Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 8:00 a.m.
Historic Preservation Commission
City Commission Room, Fargo City Hall
Agenda
1. Approve Minutes – April 15 meeting
2. Downtown Slides – Bob Stein
3. Storefront Rehab Review
• 608 Main Ave
• 610 Main Ave
4. CLG Grant Update
5. Overview Subcommittee Report
6. Landmarks Subcommittee Report
7. Other Business
8. Liaison Reports
• Planning Commission – Christine Kloubec
• Board of Adjustment – Paul Gleye
• House Moving Board – Paul Gleye
• Housing Rehab – David Shultz
• Renaissance Zone Authority – Peter Moynihan
5. Next Meeting – June 24, 2008
Historic Preservation Commission
Minutes
Regular Meeting: Tuesday: May 20, 2008
The Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 8:00 o’clock a.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2008.
The Members present or absent were as shown following:
Present: Andrew Nielsen, David Shultz, Melissa Sobolik, Claire Strom
Absent: Christine Kloubec, Paul Gleye, Peter Moynihan
Vice Chair David Shultz called the meeting to order.
Item 1. Approve Minutes of the April 15, 2008 meeting
(8:29 a.m.) Hearing no changes or additions, the minutes were approved.
Item 2. Downtown Slides – Bob Stein
(8:09 a.m.) Bob Stein, Fargo Senior Planner, presented pictures of downtown Fargo and aerial layouts of Fargo. He presented a slide show containing before and after photos of downtown renovations from 1999 and 2007. He explained the downtown canopy project in the 1970’s was intended to lure retail business back downtown from the West Acres area, but it didn’t work. He continued, stating the Historic Preservation Commission approved many of the projects shown in the slides. Mr. Stein also presented before and after photos of sign renovations. He stated the on-street parking has been brought back and storefront rehab grants have allowed for renovation of storefront windows. He mentioned the inappropriately large trees which were previously planted on Broadway have been removed and canopies that hid the front of the buildings have been removed as well.
(8:20 a.m.) Chair Claire Strom present.
Item 3. Storefront Rehab Review
608 Main Ave and 610 Main Ave
(8:30 a.m.) Kerry Peuser, representative for Bruce Taralson, explained the 608 and 610 Main Avenue buildings had previously been remodeled so little or no original details remain. He presented drawings and stated the colors are close to what would be represented and continued saying the storefronts will be completely replaced. He added some storefront brick would be retained; bottom portions have been replaced; entries and glass will go all the way up to the beam; an EFIS material will be used with banding to echo the missing detail; and cornices will be redone. He said funding needs to be determined before more work is done.
Bruce Taralson noted the original cornice is not in place, nor is any of the original façade. He stated there are two inches of stucco over what remains. He also noted the window sills and stone block were chiseled and flattened so the existing surface could be anchored.
David Shultz commented a lot of the original brickwork is gone and asked how renovations could be made to fit in the neighborhood fabric and historic look. He stated opening the storefront up to the beam will make a huge impact at the street level. He also asked whether anything can be done to the storefront grade and challenged the applicant to look at that.
Chair Strom voiced her concern about the vast proportion of empty space at the upper level of the facade and questioned whether more detail could be done to improve this. She suggested adding a horizontal panel to break up the space.
David Shultz suggested a simple inset panel for the space at the top.
Mr. Peuser stated the original building was most likely one color and added a subtle change of color might break that up. He noted he would be willing to involve Mr. Shultz or a group to advise his firm on the project.
Andrew Nielson moved to approve the application as presented. Second by Melissa Sobolik. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4. CLG Grant Update
(8:47 a.m.) Dawn Mayo informed the Commission a request for proposal has been sent out and a deadline of June 6, 2008 has been given to respond. She stated requests received will be forwarded to the Historic Preservation Commission and a neighborhood meeting will be held.
Item 5. Overview Subcommittee Report
(8:49 a.m.) David Shultz stated the neighborhoods will be surveyed on a broader basis to get broad based area designations. He stated the idea is to have the corridors working in conjunction with the flanking neighborhoods and have the large areas coherent architecturally, so broad based standards can be put in place.
Item 6. Landmarks Subcommittee Report
(8:51 a.m.) Dawn Mayo stated the subcommittee met and reviewed material from other communities to use as a template for landmarks. She is currently drawing up forms and categories and will send them to the Historic Preservation Commission Members for final recommendation.
Item 7. Other Business
(8:53 a.m.) Ms. Mayo stated nine storefront applications were approved by the Community Development Committee at their last meeting. She stated the applicants will be able to begin their work as soon as the Community Development Block Grant funding is received.
Chair Claire Strom stated this is her last meeting as Chair, as she is accepting a new job out of state. She said she will send a letter of resignation to the Mayor.
Item 8. Liaison Reports
(8:56 a.m.) David Shultz reported housing rehab projects continue to come in. Dawn Mayo added the housing rehab program continues to maintain affordable housing.
Item 9. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2008.
The time at adjournment was 8:55 a.m.
