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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 09/16/2024APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 6:00 P.M. 17155 Terry Pine Drive 7:00 P.M. Meeting Heritage Rooms, City Hall HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Schumacher (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Robert Bowes; Andy Ludowese; Catherine Lau COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Nico Allen, Kadie Crider, Jacob Holje, Hardhik Kommalapati, Amuktha Pothamsetti, Annika Rice I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Schumacher called the meeting to order at 6:00 for the tour and the commission reconvened at 7:11 p.m. Devyn Stanton joined the meeting. Absent were Commissioner Fisher and student Kommalapati. II. TOUR HOME AT 17155 TERRY PINE DRIVE The home is owned by Marcia Kolb and Johnny Severson. It was built circa 1870. Marcia and Johnny have been renovating the house for years and trying to maintain the historic elements of the home and the property. The group toured the home, 1930’s cottage and their lakefront property. III. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Holje read the land acknowledgement statement. IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Lau to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6- 0. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 16, 2024 Page 2 MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the minutes of the August 19, 2024 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. VI. NEW BUSINESS STUDENT INTRODUCTIONS Schumacher welcomed the new student representatives and had them introduce themselves. The commission members also introduced themselves. Schumacher explained the commission’s purview and the annual student project. He invited them to the annual banquet. Novak-Krebs offered to get the date of the annual banquet to all the commission members once it was scheduled. OLD BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON OLD DEPOT SITE CLEAN-UP (THORP) Novak-Krebs displayed maps and photographs of the old depot site and the clearing. Thorp summarized the commission’s past work on the local designation of the site for the student representatives. He stated he would schedule another Saturday for clearing buckthorn; some of the area had been cleared but there was more work to be done. Novak-Krebs summarized the nomination process for local designation. The nomination was prepared and she offered to send copies and photographs to the student representatives. Thorp pointed out on the slide the condition of the site: unfortunately some artifacts had been destroyed, but some foundation stones had been found. He explained the workings of the pump house. Discussion followed on the area surrounding the site, including apartments, Miller Park and the Smith Coffee House. Thorp stated some trees had been cleared at the site, which would not be replanted. Novak-Krebs pointed out to the student representatives how the new pump house deliberately resembled the old Depot. Discussion followed on the amount of brush cleared on September 7. B. DISCUSS CITYWIDE OPEN HOUSE – OCTOBER 5, 2024 (NOVAK- KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated the event would be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Schumacher suggested displaying maps again, and Thorp stated the museum would be open too. Novak-Krebs explained the event to the student representatives and stated most of the events, including the HPC table, would be indoors, although the fire trucks would also be on display. The street signs and books would be sold again. She displayed the handout which included the QR code for the street sign order list and added there would be samples of both signs and books for potential buyers, who would have to order online. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 16, 2024 Page 3 DISCUSS HARVEST TO HALLOWEEN – OCTOBER 12, 2024 (NOVAK- KREBS) Novak-Krebs explained the annual event at the Riley Jacques Barn for the student representatives. The event would take place this year from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Schumacher explained the relatively new tours of the Dorenkemper House being offered and invited the student representatives to come and volunteer. Maxwell stated this was one of the few houses in Eden Prairie made out of logs. VII. OLD BUSINESS VIII. REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES A. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OUTREACH Thorp stated the Request for Proposals had been revised. Novak-Krebs stated Paul Maravelas had given her additional edits she had yet to incorporate. Bowes explained the project to the student representatives. Schumacher explained the difficulty in collaborating with and telling the story of a population whose land and culture had been settled. Thorp talked with Maravelas about involving Sheldon Wolfchild in order to intersperse indigenous stories into the book. B. NEW HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE DESIGNATIONS Bowes explained for the student representatives that True Friends rented Camp Edenwood, which provided programs for special needs students. Maxwell explained the history of the tuberculosis camp previously located on this site. The major project was the Birch Hall (the old dining hall) renovation and the study financed by the Eden Prairie Lions, which contributed $15,000.00. This camp was one of two left in the nation, the other being in Maine. John LeBlanc was now looking for 1.3 million dollars for the renovation of Birch Hall. Bowes stated the Holasek house was a separate project. Thorp added the actual project for that was still uncertain. Schumacher stated this house was originally on the site of the LifeTime Fitness center. Discussion followed on the relocation of this house. Bowes stated LeBlanc was therefore pursuing different grant proposals for the Birchwood Building and the Holasek house. Novak-Krebs added the construction drawings needed to be completed for the Birch Hall project to proceed, and LeBlanc was trying to get a quote for that. A grant could be pursued for this, too. Novak-Krebs was not quite sure where LeBlanc was in this process. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 16, 2024 Page 4 Discussion followed on the costs of previously completed projects at Camp Eden Wood. C. RENOVATION/MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT D. DOCUMENTATION/HISTORICAL RECORDINGS/OUTREACH IX. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF X. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thorp stated there was a City parade on September 28 for the school district involving the Historical Society, and a play at the Cummins Phipps Grill House for three nights, allowing 20 audience members a night. The Vintage Sale and Prop Shop would be held November 8 and 9. Santa was returning this year, and the Boy Scouts would be selling Christmas trees. XI. FYI ITEMS XII. NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Rooms, City Hall. XIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Bowes to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.