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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CITY OF OSHKOSH LANDMARKS COMMISSION Minutes December 12,2018 PRESENT: Shirley Brabender Mattox, Steve Cummings, Paul Arnold, Nikki Stoll Olthoff EXCUSED: Jake Krause, Elizabeth Hintz,Jeremy Galica,Harold Buchholz ABSENT: None STAFF AND OTHERS: Steven Wiley,Jim Hoffman (President of the Museum Board), Tom Ekvall (Oshkosh Herald) 1. Call to Order Chair Brabender Mattox called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m. and a quorum was declared present. 2. Approval of November 141h,2018 Meeting Minutes Ms. Brabender Mattox asked the Commission if there were any revisions for the November meeting minutes. The minutes state, "Mr. Arnold explained that Mr. Hutchison would have to incorporate the building to the south into the restoration." Mr. Arnold explained that he was posing this more as a question to the architect and owner and asking if they would incorporate the building to the south into the restoration. He asked that Mr. Wiley change the minutes to reflect this. Ms. Brabender Mattox noticed an error a few sentences later where the minutes state 931 S. Main as the address. She asked that Wiley change the minutes to state 913/915 S Main. For item 2,Ms. Brabender Mattox asked Mr. Wiley to add that she presented new Commissioner Nikki Stoll Olthoff with a copy of A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia& Lee McAlester. She explained that she has done this for new Commissioners and staff. Commissioners did not have any additional changes to the minutes so the Commission voted to approve the minutes 4-0 (Arnold/Cummings). 3. Building Permit Review The Commission discussed the list of building permits obtained for properties in historic districts for November. For 725 Algoma Boulevard, Ms. Brabender Mattox and Mr. Wiley explained that the proposed utility pole was previously reviewed by the Commission and consisted of an extension to the top of an existing pole. For 647 Jackson Street, Ms. Brabender Mattox noted that the property was significant and was designed by William Waters. The house was constructed for Charles Burgess, a noted scientist,professor of chemical engineering,inventor and industrialist who lived there early in the house's existence. She and Mr. Arnold discussed the detriment new windows often have on an historic property's architectural integrity and that the Commission needed to reach more people and educate them on historically sensitive ways to preserve and maintain the original features of their properties. 4. 217 High Avenue-Rehabilitation Work-Discussion/Action Mr. Wiley explained that the property manager had asked him to shift discussion of the proposed work to the January 9th agenda. The property manager was unable to attend the December meeting due to other commitments. Ms.Brabender Mattox stated that she would be meeting with Daina Penkiunas from the Wisconsin Historical Society on Tuesday, December 181h, 2018. They were planning to visit the property. 5. 913 S. Main Street-Adaptive Reuse Project-Update Mr. Wiley updated the Commission on the 913 S. Main Street project. He had emailed the architect and owner to follow up and provide a letter of support from Landmarks. Mr. Wiley stated that architect Todd Hutchison informed him that he could send the support letter to Titan Commercial and simply state Landmarks support for the project and then they could include the letter in with correspondence to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Agency, National Parks Service and Wisconsin State Historical Society. Ms. Brabender Mattox had met with Mr. Wiley before the December meeting to work on the letter. She asked Mr. Wiley to read his notes from the meeting to the rest of the Commission. The notes included: • To thank the architect and property owner for coming to Landmarks and discussing their plans to reuse the building, which was an important part of South Main. • Landmarks was impressed that they planned to restore and preserve historic elements as part of the project • The plans to apply for tax credits and work with the state architect indicate respect for the building's history. • Landmarks was supportive of saving an industrial building-one of the few remaining intact. • The building was a Romanesque Revival example from 1893. • The project would contribute towards revitalization on the South Side. • The proposed live-work spaces were creative examples of how to effectively program space. • Landmarks believed that preserving and restoring the significance of the front facade and restoring storefront and incorporating original features into the reuse were important. Mr. Wiley stated that he would follow up with Ms. Brabender Mattox on the letter. 6. Historic Preservation Plan-Jeremy Galica and Steven Wiley-Update/Timeline/Process Mr. Wiley provided an update and explained that staff had posted examples of many other plans on the City website and sent these in a link to the Commission. Mr. Wiley showed examples of plans from Washington DC, Cedar Rapids and Fredericksburg. He mentioned successful elements from each plan and discussed that a public input component would be important. He had met with Darryn Burich and Mr. Burich was supportive of holding a public meeting with property owners from historic districts. Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that she would be supportive of starting with a survey. She explained that she,Mr. Arnold and Mr. Cummings are examples of historic property owners whose properties are not located in historic districts. The Commissioners supported opening public input to everyone. Ms. Stoll Olthoff was working on the timeline and introduction for the plan and planned to include some material from the Landmarks' website. Mr. Arnold completed some write-ups on architectural styles. He had referred to the 2006 survey for much of the information. He explained that some styles such as the Lustron homes and 2nd Empire examples were not covered in the 2006 survey. Ms. Brabender Mattox suggested including one or two images of Oshkosh examples for each. Mr. Cummings stated that the Winnebago County Historical book from the 1880s could have some images. Ms. Brabender Mattox had worked on the Downtown commercial structures section and went to the National Register nomination. She asked what the next step was for her section. Mr. Cummings stated that the Communities Program from Oshkosh North did some research of the Downtown area and suggested contacting Amy Albright from the Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Mr. Cummings did not have any updates for the Community Collaboration and Engagement section. Mr. Cummings stated that on Boyd Street from Parkway to Irving there were many examples of similar architecture. He asked what categories those would fall under. Many of them were modest homes with significant woodwork. Mr. Arnold stated that some might be examples of cross gable vernacular but that he would look closer at these. Ms. Stoll Olthoff asked Mr. Wiley to send her a link to the 2006 survey. Mr. Arnold stated that he would work on finding photos for the architectural styles section and examine the Boyd houses. Commissioners stated that they would look at plans also. Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that she would continue her section on Downtown commercial structures. Ms. Stoll Olthoff stated that she would continue working on the timeline. 7. Historic Preservation Ordinance Revisions (Recent Demolition and Other Issues),Permitting Process for Historic Properties -Update/Discussion/Action Mr. Wiley provided an overview of the ordinance discussion to date. He stated that Allen Davis and Darryn Burich wanted him to hold a public input session to gauge community support before changing the ordinance or permit review processes. He explained that the public input could be coordinated with a public input portion of the historic preservation plan process. Ms. Brabender Mattox wanted to postpone approaching the public until the Commission was ready. 8. Lakeshore Site -Update Ms. Brabender Mattox asked Mr. Wiley if he had any updates. Mr. Wiley did not have any but Mr. Cummings stated that he had toured the new Oshkosh Corporation Headquarters and that the County Historical Society board wished to install additional historic markers. There was potential to install additional signage along the river. The markers could explain the lumber industry and mill workers strike. Mr. Cummings stated that the markers should mention the golf course and include some information from the archeology report. The next step was to determine funding and approach potential donors and ask if they wanted to sponsor the signage. 9. 2018 Annual Report-Discussion Mr. Wiley went through the draft annual report for the Commission. He had worked on the report leading up to the December meeting. The Commission was supportive of the draft presented and asked for Mr. Wiley to add Mr. Galica to the list of Commissioners. Mr. Cummings asked if Mr. Wiley could remove the pole from the photograph of the historic fire station or obtain an image without the pole blocking the building. Mr. Wiley stated that he would fix the image or obtain another image. 14. Commissioner Statements a. 404 W. New York Avenue: Local Landmarking-Shirley Brabender Mattox/Rich Green This item was not discussed due to loss of quorum. b. 2018 WHS Conference-Shirley Brabender Mattox This item was not discussed due to loss of quorum. c. 2019 WAHPC Conference-Shirley Brabender Mattox This item was not discussed due to loss of quorum. d. Mark Buechel: Seminar on State Tax Credits-Steve Cummings This item was not discussed due to loss of quorum. e. Feedback on Landmarks Website Stats-Harold Buchholz This item was not discussed due to loss of quorum. f. Feedback on Landmarks Facebook Page-Steven Wiley This item was not discussed due to loss of quorum. 15. Agenda Items for Next Meeting/Statements Ongoing items such as the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Historic Preservation Plan, the website and Facebook stats and revised west wall Grand Opera House signage. Any ongoing items that might come up before the next meeting also would be included on the agenda. Mr. Wiley moved the proposed work for 217 High Avenue to the January agenda. 12. Adjournment Mr. Arnold made a motion to adjourn and Mr. Cummings seconded. Meeting adjourned at 4:21 pm (4- 0). Recorded by: Steven Wiley,Assistant Planner