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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 01/26/2026Approved Minutes Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2026 City Center Heritage Rooms 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES Commission Members: Steve Schumacher (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Robert Bowes; Andy Ludowese; Catherine Lau, Prima Sisinni, Lisa Rude Student Members: Annika Rice, Fiona Rohde, Jaya Agrawal, Kadie Crider, Nico Allen, Saloni Siddavatam, Tatum Hesby City Staff: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison; Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Chair Schumacher called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission Member Fisher was absent. Student members Rohde, Agrawal, and Hesby were absent. II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgement Statement Bowes read the land acknowledgement statement. The commission held a moment of silence for the two recent deaths in Minneapolis. III. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Bowes moved, seconded by Maxwell, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 8-0. IV. Approval of Minutes A. Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held Monday January 26, 2026. MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Sisinni to approve the minutes of the December 15, 2025 meeting. Motion carried 8-0. V. New Business VI. Old Business A. Update on the presentation of the work plan to council HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 26, 2026 Page 2 Schumacher summarized his presentation to the City Council. Items mentioned were the HPC Awards, the Preservation Alliance Conference and the student video on the Smith Douglas More House played at the commissions banquet. The Council did not have many questions. Novak-Krebs mentioned the application for National Register for the Smith Douglas More House and the fresh approach to that, which the Council supported. Schumacher added the Council asked if there were any disadvantages to having it nationally designated, to which the answer was no. Novak-Krebs added SHPO would be involved in any changes to the structure after designation. Schumacher added he spoke a bit about the book project and the financing of that. Discussion followed on possibly including the history of Somalis in Eden Prairie at some point in the future. Schumacher stated the City Council appreciated the efforts of the Heritage Preservation Commission. B. Update on book project Novak-Krebs stated the research phase was complete and invoices were submitted. They were consistent with the proposal and the contract. The commission could not apply for the grant again until May, and the final grant application was due in July. In consultation with the consultants, she and they came up with a Phase 1.5 which consisted of meeting people and building relationships. Kathie Case would be involved in this. A proposal would be put together for this, and Novak-Krebs would continue the conversation regarding the specifics. The grant application for the manuscript (phase II) was an ask of around $30,000 . SHPO wished the commission to reapply. One of the concerns was the involvement of the indigenous community, for which Phase 1.5 represented a huge opportunity. Schumacher asked for and received confirmation it was best not to start Phase Two until the grant funding was in place. Maxwell asked what Phase 1.5 would cost, and Novak-Krebs stated that we don’t know yet. C. Update on Birch Hall project Novak-Krebs stated she had a conversation with LeBlanc and McDonald & Mack is working on the construction drawings. Additional archeological work was needed, as they were not able to get under the building; only test pits had been dug around the structure. The building would be raised, the archeological work would be completed, and then the building would be set upon foundation and slab for the HVAC in a crawl space. This would involve temporarily detaching the HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 26, 2026 Page 3 fireplace. This Could possibly begin in the fall of 2026 if not earlier LeBlanc would submit a COA as soon as the construction as soon as the construction drawings are completed. Discussion followed on LeBlanc’s successful funding efforts. Schumacher stated the Holasek House had also been mentioned. Sisinni asked if the City had applied for grants. Novak-Krebs replied the timing is not right for grant applications: the deadline was in January. Also, since LeBlanc was able to raise funds himself it may not be necessary, options will be kept in mind. However, the City would probably apply for a grant for the archeological work. If this was submitted in April for the May deadline, it would give them a year from June to complete the work. Novak-Krebs had no construction updates on the Dorenkemper House. VII. Reports of Subcommittees A. Native American Outreach B. New Heritage Preservation Site Designation C. Renovation/Maintenance/Development D. Documentation/Historical Recordings/Outreach VIII. Reports of Commission and Staff Schumacher asked for an update on the Dorenkemper House. Novak-Krebs stated she had no information. However, she had spoken to the woman who would own the bookstore, who had been talking to Kathie Case and wished to speak to Ginny Dorenkemper about how best to honor the history of the home with the bookstore. Maxwell suggested eventually having a commission meeting in the bookstore. The commission members agreed with this. Novak-Krebs stated the 360-degree digital record, which could become a virtual tour, had been completed by the IT Department. Lau was asked by the students to speak for them. Work was progressing well, and they had a contractor and felt confident in their progress. IX. Reports of Students X. Reports of Historical Society A. Report of Historical Society Members HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 26, 2026 Page 4 Bowes stated the Annual Meeting would be held Thursday, April 16 at Camp Eden Wood. Justice Anderson would give a speech. Pizza would be ordered and the Lion’s Club would offer beer and wine. Thorp stated the Vintage Sale would be held April 3 and 4.Santa was a success, and the Boy Scouts sold all the trees. The Prop Shop raised $3,000.00, but there was a question of whether or not they would come back in 2026. XI. FYI Items XII. Next Meeting The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Rooms, City Hall. XIII. Adjournment MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Sisinni to adjourn. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.