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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 08/20/2001 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 20, 2001 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER Prairie Rooms A and B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Lori Peterson-Benike, Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Deborah Barkley, Jennie Brown, Kati Simons,Art Weeks,Mike Wroblewski COMMISSION STAFF: John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Chair Peterson-Benike called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Barkley and Simons had excused absences. Commissioner Wroblewski was also absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —JUNE 18, 2001 MOTION: Brown moved, seconded by Adams, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on June 18, 2001, as published. Motion carried 4-0. IV. REPORTS AND REQUESTS V. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. A Local History: Lookout Park A report on the history of Lookout Park, prepared at the time the City designated it a historical site, was examined by members. The report for nomination to the National Register, prepared by Rolf Anderson, was also available for the HPC members to review. This will be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office. Gertz reported that members of the Native American community near Prior Lake would be meeting with City staff on August 21. They have expressed an interest in restoring Lookout Park, perhaps because it provides a vantage point from which to look over many historic sites that are important to them. Staff has given them cost estimates regarding redevelopment of the site. VI. OLD BUSINESS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES August 20, 2001 Page 2 A. Smith House Adaptive Reuse Peterson-Benike reported that she spoke at the August 7 City Council meeting about the interest shown by Dunn Bros. Coffee in using the Smith House as a coffeehouse. Chris Eilers, its president, toured the house and property with John Gertz on June 28, and submitted an initial proposal. Peterson-Benike asked the Council to direct City staff to set up a meeting with Dunn Bros. as soon as possible. She asked the Council to not approve repairs to the house before that meeting because the City wouldn't want to impact what Dunn Bros. plans to do. However, Don Uram told the Council he had talked to Dunn Bros. that day, and the company doesn't know how soon they could proceed with restoration of the house because of other projects they are involved in now. Councilmember Case made a motion, which was approved, to authorize City staff to negotiate with Dunn Bros. Coffee and bring back an update in one month, along with a critical list of repairs to the house that need to be completed before the onset of winter. Gertz said he would talk to Don Uram and Dave Lindahl, the other staff member involved. Weeks said it takes a long time to put a project like this together, so he hoped the City would talk to Dunn Bros. as soon as possible. Dunn Bros. Coffee has not indicated if they want to lease or purchase, but they usually lease, and that would give the HPC more control over changes to the interior of the house. Dunn Bros. doesn't have a standard design, but they adapt the design to the building. Weeks and Peterson-Benike told Gertz they would like to sit in on the meetings with Eilers. Gertz agreed. Brown said she understood the HPC has already determined what it would like to preserve at the Smith House. She asked Gertz if he would share that information with Dunn Bros. Gertz said he would. Dunn Bros. will submit their plan to the HPC for review. They will have to obtain a site-alteration permit, which would not allow them to detract from the historic characteristics of the property. Weeks said regarding structural changes, the HPC would want to know how Dunn Bros. plans to use the second floor. Gertz said Eilers indicated Dunn Bros. would like to put their franchise office upstairs, along with two or three employees. That would eliminate structural problems for this area of the house. Gertz said Eilers indicated they would want to remove the present kitchen and build a new one that is larger. The kitchen was not original to the house, so that would not be objectionable. The leasing agreement would spell out who would be responsible for interior and exterior maintenance expenses as well as many other matters. It can be a win/win situation if the City ends up with the house being fixed up and the house is put to use. B. Historic Properties Budget Gertz distributed copies of the CIP budget for the historic properties that was submitted for Council review. The budget is expected to be approved in HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES August 20, 2001 Page 3 December. The "A" items are those the HPC consider top priority, totaling $369,638. Gertz noted that the detailed list of line items make the budget easier to understand. He pointed out that the estimated cost for north porch reconstruction on the Cummins-Grill House was removed, because that is the same location where Miller-Dunwiddie recommended constructing a handicapped-accessible bathroom. After 2002 it is hoped the "A" items will be completed and the `B" items approved. A scope of work for each property has to be developed and then bid out to contractors. Weeks proposed consolidating all the tasks as much as possible and trying to get one contractor to do that work. A list of contractors who have worked on historic properties could likely be obtained. For the Cummins-Grill House, Gertz explained that reroofing, insulation and venting was moved out to 2004, at which time the HPC would need to reexamine it closely and it would then become and "A" item. For the Smith House, the exterior work was included under "Other Funds" for 2002, until negotiations with Dunn Bros. are completed. Those funds can be moved back under the "Improvement Fund" if necessary. MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Brown, to accept the Historical Properties Budget as presented that evening. Motion carried 4-0. C. Grant Project Update Gertz reported the CD disk for the interpretive panels was sent to Pannier Graphics in Pennsylvania. It will take two weeks to get the full-color copies back, after which they will go into production, which takes two- to three weeks. The City has received the metal stands, so in the next two weeks Gertz will select the site locations. It is expected that the interpretive panels will be ready to put in place this fall. There was a discussion on obtaining publicity about the interpretive panels. It was suggested asking the paper to run a series, featuring one panel each week. Gertz said he would talk to Kathy Nelson at the Eden Prairie News about doing this. The paper could use photographs from the CD if they wish. A public tour of the panels was suggested, with the last one being Lookout Park, emphasizing that support is needed to restore it. The press would be invited to come on the tour. Gertz said the nomination of Lookout Park for the National Register of Historic Places has been delivered to the State Historic Preservation Office. However, if the SHPO doesn't believe the site has any integrity left,because of its condition, it would not be eligible. A lot of the masonry is no longer there and the site is overgrown with vegetation. Rolf Anderson was concerned about this, and he cut weeds down before taking photos for the report. However, it is a unique and important site. MAC has put up a "no trespassing" sign on the property, which is appreciated. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES August 20, 2001 Page 4 VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Review of Upcoming Events and Programs Gertz reviewed the upcoming events and programs. • September 16 is Sunbonnet Day from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Cummins House. • A Cemetery Walk will be held in the evening of October 13, starting out at the Cummins House. Actors will be hired to play the caretaker and historic characters in Pleasant Hills and Eden Prairie cemeteries. • On November 16 a Murder Mystery Dinner will be held at the Cummins House. An Eden Prairie resident is writing the original murder mystery. The characters will be based on historic people. B. Local Desisnations Gertz distributed information about historic properties that earlier Heritage Preservation Commissions determined are historically significant. They all meet the criteria for designation as historic sites. However, Gertz said a lot of paperwork needs to be done before presenting them to the Community Planning Board for recognition as historic sites and qualification to be designated as such. Gertz said he would send out information on other sites, and members were asked to review it before the next meeting. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Brown, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4-0. Peterson-Benike adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.