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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 04/19/2004 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,APRIL 19, 2004 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Bob Amell, 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 Chairperson Adams called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Commissioners Gilbertson and Kist were excused. Student Representatives Buteyn and Epping were absent. Adams reported that John Gertz was ill and unable to attend the meeting. Sandy Werts, Recreation Coordinator, Parks and Recreation Services; and Molly Koivumaki, Manager of Housing and Human Services, were also present. Scott Neal, City Manager, arrived later in the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Simons moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —March 15, 2004 MOTION: Barkley moved, seconded by Simons, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held March 15, 2004, as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Welcome New HPC Member Bob Amell Bob Amell was welcomed as a member of the Heritage Preservation Commission. V. OLD BUSINESS Joint Meeting with the Eden Prairie Historical Society to Plan for the Future Use of the J.R. Cummins House Gerry Beckmann, Kathie Case, Ron Case and Marie Wittenberg, from the Historical Society, were welcomed. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES April 19, 2004 Page 2 The Historical Society's task force looked into future use of the J.R. Cummins Homestead and prepared a report. Copies of the report were distributed. K. Case reported the task force has been meeting with Molly Koivumaki to discuss future use of the house and property. Because of the Historical Society's limitations in the area of funding and members, the Society does not have the capacity to take over its complete operation. However, the members want to make sure the City retains ownership and does what is best for the integrity of the house. It appears that some events, such as Sun Bonnet Day, are moving to the Riley Jacques Farm property, so there would be fewer such events at the Cummins house. They wondered what events could be held at the house that would attract people. The Historical Society would like to see it restored and many people using it. They would like to see some creative thinking about use of the house. K. Case said their first suggestion would be to take advantage of the property's proximity to the Flying Cloud Airport. She talked to Joe Smith, manager of Elliott Aviation. They have "fly-in" breakfasts on occasional weekends, where pilots of small aircraft fly in from other locations to have breakfast and take advantage of local activities that might be available. Breakfast could be served at the Cummins house, which probably would be catered. Joe Smith showed great interest in the idea. He would be willing to publicize it in the magazine that is sent to these pilots. The breakfast would probably be open to others, as well. Breakfast could be offered just on the weekend at first and, if that goes well, they could look at all week use. Case wondered if Scott Neal might want to investigate corporate sponsorship from the airport, which could use it as a tax write-off. Werts pointed out that caterers the City has used to serve meals at the Cummins house have had to prepare them outside, and that is a disadvantage in the winter months. Case said another suggestion would be leasing the house as a floral shop, antique shop, or similar business. That would require funds to adapt the house to those uses. The Historical Society wants to stay involved in the house. They want to ensure that the integrity of the interior and exterior is maintained. Beckmann said they would like to have different events at the house than those at the other historic sites and maximize what is different about this house. Simons said the house would be a great location for an arts center for the City. Another option would be for a commercial interest to take over the site. Simons said Lydia has expressed interest in using the house for serving tea in the East Indian style and has offered some monetary support in order to use it as a tearoom. That option appealed to members of the HPC when it was discussed at the last meeting. Simons noted that the Historical Society also listed the idea of a tea house in its task force report. Adams stated the HPC believes that whatever programming is done should be related to learning and leisure, history and horticulture. They want it to be accessible to the public and want the entire project to be visible to the community. The HPC wants to develop partnerships, whether leasing or corporate partners, or partners in terms of people using HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES April 19, 2004 Page 3 the property. The HPC would like to continue with restoration of the house, which would be preferable to rehabilitation. Community education and farming would be an important emphasis. Adams said the City owns three historic properties, with three different uses. The Smith house has a commercial use through Dunn Bros. Coffee, the Riley-Jacques Farm is going to be used for recreational and educational purposes, and the HPC would like to keep the Cummins house as an historic entity. Simons asked how important it is to the Historical Society that Sun Bonnet Day remain at the Cummins house. Case replied they would like to keep it there,but if the house should be used commercially, that would be a different matter. Werts said the City has based the idea of Sun Bonnet Day around the J.R. Cummins property. Case said the Historical Society has a sentimental attachment to having that event there. Wittenberg said it represents the City's heritage,but she didn't believe it matters where that is done. Adams said that Bob Lambert included in his memo to the City Council of December 2, 2003, that LAWCON funding requires that if the property is leased to a private vendor, the lessee must "assist in fulfilling outdoor recreational purposes of the park." The property was purchased as a park, so continued use must include some thought about outdoor recreation. Neal said half of the funds came from LAWCON. Adams reported that Terry Picha has told John Gertz he is interested in planting a heritage garden on the Cummins site, which would create an opportunity to have Master Gardening classes in the house to learn about the plantings. That would be a horticultural and educational use of the property. Case said the "fly-in breakfast" idea would celebrate the park. People could have breakfast and then walk around Staring Lake if they liked. Neal said he was familiar with the fly-in concept; it is common for pilots to fly across the country to have breakfast, see something new and then fly back. He believed they would be interested in coming to the Cummins House and looking at the property. Koivumaki said City staff would have to meet and talk about how this would work. Case said it seems as if a commercial kitchen could be added that would be less expensive than the one Dunn Bros. has at the Smith House. Adams said adding a kitchen would not be preserving the original house but might be a good idea. Simons pointed out it doesn't fit with the guidelines mentioned at the last HPC meeting. Regarding the fly-in breakfast, it was pointed out the pilots only come certain days of the year. Case said it could be held perhaps three times a year and could be catered. Then it would not be necessary to build a new kitchen. Neal suggested that the Eden Prairie Lions, for example, might be willing to provide the food. Adams asked Neal how imperative it is for the building and grounds to generate income in order to keep this property. Not knowing that fact has made the task of recommending a use of the property uncertain. Neal replied that he would like to hear their priorities for use of the property and hopefully be able to present them as joint priorities of both groups. After that he would get staff involved and afterward bring the HPC and Historical Society a response and report about how feasible their various ideas HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES April 19, 2004 Page 4 are, and whether the City can do something similar to what they are talking about and still be in compliance with LAWCON restrictions. He said it is not imperative that this property generates money. He didn't think that would be a fair expectation, and it would be premature to restrict themselves to ideas that have moneymaking arrangements attached to them. Simons said the HPC discussed handicap accessibility issues when they thought about a commercial use of the house. Werts stated that eventually the City would have to look at building an accessible bathroom outside the house. Case said, when that happens, the house could be open to weddings and other private events. Adams said if events were held on a regular basis, word about that would spread and would build a reputation for using the house. Werts said compliance with Health Department regulations is different from LAWCON restrictions, which are more about access. Beckmann said she believed it is time for David Lindahl and others at the City to look at these options. The Historical Society and the HPC are not authorities on access requirements, etc. She wondered what the average taxpayer might ask about the house. One of the questions she thought of was what has been the City's plan for the house over the years? Case replied that, as a former member of the HPC, she knows they have been trying to decide that for a long time. Werts said that when the house became park property, it was expected the house would be bulldozed. However, a plan was developed that it might be used for small programs. Beckmann expressed her concern that the house was not receiving standard maintenance. Plastering is needed to cover holes where squirrels and bats can get in, for example. She wondered when was the last time money was spent to maintain the house and what this year's budget is. She believed some people would say the City doesn't take care of the historic sites it already has, while it is adding more buildings at the Riley-Jacques Farm. Werts said she didn't have the information with her; however, her department has had to prepare for that set of questions many times and they have kept records on it because taxpayers have asked the same questions. Adams said the HPC has received a copy of the seven-year budget and a plan for maintaining the house. For economic reasons, the Council has shifted those funds around as time goes along. They are primarily trying to make sure historic properties don't deteriorate any further, so maintenance means not letting the house deteriorate. John Gertz keeps an eye on that. Adams said what the City staff and Council want from the HPC and Historical Society are recommendations and choices they can investigate. A consensus is needed on what those will be. The two groups looked over the options listed in the document from John Gertz, "Cummins-Phipps-Grill Property: Reuse Options and Issues." Particular interest was shown in Option 5. "The City solicits outside interests in shared use of the Cummins- Phipps-Grill house for program/event purposes to be coordinated with City and Historical Society uses. Restoration and maintenance costs are shared." HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES April 19, 2004 Page 5 The consensus was to add "and a vendor" after "outside interests." Also, because the Historical Society is a non-profit organization, the last sentence should be changed to read, "Restoration and maintenance costs are shared between the City and outside interests." Werts pointed out that Option 4 is the one that is being used now. Neal asked if there is a consensus on what the priorities of the two groups would be. Simons replied the HPC would recommend restoration of the whole building rather than rehabilitation or adaptive reuse. Adams added that a lot of time has been spent on restoring the building, so the HPC would prefer not to see it rehabilitated for another use. Case said if the City agrees that the house can stay the way it is and begin to be restored, and the HPC and Historical Society can come up with some creative uses without rehabilitation, she believed the groups could work together very well. Wittenberg said they want to keep their space at the City Center for the museum. They would like to move more things over to the Cummins house; however, they need to know items would not get moved around or stolen. Beckmann said if they knew things would be safe, they would get drapes made that would be historically correct for the house. But the Historical Society had decided that would not be worth the time and effort if the house were going to be used for something else in a couple of years. Adams said the HPC had discussed using the building as an educational classroom to teach the history and heritage of Eden Prairie to schoolchildren. A curriculum would be developed to accomplish that. They discussed this idea because of the proximity to Oak Point School, which is within walking distance. Beckmann said John Gertz talked as if that is the kind of thing being planned for the Riley-Jacques property. Simons replied the use of that property would primarily be recreational and only somewhat educational. Adams said the Dorenkemper house is being completed, and the Historical Society might be interested in eventually using that as its primary historic property as an alternative to the Cummins house. Beckmann said the Historical Society is very interested in the Dorenkemper house, and has purchased original furniture for it. Case said she believed the two groups are really in agreement that the goal is to preserve the Cummins house. Adams said the ideas about the fly-in breakfast and/or having a tea house, and/or heritage gardens will be given to the City staff to discuss. Simons said they want to offer programs and uses that reflect the heritage of the property. Neal emphasized that the best way to ensure the future of the house is for the two groups to agree. If he makes a presentation he needs to know they agree upon any changing visions from one year to the next. Beckmann said the Historical Society and the HPC should review all the options of each group and see how they mesh. Then they should have another meeting to come to a consensus. Adams said they would work together until they have a plan in place. VI. NEW BUSINESS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES April 19, 2004 Page 6 A. Riley Jacques Farm Update Construction work began again in March. The Historical Society, some members of the City Council and City staff went with John Gertz to see the work being done on restoring the Dorenkemper house and the barn. Everything is on schedule. B. Anderson School Update Adams reported the Historical Society task force she is on met with Bob Mack, an architect. He will not be available to offer his services for the project. However, he made recommendations and reviewed the plans drawn up by students at NTI. Adams and Gertz met with Hennepin Technical College staff. The students will work on site, hopefully beginning in the fall semester. Students will provide the labor and the funds raised by the Anderson School task force will pay for the materials. They will do all the carpentry work but are not able to raise the roof of the building. To do that, estimates are being obtained from Otting House Movers because that company did a successful job of cutting the Dorenkemper house in half and reattaching it. The building has to be moved by September to the permanent site at Prairie View School. Adams said Phase 3 of the task force's work is to raise funds through donations and grants. They need volunteers to assist with grant-writing and fund-raising activities. C. Cemeteries Grant Project Update Adams said she would ask Gertz to arrange a tour of the cemeteries with Robert Vogel in the near future. D. Minnesota Barn Preservation Workshop Barkley said she has received information about the Friends of Minnesota Barns Barn Preservation Workshop, to be held on May 22 in Rogers. She attended last year and thought it was very interesting. The cost is $40 for non-members, which would be reimbursed by the City. Adams said anyone interested in going to the workshop should contact Barkley. E. Resignation of Commissioner Kati Simons Commissioner Simons said she would be submitting a letter of resignation to the City Council because she is moving out of Eden Prairie on June 17. She has served on the Commission for four years. VII. ADJOURNMENT HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES April 19, 2004 Page 7 MOTION: Barkley moved, seconded by Brown, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Chairperson Adams adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.