 4-6, 2009. Public input: None. Meeting is adjourned at 5:20 P.M. Respectfully submitted by Diana Sanger, Secretary