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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/03/1997 - Regular Minutes - Historic Preservation Committee HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING COLLEGE STATION CONFERENCE CENTER 1300 GEORGE BUSH DRIVE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1997 -- 5:15 P.M. HISTORIC COMMITTEE Bill Lancaster, Chairman Deborah Jasek, Co- Chair Elton Abbott Sharon MEMBERS PRESENT: Menn Dennis Maloney Rebecca Berry MEMBERS ABSENT: Carol Wagner Aaron Ffrench, Old Main Society Liaison STAFF PRESENT: David ceding, Special Facilities Superintendent Pamela Einkauf, Senior Secretary VISITORS PRESENT: Mike Luther I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. by Bill Lancaster, Chairman. Q. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes for May, 1997, were reviewed and approved with no corrections. 3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS: Bill welcomed Rebecca Berry to the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC). Rebecca said she was an A &M graduate and that she worked for First American Bank. She said she was looking forward to being involved with the committee. 4. PRESENTATION TO OUTGOING MEMBERS: Mary Jane Hirsch and Brett Estes were unable to attend the meeting in order to receive their plaques. 5. HEAR VISITORS: Mike Luther had nothing to present to the HPC. 6. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF HISTORIC HOME APPLICATIONS St/WITTED: An application for 415 Lee Street had been submitted by Dale and Phyllis Fox, who'd previously received a plaque for a home at 1111 Park Place. Bill stated that Paul Johannas Alvin Zeller, who built the house on Lee, had worked at the Engineering Experiment Station -- not the A &M Extension Service as stated in the application. Mike Luther provided some information on the history of the house. He said that Mr. Zeller, an Engineer for the sanitation facilities at A &M, had been unhappy about how long it took to fill the bathtub at the home, so he had oversized plumbing put in. After that, it took approximately 45 seconds from the time the water was turned on, for the tub to overflow! Bill added that the house had been extensively remodeled. The HPC decided that the narrative was fairly brief and could be added to. David said he would ask Mr. and Mrs. Fox to provide the HPC with additional information. Historic Preservation Committee Page 3 area was so dark. Dennis said that he was in favor of using taxpayer dollars to install lighting in the areas that neighborhood associations approved of. 4 11 8. UPDATE ON SOUTHSIDE HISTORICAL RESOURCE SURVEY; David said that at the special meeting held in August, it was decided about half way through the slide presentation, that the HPC needed more information than just a curb -side photo in order to give the homes a low, medium, or high priority ranking. David said he'd talked to Lee Battle in Planning and Lee said he had very little information on the homes. David said the HPC might want to get a group of engineers or a student architect group to do the research so that the committee could prioritize the homes. Elton said there was a young man in his office getting his master's degree in historic preservation, and he would ask him if he knew of a master's degree student looking for a project. Bill asked how the project would be done. David said a lot of time would probably be spent at the courthouse going through the records. Elton suggested this was a project for a history major instead of an architectural major. Deborah agreed, but stated that since there were different architectural styles involved with the homes in that area, the project would need someone with knowledge of both history and architecture. Elton said the HPC needed to find an architectural historian. Dennis stated that some residents had questioned why the same priority ranking process which had been done in Northgate, was being done in Southside if no changes were going to take place. Dennis said he'd like to see some type of designation apply to Southside and Eastgate that would protect those areas from commercial /multi - family development, major road changes, etc. He'd also like to see some sort of policy implemented that would keep tax rates in those two areas at the current level for private, owner - occupied residences, regardless of any improvements made to the home. He feels this would encourage renovation and ultimately there would be no high, medium or low priority home ranking -- all homes would be high priority. David said he couldn't answer Dennis' question about the why the ranking process was being done, but he would try to get either Joey Dunn, who'd initiated the first survey, or Lee Battle to come to the next meeting. 9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS; Bill said that at the May meeting, there had been some discussion about revamping the subcommittees, and added that since May, three of the subcommittee chairs were no longer on the HPC. He said Ile could report on oral history, and that there had been a session on churches in J'uly. He told the members that Dr. Haskell Monroe had recently returned to the community. Bill explained that Dr. Monroe had been with the A&M History Department through 1980, when he left to serve as President for the University of Texas at El Paso. He had been there for about ten years and then left to serve as Chancellor for the University of Missouri. Bill said Dr. Monroe had contacted him when he'd heard about the HPC oral history project and was very interested, having collected about 400 tapes of oral history while at the University of Missouri. Bill said Dr. Monroe is willing to do the same thing here using honor students, who will go out and interview people on a one -on -one basis, which is more effective than interviewing collectively. The students not only do the interviewing and recording, they also transcribe the tapes. Bill said hopefully by the next meeting, he'll have more to report. Neither Sharon nor Deborah had anything new to report on Photo Documentation or Education/Churches. Dennis reported on Community Appearance, and stated that except for the lighting, there was nothing more to do at this time. The members agreed the subcommittees needed to be redefined. Bill said he and David would get together and try to come up with some ideas. Historic Preservation Committee Page 2 Dennis said he'd had some complaints about the HPC's approval of the Fox home on Park Place in 1996. Dennis said that renovations had been so extensive that there was little left of the original home, and he felt the committee needed to address the issue. Bill said he'd received comments on that issue as well. Deborah said as long as a good portion of the original home is left, there isn't much the HPC can do. Dennis asked how much of the original house needed to remain. Bill said that even though what was once the front of the home is now a bedroom and dining room, the original walls were still in place and the footprint of the house really hadn't changed. Dennis asked if the house had been added on to. Deborah said it wouldn't matter, as long as the nucleus of the original home is still there. David commented that they had kept the same style to the home. Elton stated that trying to stay with the same style of the original designer would seem appropriate, however, the Historical Commission requests that when adding on to a historical structure, it needs to be done in a distinctly different style so that it's clear what is and what is not the historic element. Bill asked if this was a State or a Federal requirement. Elton said both. It was the current philosophy of all historical architects. The HPC agreed that this would only make it look like an add -on. David stated that, as requested, the Gormans had provided more information on their home so the HPC could make a decision as to whether or not it qualified for a home plaque. The additional information was passed around for everyone to review. David commented that Mrs. Gorman had included a floor plan of the home and extensive information on the previous owners. David said it would be an excellent example to show prospective applicants. Later in the meeting, Dennis moved to approve the home for a plaque. Sharon seconded, and with no opposition, the Gorman home became historic home # 39. Mike Luther asked how many applications for historic home plaques were currently being processed. David told him that there were five, counting the Fox's application, which were being held pending receipt of further information from the applicants. 7. UPDATE ON ANTIQUE LIGHTING - LUTHER JONES& BRISON PARKS: David said the HPC had $10,000 to spend in each park, and that the $10,000 for Luther Jones Park was Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. The poles and lamps for both parks are currently out to bid. David explained that at Luther Jones Park the poles will be 20' tall, and 13' tall at Brison. David stated that lights in the city parks are 13' tall, but the Parks Department staff decided to make the lights taller in Luther Jones Park so that they wouldn't be so easily vandalized. David said there had been feedback from some Southside residents regarding whether the lights were needed, and whether the use of funds was appropriate. David said some felt as though the money for the lights in Brison should not come out of Hotel /Motel funds, but rather a utility fund or general fund. Bill asked if there were currently lights in Brison Park. David said no, not in the park, but there were street lights down Dexter. Dennis commented that the addition of lighting in Brison would probably upset some people, but it would make the park more attractive. Dennis said that Mike Luther had chaired a committee dealing with all the Southside Neighborhood Associations. During a presentation which had been given by a police officer on the subject of lighting, the officer stated he was opposed to the globe which had been picked out, because there would be no cap or top on it to make the light shine down. Dennis said his understanding of the globe chosen, was that it would withstand being shot at with BB guns. David said that was correct -- it could even withstand a shot from a .22 without shattering. From a lighting standpoint, it would augment the lighting already in place in Luther Jones Park, but it did not meet the city's standards as far as foot - candles. He added that any lighting installed in Brison Park would be a help, since that Historic Preservation Committee Page 3 area was so dark. Dennis said that he was in favor of using taxpayer dollars to install lighting in the areas that neighborhood associations approved of. 8. UPDATE ON SOUTHSIDE HISTORICAL RESOURCE SURVEY: David said that at the special meeting held in August, it was decided about half way through the slide presentation, that the HPC needed more information than just a curb -side photo in order to give the homes a low, medium, or high priority ranking. David said he'd talked to Lee Battle in Planning and Lee said he had very little information on the homes. David said the HPC might want to get a group of engineers or a student architect group to do the research so that the committee could prioritize the homes. Elton said there was a young man in his office getting his master's degree in historic preservation, and he would ask him if he knew of a master's degree student looking for a project. Bill asked how the project would be done. David said a lot of time would probably be spent at the courthouse going through the records. Elton suggested this was a project for a history major instead of an architectural major. Deborah agreed, but stated that since there were different architectural styles involved with the homes in that area, the project would need someone with knowledge of both history and architecture. Elton said the HPC needed to find an architectural historian. Dennis stated that some residents had questioned why the same priority ranking process which had been done in Northgate, was being done in Southside if no changes were going to take place. Dennis said he'd like to see some type of designation apply to Southside and Eastgate that would protect those areas from commercial /multi- family development, major road changes, etc. He'd also like to see some sort of policy implemented that would keep tax rates in those two areas at the current level for private, owner - occupied residences, regardless of any improvements made to the home. He feels this would encourage renovation and ultimately there would be no high, medium or low priority home ranking -- all homes would be high priority. David said he couldn't answer Dennis' question about the why the ranking process was being done, but he would try to get either Joey Dunn, who'd initiated the first survey, or Lee Battle to come to the next meeting. 9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: Bill said that at the May meeting, there had been some discussion about revamping the subcommittees, and added that since May, three of the subcommittee chairs were no longer on the HPC. He said he could report on oral history, and that there had been a session on churches in July. He told the members that Dr. Haskell Monroe had recently returned to the community. Bill explained that Dr. Monroe had been with the A&M History Department through 1980, when he left to serve as President for the University of Texas at El Paso. He had been there for about ten years and then left to serve as Chancellor for the University of Missouri. Bill said Dr. Monroe had contacted him when he'd heard about the HPC oral history project and was very interested, having collected about 400 tapes of oral history while at the University of Missouri. Bill said Dr. Monroe is willing to do the same thing here using honor students, who will go out and interview people on a one -on -one basis, which is more effective than interviewing collectively. The students not only do the interviewing and recording, they also transcribe the tapes. Bill said hopefully by the next meeting, he'll have more to report. Neither Sharon nor Deborah had anything new to report on Photo Documentation or Education/Churches. Dennis reported on Community Appearance, and stated that except for the lighting, there was nothing more to do at this time. The members agreed the subcommittees needed to be redefined. Bill said he and David would get together and try to come up with some ideas. Historic Preservation Committee Page 4 10. OTHER COMMITTEE CONCERNS; Elton said he felt that the historic character of the Southside neighborhood was a very important ongoing issue that needed to be dealt with, and he would like to see that subcommittee continue. Dennis said he'd like the HPC to work on having the Southside area upgraded to a historic district -- but without the architectural limitations and restrictions. He said he was going to continue to work towards the freezing of property taxes when a homeowner moves into the Southside or Eastgate area. Deborah said she thought Dennis would have trouble getting that implemented because of the way the tax system is set up. She explained that appraisals and the collection of taxes is done at the county level, not by the city, which would mean that Southside and Eastgate would have to be separated out. An entire new database would have to be set up for that one small area and they would literally have two appraisals -- an appraisal for county and school taxes, and an appraisal for city taxes -- because the school and the county would never go along with the idea. Dennis knew the school district would never agree to it, but stated that tax abatements were given to businesses all the time. Elton suggested that tax abatements may not be the way to encourage renovation of Southside, but perhaps infrastructure improvements that make the environment more attractive so that people would be willing to put more money into their homes. Dennis asked Elton what he thought could be done to make it more attractive. Elton said some of the same things which had been done in Northgate -- brick sidewalks for example, improved paving, period lighting, landscaping -- those types of things would improve the overall appearance of the neighborhood. Even if the individual buildings are not improved, it creates a domino effect. He said the HPC should identify specific things that could be done in the area, and then put together a grant request for CDBQ funds. Deborah said she felt one of the problems with the subcommittees was that each subcommittee had been only one person, and not really a subcommittee. After some discussion the HPC decided it would focus on one or two things this year and not have subcommittees -- just set some goals, and form working groups. The HPC decided that it would focus on the overall appearance of Southside, to include lighting, parks, sidewalks, streets, landscaping, and gateways. Elton said once the Southside goals were met, the HPC could then move on to Eastgate. Deborah said the HPC needed to be sure and work with the neighborhood associations. Elton said the HPC needed to be sure not to duplicate anything the City's Community Appearance Committee was doing. David reminded the members that Betty Qroce was the liaison for that committee. Dennis said he thought the Southside project would be more than the committee could handle for the year, but it could get some things done. He asked when proposals for CDBQ money were due. David said usually the call goes out in January or February, is due in March and a decision is made mid - summer. The HPC agreed that the time to be drafting the proposal is now. Elton said the HPC needed to look at other communities to see how they've improved the infrastructure in their historic neighborhoods. David stated that a copy of the College Station Citizen Survey had been distributed to everyone, as well as an address list of all the HPC members, and a draft of the College Station Historical Marker Guidelines and Application. David asked if there were any changes to the addresses or phone numbers, to please let Pam know. He told the members that Pam had come up with the idea of combining both historic marker applications with an easy -to- follow guideline to help with the marker process. He asked the members to read over it and let him know what they thought. 11. ADJOURN: The meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.