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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5 - Historic Sidewalks on Various Streets OHIWSH LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO: Landmarks Commission FROM: Steven Wiley, Staff Liaison DATE: October 3rd, 2018 SUBJECT: Item 5: Historic Sidewalks on Various City Streets 1.) Initiated by: Randy Domer (Winnebago County Historical and Archeological Society (WCHAS) a.) The item is within the purview of the Commission per the Historic Preservation Ordinance. 2.) Is the item related to an Historic District/contributing, listed individually, Landmarked or eligible? The sidewalks are located within a number of historic districts but are not listed on the National or State Registers, contributing structures, or locally landmarked. Sidewalks in question are located on Merritt Avenue (east of Main Street), along Algoma Boulevard at Market Street, and vaults immediately below Market Street. 2a.) Does item conform with all Local, State, or other Ordinances, Statutes? Public sidewalks have to meet minimum load requirements per the Municipal Code, and Public Works staff along with structural engineer Tom Karrells were working to determine whether these load requirements were being met along with any other potential load considerations. 2b.) Has the State Historical Society been notified or involved? Not for this project, and likely would not apply. 2c.) Are other organizations or entities involved? Yes—Oshkosh Department of Public Works,Tom Karrells (structural engineer),Dick Naslund,Julie Johnson,and the Winnebago County Historical and Archeological Society. 3.) Are Historic Tax Credits applicable for this item? N/A 4.) Is this a municipally-owned structure? The public sidewalks are municipally-owned. The sidewalks are in the right-of-way so are public use. The underground vaults have been maintained by the property owner. According to Civil Engineer Supervisor Justin Gierach the property owner is responsible for abandoning the vaults. The City then demolishes the vaults,takes the top 3 feet of the vault off. Public Works fills in the vaults with gravel and replaces the sidewalk. The City has generally taken the cost of full abandonment of the vault. If you are unable to attend this meeting,it is important to notify Steven Wiley (920-236-5062) in case a quorum cannot be attained. OHIWSH LANDMARKS COMMISSION Per Municipal Code sidewalk vaults are no longer allowed. In exceptional cases such as the vault at Merritt and Bowen engineers have designed new tops. 5.) What is the Commission priority# for this item? Not listed in the priority items —perhaps can make a case that it might fall under Ongoing items (#1) since the Commission has been approached by an outside entity (WCHAS). It is now on the Commission's list after the Commission was approached by Randy Domer and Jay Karner at the August 8th Landmarks meeting and agreed to partner on the item. 5a.) Does the Commission have enough information for action(s)? The Commission could benefit from more information. Images, potential cost figures, maps showing the locations of these sidewalks would all benefit the Commission. Discussion Considerations 1.) More research or follow up on Item? Yes—Staff followed up with Justin Gierach in Public Works (see number 4 for more information). Staff also asked Mr. Gierach if the private property owners were notified of the sidewalk work and if Landmarks could visit one of the vaults. Staff then contacted Joe DeRose, of the WHS,by email on September 191h,2018 asking if he knew of other cities in Wisconsin with similar sidewalks/spaces and what routes they had taken with them. Mr. DeRose stated that he had come across such spaces when he worked in Arkansas in the late 1980s,but not in Wisconsin. He posed the question to his colleagues and stated that staff should hear from them directly. Staff is waiting to hear back from others at the state historical society on this topic. 2.) Evidence of"original"? Restore to what time period? There appears to be evidence of the original,but it appears highly unlikely that the sidewalks and vaults will be maintained in place. 3.) Replacement Materials: accepted by State Historical society? 4.) Consideration of'undo hardship on ownersT Funding sources? 5.) Take actions? 6.) Follow up? If you are unable to attend this meeting,it is important to notify Steven Wiley (920-236-5062) in case a quorum cannot be attained.