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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmarks Section 106 2023 Raulf Place 530 N Main Jeffrey Witte, Principal Planner July 31, 2023 Mr. Jake Rieb Edge Consulting Engineers, Inc. 624 Water Street Prairie du Sac, WI 53578 RE: U.S. CELLULAR / OSHKOSH DT (776305) Project # 21575 530 N Main, Oshkosh, WI 54901 Winnebago County, Oshkosh Quadrangle (USGS) Dear Mr. Rieb, The Oshkosh Landmarks Commission is registering comments regarding the upgrades to the existing antenna colocation project installing additional antennas on a contributing building in the North Main Street Historic District on the State and National Register. Our mission is to safeguard & preserve the historic integrity of the built structures and historic districts of Oshkosh. We respectfully submit our comments with an explanation based on our guidelines: 1. Completely object to installation of a cell phone antenna on historic structures that are on the state and national historic register, eligible for the register, locally landmarked, or contributing structures within a historic district; 2. Strongly discourage installation of antenna on historic structures that are on the State and National Register or eligible for the National Register, locally landmarked, or a contributing structure within a historic district even if they are incorporated into the building’s architecture as not to be visible (because they pose a threat to the historic integrity of the building/structure); 3. Discourage installation on non-contributing structures within an historic district; but, if sited on said structures, the installation should be incorporated into the architecture and/or sited, and screened as not to be obvious or visible within the historic district; 4. Are concerned with an installation of a tower or antenna on non-contributing structures outside a historic district if they have a visual impact on a historic district or other structures of local historic significance. City of Oshkosh Dept. of Community Development Planning Services Division 215 Church Ave., PO Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 (920) 236-5059 (920) 236-5053 FAX http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us The present U.S. Cellular project is to upgrade the existing antenna site and install additional antenna structures on Raulf Place, 530 N. Main Street; it is the city’s 1927 ten-story skyscraper, the tallest building in Oshkosh’s historic downtown. “The scale and vertical emphasis of the structure dominates this portion of Main Street and makse it a visual landmark” in the historic view-shed from the north, south, east, and west, visible within the North Main Street Historic District and to the historic districts and buildings, all in close proximity. In 2019 the Landmarks Commission responded to the proposed reconfiguration of antennas, replacing the many years’ accumulation and proliferation of antennas which at that time lined the perimeter of the building. We considered the proposed colocation as inappropriate and applied #1 from our guidelines. In 2019 we decided that what was proposed would distract from the historic high-rise’s glazed terra cotta façade, with its pinnacles, spires, crenellated parapet, shields, and tiles. During the earlier Main Street reconstruction, the City of Oshkosh buried the utility lines to provide a better view of the skyline of historic buildings and the total vista of a historic downtown district. The addition of antennas to 530 N Main negated the City’s intent to enhance the visibility of its historic skyline. In 2023 Raulf Place, 530 N Main Street is a contributing building in the North Main Street Historic District. Within close proximity is the Washington Avenue Neoclassical Historic District, The Howard (Eagles Club), the Frontenac Flats, Trinity Episcopal Church, the Irving-Church Historic District and Local-Landmark 226 High Avenue, all within two to four blocks from 530 N. Main Street. Many have views of Oshkosh’s Downtown “historic skyscraper”, the Raulf. The present installations on the north elevation and those attached to the observation tower are a visual distraction. The building is visible 1 mile from the North Main St. Bungalow Historic District. It is visible from 2 miles north on N. Main Street. In January 2017 the City of Oshkosh adopted the Central Mixed Use (CMU) District Building Design Standards (30-245) with architectural guidelines acknowledging the importance of the historic downtown district. **The present installations on the building’s rooftop and tower have attempted to stealth the utilities by color matching to the building’s paint color. The Landmarks Commission recommends that as much of the installation of the antennas be hidden by the height of the parapet. The Commission recommends considering installing antennas and cables on the east elevation of the tower which has least visibility to the historic district or on the lower part of the tower. Historically, the tower was an important architectural feature which is losing its historic integrity with the number of antennas and cables attached to it above the height of the parapet. **Although the five side-mounted antennas presently attached to the north elevation are stealth painted; only 3 match the color of the building, the 2 on the east are a different color paint. The Landmarks Commission applies guideline #1 and proposes that no new antennas be allowed to be side-mounted or added to the north elevation on the building. The concern is that they distract from the historic integrity of the building. There is also concern that the added weight of the additional antennas will weaken the brick façade of this 95-year-old structure. The Landmarks Commission’s job is to be vigilant and safeguard the integrity of Oshkosh’s architectural heritage and prevent any further compromise to its historic buildings. The Landmarks Commissioners agree that the present antennas have compromised the visual impact of the historic skyline. They recommend that further installations on the roof site be as inobtrusive as possible and obscured by placement beneath the height of the parapet. They oppose any further antenna additions to be side mounted on any of the building’s elevations. We are pleased to have the opportunity to submit our thoughts and comments regarding further installations on Raulf Place at 530 N. Main Street, Oshkosh. Please do not hesitate to contact Jeffrey Witte, City Planner and Liaison to the Landmarks Commission at 920.236.5062 if you have any questions or concerns regarding this letter. Respectfully, Shirley Brabender Mattox Jeffrey Witte City of Oshkosh Landmarks Commission, chair City of Oshkosh, Principal Planner Scattered accumulation of antennas in 2006 August 1, 2023 – 5 antennas, one with additional have been removed and replaced with 5 antenna and cable lines that are not stealth. The bulky side-mounted antennas. 2 antennas to the east are not stealth-colored.