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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 03/15/2004 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2004 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Lori Peterson-Benike, Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Deborah Barkley,Jennie Brown, Molly Gilbertson, Elise Kist, Kati Simons COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist; Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: John Buteyn, Mackenzie Epping, Thomas Grant I. ROLL CALL Peterson-Benike called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Student Representative Grant was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Barkley seconded, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —February 10, 2004 Adams made a correction on page 3, Item C. under Old Business, by removing the sentence "He recently met with the Historical Society." This sentence was replaced with "He recently came to review Historical Society records at the City Center." MOTION: Gilbertson moved, seconded by Kist, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on February 10, 2004 as published and amended. Motion carried 7-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Presentation of Donation to the HPC from McLeod Brennaman Peterson-Benike introduced McLeod Brennaman, who completed an Eagle Scout project at the J. R. Cummins Homestead. He received a monetary award from the Eden Prairie Foundation, which he could donate to any charity. Brennaman presented the $100 check to the HPC to be used for a preservation project. Brennaman's father, who is also the Scout Master, thanked Gertz and the Parks Department for their guidance in carrying out the project. Brennaman became an Eagle Scout on March 12. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 15, 2004 Page 2 B. Board and Commissions New Member Orientation—March 25, 2004 Gertz reported the Council has appointed Bob Amell to the HPC, who will attend orientation on March 25 and be welcomed at the April meeting of the HPC. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Memorandum of Agreement for Runway Extension at Flying Cloud Airport Gertz received a fully executed agreement from the FAA for the runway extension. Peterson-Benike signed it on behalf of the HPC. Gertz said the MAC would be selecting a mitigation plan, in consultation with the FAA and SHPO, prior to demolition of the hangars. The MAC has 12 months to implement the plan following the demolition, according to the agreement. B. CLG Grant Draft Historic Cemetery Management in Eden Prairie Gertz said he had not had the opportunity to review the draft with Robert Vogel. The HPC discussed the meaning of Item 6 under Preservation Objectives. "Careful consideration will be given to acquisition of the Eden Prairie Cemetery by the city." Gertz said he believed it means that at some point in time the cemetery would be turned over to Eden Prairie, but he would clarify the meaning with Vogel. The fifth item under Management Policies for City-Owned Cemeteries was discussed. It states "The Eden Prairie Cemetery shall be closed to burials." Gertz said that means once the historic part of the cemetery is delineated, it should be closed to burials. Gertz said he would have Vogel clarify that item also. Peterson-Benike said this document is a good model for historic preservation of cemeteries. It is important to have a plan for the future in a workable document. Gertz said he was pleased that guidelines for interpretation were included in it. Gertz will be reviewing the draft with Vogel prior to the next HPC meeting. Vogel said he wants to meet with the Commissioners at the cemetery this spring. C. Riley-Jacques Farm Update Gertz said Elaine Jacques died recently. He had the opportunity to talk with her just three weeks before her death and gave her an update on what the City is doing to restore the barn. March 15 is the official starting date for construction on the barn. The company is ahead of schedule. In the past week the old windows have been replaced with new ones. The stage is in place. They have started to install plywood after removing old wood that needed to be replaced. The upper loft has been enclosed. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 15, 2004 Page 3 This project is expected to be finished by September. There will be a kick-off event, probably on Sunbonnet Day. The barn will be dedicated, and Dan Herbst will be acknowledged for donating much of the work that has been done on the Dorenkemper House. Gertz has compiled a list of tasks that still need to be done at the Dorenkemper House. The sheetrock is being hung now, with blueboard being used in the kitchen, and it will be coated with plaster. The wood stove in the kitchen will be functional. Three electrical outlets have been installed out of sight; in the kitchen pantry, in a bedroom closet, and above the door in the attic area. Gertz talked to Herbst about putting up gutters to demonstrate to visitors the historic way rainwater was collected in a cistern. Most of the hardware has been installed. The back door will be the handicapped-accessible entrance after a ramp is built outside the door. Gertz said Ginny Dorenkemper came to look at the house recently. She approved of the work that is being done. Gertz has asked her for photographs and received one taken of the kitchen in 1949, which was very helpful. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Joint Meeting with the Eden Prairie Historical Society and Council Representatives in April Peterson-Benike stressed the importance of setting a goal for the joint meeting. She said the agenda could be used to reach that goal. The Historical Society and Council will receive copies of the agenda prior to the meeting. Reuse options for the Cummins-Grill House will be discussed, and the Commissioners agreed the meeting should be held there. Peterson-Benike pointed out that the HPC is responsible for making recommendations on the best use of the property. The Historical Society will be asked to present a report from their task force, which has been meeting with City staff in recent months regarding use of the house. The Council is being asked to attend in order to find out if they have any requirements for reuse of the property. With regard to the LAWCON restrictions, Gertz said he is not looking for ways to get around them. There is a lot that can be done within its framework, but the impact on the house should be a primary consideration. Peterson-Benike said if it comes down to preservation of the building, then that would be a deciding factor, because the HPC has to continue to care about the property over future years. Gertz referenced the four basic treatment approaches the HPC has discussed for historic houses in the past: reconstruction, preservation, restoration and rehabilitation. Reconstruction would not be appropriate for the Cummins-Grill House because it would result in the loss of the house's character. Preservation would not apply for this house. Restoration and rehabilitation do. Gertz said the restoration approach is currently being employed and should continue. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 15, 2004 Page 4 The Commissioners agreed a low-impact use of the house would be best. Gertz said Terry Picha is willing to establish a garden with different varieties of plants. Master gardeners could be brought in so that people can learn about growing them. Flower gardens would be an attraction that should bring people to the site. Uses for the interior of the house were discussed. It could be used as a classroom. Simons suggested that writing groups might find the location inspirational. Gertz said he has received calls from Lydia, the woman who serves tea in the East Indian style. She told Gertz she would be willing to put money into the house in order to use it as a tearoom. The Commissioners agreed that would be an acceptable way to use the house. It would generate traffic to the house, enhance and preserve the site, and allow the HPC to continue with restoration rather than rehabilitation of the house. By leasing space, it would also generate income for the City. Gilbertson said she has beautiful pictures of the peonies that were blooming at the time of the arts and antiques show last year. She suggested that they could be sold at the house to offset expenses. Brown wondered if the Historical Society might want to make and sell a calendar with pictures of the house and gardens. Adams said the Historical Society has note cards depicting two or three of the city's historic sites for sale in the museum. Gertz said if they decide to develop an exhibit to display at the house, it should be one that could be moved when there is an event requiring use of that space. Gertz said he would like to put up new signs near the road to advertise upcoming events. If the house were going to be used on a regular basis, as a tearoom for example, a handicapped-accessible bathroom would have to be added onto the building in order to be in compliance with the law. Gertz said a decision on air- conditioning the house would also have to be made. The Historical Society might require air-conditioning if they bring in valuable old artifacts. However, funds from the City have not been available to carry out all the plans for the house. B. Anderson School Update Gertz said he sent a questionnaire to Ralph Nesbitt, a former student at the Anderson School, primarily asking for information on the appearance of the school's interior. He was able to supply a few answers, and Gertz has been able to make educated guesses by looking at other schools of that era. Students at the Northwest Technical Institute (NTI) finished restoration drawings, and will be providing construction drawings that would guide a contractor in restoring the school to its original appearance. In the meantime, Gertz has been looking at the building more closely and has discovered some new information, which he is giving to NTI. One discovery was the location of an original wall for a cloakroom. Gertz also found toys in the building that he will give to the Historical Society. He removed samples of wallpaper and will try to find out if the walls were papered when the building was HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 15, 2004 Page 5 used as a school. It was purchased in 1924 for use as a summer home and converted to a year-around house between 1928 and 1930. Members of the Historical Society will be meeting with the architect, Bob Mac, on the site at Prairie View School where the school will be moved after it is restored. The purpose of the meeting is to find out what, if any, part he will have in restoring the school, or what to do if he is not involved in it. Brown said the School Board's Education Council asked her to report on what the HPC is doing and requested brochures or other written materials about the Anderson School, the Smith-Douglas-More House, the Cummins-Grill House and Riley-Jacques Barn. Adams said she had information about the Anderson School. Gertz said he would gather information about the other sites. VII. ADJOURNMENT Gertz thanked Chairperson Peterson-Benike for her work on the Heritage Preservation Commission. Peterson-Benike said she has enjoyed being a part of the HPC, and hoped to be back some day. Vice Chairperson Adams will take over as Chairperson. MOTION: Kist moved, seconded by Brown, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. Peterson-Benike adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.