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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 07/15/2002 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,JULY 15, 2002 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER Prairie Rooms A&B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Lori Peterson-Benike, Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Deborah Barkley,Jennie Brown, Elise Kist, Kati Simons COMMISSION STAFF: John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Peterson-Benike called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All members were present. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —JUNE 17, 2002 Gertz made a correction on page 2, under Lookout Park Update. In the first sentence, the "Minnesota Parks Commission" was changed to "Minnesota State Parks." The word "Commission" was changed to "State Parks." Adams made a correction on page 1. Under the motion to approve the minutes, the word "and" should be removed from the name of the Heritage Preservation Commission. MOTION: Simons moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on June 17, 2002, as published and amended. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Commission Vacancy Gertz said he has information about several people who may be interested in filling the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Art Weeks, whose term expires in March 2003. If someone were found to fill out his term, he or she would be appointed by the City Council. Gertz said City staff is going to find out if it is a requirement for the HPC to have seven members, or if it could continue with six until March 2003. Peterson-Benike said she would prefer to have a seventh person begin this year, if possible. She asked members to encourage anyone they know who would be interested in serving on the HPC to apply. V. OLD BUSINESS A. J. R. Cummins House Projects HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 15, 2002 Page 2 Gertz stated one project that will begin soon is to demolish and reconstruct the side porch. The work will begin once a contractor is hired, which will probably happen in mid-August. Inside the house, the entire shoe along the baseboard needs to be replaced, as do the thresholds between rooms. All doors are to be refinished and have weather- stripping added. On the outside, the masonry work is to be re-pointed and some painting is needed. It is possible the same contractor will do all the work. Gertz said they hope to have it done by Sunbonnet Day, September 15. A possible volunteer project would be the stencil work in the dining room. A sample of the original stenciling is available to use. Brown suggested putting up a sign close to the road, identifying the house. The commissioners agreed this should be done. Gertz said perhaps they could use a design similar to the one being used at the Smith House. He will find out what the cost of that sign is and look at the budget for the Cummins House to see if the money is available to construct one. With regard to the peony garden, Gertz said the City hired a landscape architect, who is in charge of maintaining the City's floral gardens. Kist inquired if the Minnesota Historical Society might be willing to lend the City items of furniture or paintings that would be appropriate to display in the Cummins House. Gertz thought they probably would not do that on a permanent basis, but perhaps for a traveling exhibit. However, the City could ask to be placed on a list in case that would happen. B. Smith House Update Gertz reported that on July 2 the City Council awarded the bid for rehabilitation of the house and construction of the coffeehouse to Graus Contracting Inc. The base bid was $740,600, and the high bid was $850,000. The City's portion of the total is $631,566 and Dunn Brothers' portion is $109,034. The specifications do not include the option to put pavers for the sidewalk along the driveway, but does include reconstructing masonry on the chimneys. The cost of putting in a rain garden will be paid for by the City's Engineering Department and so that will be deleted from the list of contractor's work. Another item that will be deleted is removal of the landscaping material around the house,because it was decided that would not leave a sufficient amount of landscaping for Dunn Brothers. Bob Mack highly approved awarding the bid to Graus Contracting. The company has restored a number of historic homes, including the Mayo residence in Rochester and the James J. Hill House in Saint Paul. On July 19 Graus will receive the Notice to Proceed, and will meet at the house with Gertz and other City staff. A starting date will then be established. The contractor is scheduled to finish by October 31. HPC members will receive notice of the groundbreaking ceremony when that date is set. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 15, 2002 Page 3 Peterson-Benike said items found on the property recently by her and Gertz will be examined by members of the Historical Society. They may wish to add the items to their inventory. At the City Council meeting on June 18, the council members were very pleased with the plans and there was no opposition to approving the permits. During the public hearing, there was a woman who requested approval to use the out- building on the property for a "Hard Scoop" ice cream shop. However, the shed is in such bad condition, the City was not willing consider that. It would also require Chris Eilers's approval. The Council agreed with Eiler that this idea would have to wait at least through next summer to see what the parking impact would be. Gertz said perhaps in the future it would be feasible, when the area behind the house is developed and a road is built through there. With regard to constructing a path between Dunn Bros. and Huber Funeral Home, and using Huber's parking lot for overflow parking, Gertz said there is no good connection for a walk-through between the two properties, but the sidewalk in front of them could be used. Photographs will be taken of the house as it looks now and as work progresses. C. Riley Farm Update Gertz said the Northwest Technical Institute students have just finished field measurements for all the buildings. He was told it would be a couple of weeks before they get the plans finished and turned over to the City. Gertz asked them to do the Dorenkemper house first so that Dan Herbst will have that information. Gertz said he also looked at the other buildings and the house that has a renter living in it. There is a hole through the wall into the basement that appears to have been made by a rodent, probably a woodchuck. Gertz also found wet basement walls, caused by leaving leaders from the downspouts unattached, as well as ceiling problems and vines growing on the outside of the house that need to be removed. The barn roof is leaking, and Gertz said it might need to be re- roofed. The riding paddock has been dismantled, leaving the space available for other purposes. There are broken windows in the barn that should be repaired. Gertz said he would draw up a list of repairs that need to be made and submit it to Bob Lambert. City employees could do some of the work. D. Pleasant Hill Cemetery With regard to funding sources, Gertz said a CLG grant could be used for establishing a preservation plan, but could not be used for repairing damaged headstones. It would be better to look elsewhere for funding. Adams asked how designating the cemetery a Historic Preservation Site would benefit its restoration. Gertz said that could prevent ongoing damage to the headstones, but only if the City employees working at the cemetery would take responsibility for preventing further damage when they mow around the HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 15, 2002 Page 4 headstones. Gertz would recommend that the Park Services adopt a maintenance plan for the cemetery. It is the older part of the cemetery that is much more vulnerable than the newer part, which has headstones that lie flat and can be easily mowed over. Gertz said there is a great deal that needs to be done to restore the older part of the cemetery. The inscriptions on the headstones should be transcribed or rubbings made. Kist and Adams believed volunteers could be found to do that work. Peterson-Benike asked what the HPC should do at this point. Gertz replied the HPC should make sure designation as a Heritage Preservation Site goes ahead. That will bring it to the attention of the City Council. The HPC should present a plan to the Council for preservation of the headstones. Another part of the work is doing a records search. Perhaps the Historical Society would be interested in helping. The Eden Prairie Cemetery has similar problems with deteriorating headstones. The City does not own it, however. The HPC is also asking for historic designation of that cemetery. Gertz said he has asked the State Historic Preservation Office to offer the subject of cemetery preservation at a conference, but they have not shown much interest so far. He said he would bring more information back to the HPC at the August meeting. E. Eden Prairie Farmers Market Listings of regional farmers markets were found in a flyer put out by the Minnesota Growers Association. Their Web site is minnesotagrown.com. Gertz said he would contact them and St. Paul's Farmers Market to find out what requirements there are for the City to open a farmers market and the qualifications needed to join the association. F. Interpretive Panels Peterson-Benike said when the City crews begin installing the interpretive panels, it would be a good opportunity to put that information in the local paper so people will know where they are. The Star Tribune might also be interested. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Brown moved, seconded by Adams, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Peterson-Benike adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.