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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 16 2010 EPC MinutesAPPROVED EVANSTON PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, Room 2200 2100 Ridge Avenue Tuesday, November 16, 2010 7:00 P.M. MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Suzanne Farrand, Kris Hartzell, Dian Keehan, Anne McGuire, Jon Pohl, Garry Shumaker, Scott Utter, Jack Weiss and Jon Willarson Associate Members: Mary McWilliams and Anne Earle MEMBERS ABSENT: Andres Lombana and Amy Riseborough OTHERS PRESENT: Stefanie Levine, Jesse and Laura Viner, Charles Smith, Gerrit Dangremond, Kevin McCann, Richard Forest, and Sally Lufkin PRESIDING: Gary Shumaker, Chair STAFF: Carlos D. Ruiz I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Garry Shumaker called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. with a quorum present: Suzanne Farrand, Kris Hartzell, Dian Keehan, Anne McGuire, Jon Pohl, Scott Utter, Jack Weiss and Jon Willarson. Staff: Carlos Ruiz. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Commission tabled the approval of minutes. III. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS A. Survey Sub-Committee Report – Report on the November 9, 2010 kick-off meeting for the survey of the Lakeshore Historic District (Phase 1) B. 2011-2012 CLG Grant Application - Draft of Application for the CLG Grant for conducting the survey of the Lakeshore Historic District (Phase 2) (*) Garry Shumaker moved these items for discussion to the end of the agenda. IV. OLD BUSINESS None. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Review & Technical Assistance Committee (R&TA) 1. 2100 Ridge Avenue (NRHP/Nominated for Landmark Designation) – Demolition of rear stairs (west elevation entrance) and construction of new stairs with cut limestone steps, brick sidewalls and salvaged limestone caps. New stairs have center ADA handrail and combination guardrail/ADA handrail. Reconstruction of ground floor entry walk and brick retaining wall [Advisory to the City Council]. Stefanie Levine, Assistant Superintendent of Parks, Recreation and Community Services said the steps to the rear entrance of the Civic Center had been removed due to extreme deterioration. The new stairs will have a midpoint landing (6’ long) and a landing at the top. The proposed raisers are 6” high and thread width is 1’-2”. The entrance immediately to the south at the lower level will be ADA compliant. The Evanston Preservation Commission APPROVED November 16, 2010 – Minutes Page 2 new walkway will be reconstructed to achieve that goal. The elevation drawings showed a similar design to the former stairs, including limestone caps (salvaged from the former stairs). The brick sidewall will match the former wall as much as possible. The railing system will be ADA compliant, including a railing on the center. The new side walls are lower than the former step up side walls. The new sidewall is capped with the salvaged limestone. The new stair will extend at least 6’ to 8’ due to the new midpoint landing and wider thread. New additional material will be used to accommodate the larger stair system. A new drainage system will be in place. Garry Shumaker said the new railing should be of the same language as the rest of the building that is being cared for, and shorten the length of the landings would be desirable. He wondered if what is being proposed is similar to what originally was there before. He said it as important figuring out what the railings and caps were before. G. Shumaker emphasized maintaining the character of the building as much as possible. He noted that limestone steps may not be built based on value engineering. Garry Shumaker asked for more information on the railing (he suggested maintaining the same language as the original, if information was available). If not, keep it simple. Scott Utter said the exposed interior face to foundation wall, should be finished. Commission’s Findings Carlos Ruiz said R&TA recommends standards for construction: 1) height, 6) rhythm of entrances and other projections, 7) relationship of materials and texture, 9) walls of continuity, 10) scale, 12) distinguishing original qualities, 13) protection of archaeological resources, 14) contemporary design, 15) removal of additions, and 16) not imposing a single architectural style as applicable. Anne McGuire motioned to advise the City on the new construction of the stair on the west elevation, that the Commission would approve it contingent on the following advisory comments: to consider the impact of the lengthening of the threads and the adding of the landings and its impact on the approach, to consider original appearance of any original side walls and railings and how that may affect the design, to consider the interior of the stair side finished in concrete, and to look for historic documentation available from the History Center and other sources. Suzanne Farrand seconded the motion. The motion passed. Vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays. 2. 1130 Judson Avenue (L/LSHD) – Proposed construction of an 8’ high x 12’ long fence along the south side property line. Maximum allowable height = 6’. Requires fence zoning variance [Construction/Zoning Variance]. Jesse and Laura Viner, owners, presented the application. J. Viner said the last 12’ of an existing 60’ long fence is 8’ high. They are requesting the 8’ high section of the fence rather than the maximum allowed 6’ high to create a visual barrier between them and the motion detector security system of their neighbors. The 8’ high fence protects their religious observance. J. Viner said approximately 65 days a year they are in violation of their religious law to activate any electric device. Dian Keehan asked if the neighbor could adjust downward the motion detector sensitivity. J. Viner said no. Laura Viner noted that the top 3’ of the 8’ high fence is lattice. The 8’ high section of the fence is not zoning compliant, reason why they need a fence variance. J. Viner said because their religious observance they would be obligated not to go to the back of their property. Commission’s Findings Garry Shumaker said he did not find a compelling reason in terms of historic preservation to approve the 8’ high fence. J. Viner believed his application meets standard C (not being materially detrimental to the public health…). G. Shumaker said the Commission was not ready for providing a favorable recommendation on the fence variance. He recommended that the applicants explore other structures that are not fences that would give the applicants the type of protection they desire, such as something at the edge of the deck. Jesse Viner agreed to come back with their landscape architect, Nature’s Perspective. The Commission tabled this item until next meeting. 3. 1215 Church Street (RHD) - Construct a wood accessibility ramp on the south elevation of house [Construction]. Evanston Preservation Commission APPROVED November 16, 2010 – Minutes Page 3 Charles Smith, applicant, presented the application for the construction of an accessibility ramp on the south side of the building to replace an existing lift. The design of the ramp incorporates the same style and materials (wood) of the existing porch balustrade and preserves an existing tree. The landing at the top connects to the existing deck. The ramp is finished with lap siding between the posts. Anne McGuire suggested using concrete for the first few feet of the ramp, coming up from grade, for durability before transitioning to wood. The ramp boards are cedar wood. There is handicap parking on the adjacent parking lot. Commission’s Findings Carlos Ruiz said R&TA recommended standards of construction 1, 2, 5-7, and 10-16 as applicable. Jon Willarson motioned to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of the ramp at 1215 Church because: 1) the height, 2) the relationship to the front façade, 5) the rhythm of the structure on the street, 6) the relationship to the entrance porch, 7) the relationship to materials, 10) the scale and 11) the directional expression on the front elevation, are all visually compatible to structures around it. Also, 12) the distinguishing original qualities are being respected, 13) archaeological resources will be protected, 14) contemporary design is not being discouraged, 15) the ramp could be removed, and 16) a single particular is not being imposed. Anne McGuire seconded the motion. Garry Shumaker amended the motion to add that the ramp’s railing design match the design of the railing on the porch. J. Willarson seconded the amended. The motion passed. Vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays. 4. 1501 Ridge Avenue (RHD) – Replace 21 steel casement windows with new wood aluminum clad casement windows to match existing window light configuration [Alteration]. Gerrit Dangremond of St. Mark’s Church Vestry presented the project. G. Dangremond said they would like to replace 21 steel casement windows with new wood aluminum clad casement Pella windows, to match the exterior windows of the Church. The 1954 building has single pane steel windows. G. Dangremond said restoration of the steel windows will cost $1,800 plus the field work is $1,000 to $1,200 approaching to total cost to $3,000 per window. Mary McWilliams said the building was not designated as a landmark in 1978 because the building then was less than 25 years old. The Church at 1509 is the designated landmark building. G. Dangremond said steel replacement windows were not considered because of the cost. Anne McGuire said the second floor windows that appear to be French casements. G. Dangremond said most of those windows open only on one side. A. McGuire said those windows may not comply with the [fire] code. Kevin McCann, contractor, said they could simulate the appearance of the existing French casement steel windows with one window opening. It will look like two windows, when is not. Kevin McCann said they will remove completely the steel windows frame. As an example he said the existing glass area of a window is 36” x 38”; the proposed window glass area is 31” x 33” or 2.5” thicker per side. Also, the window over the kitchen sink is a three-panel window; the replacement window is two-panel. G. Shumaker said the proposed windows will change the proportion and appearance of the steel windows by reducing the glass area. The proposed windows do not have the same appearance of the steel windows. Dian Keehan said the steel windows have a horizontal appearance, where the replacement windows have a vertical appearance. G. Dangremond said the restoration of the steel windows is 1.5 times more than the cost of replacement windows. Garry Shumaker said it is important to maintain the integrity of the building because is part of the Ridge historic district and is part of the Church which is a designated landmark. He asked the applicant to look into new thermally broken steel windows. G. Shumaker said the purview of the Commission is to maintain the integrity of the building and the historic district. Anne McGuire said aluminum windows are another option as it was done with windows on some Northwestern University buildings. Richard Forest of St. Marks Church said the Parish house and the Rectory windows are in horrible shape. Some cannot be closed. D. Dangremond said St. Mark’s Church cannot afford new windows on the Parish house and the Church. Garry Shumaker said the Commission would like to see other options; either steel or aluminum windows. There might be some funding available for that purpose. D. Dangremond said they are trying to replicate the appearance of the steel windows as much as they can with what they have. Garry Shumaker said the Commission’s Intend is to preserve the original design. D. Dangremond said they will explore the steel windows, but it will be a month before they could anything. Also, the cost might increase and St. Mark’s Church does not have the money for additional expense. Evanston Preservation Commission APPROVED November 16, 2010 – Minutes Page 4 Carlos Ruiz explained the Economic Hardship process and the appeal process to the City Council if the Commission were to deny the Certificate of Appropriateness for the window replacement. Sally Lufkin member of the Vestry at St. Mark’s Church asked if the Commission would approve the window replacement if they submit windows that meet the standards. G. Shumaker said if that occurs, the Commission might authorize Carlos Ruiz to approve the window replacement administratively. Jack Weiss moved to table the decision regarding the window replacement at 1501 Ridge. Kris Hartzell seconded the motion. The motion passed. Vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays. III. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS A. Survey Sub-Committee Report – Report on the November 9, 2010 kick-off meeting for the survey of the Lakeshore Historic District (Phase 1) Carlos Ruiz said the Survey Sub-Committee met with Granacki Historic Consultants on November 9. The survey project is now in progress. Mary McWilliams and Anne O. Earle will provide the historical data. Mark Varner, City staff, will transfer data in the GIS system. Mary McWilliams and Anne Earle will meet with the consultant to finalize the survey form. There will be monthly progress reports. The actual survey is not starting until February 2011. B. 2011-2012 CLG Grant Application - Draft of Application for the CLG Grant for conducting the survey of the Lakeshore Historic District (Phase 2) Carlos Ruiz distributed a draft of the application to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency requesting a CLG grant for Phase 2 of the Lakeshore Historic District. The application will include the estimate submitted by Granacki Historic Consultants. The Commission agreed to submit the application for Phase 2 and Phase 3 as one application. The application must be postmarked by November 30, 2010. VI. COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF A. 904 Hinman Avenue – Window Replacement Carlos Ruiz said that Phil Couri, attorney for Ramo Perocevic, owner of 904 Hinman, told him that they still plan to begin the window replacement in the spring of 2011. Carlos Ruiz will provide Phil Couri with information on other aluminum windows. Mr. Perocevic will not be available until January 2011. B. Appointment of Nominating Committee for the Election of 2011 Preservation Commission Officers Suzanne Farrand motioned to nominate Garry Shumaker as Chair, Jon Willarson as Vice-Chair and Kris Hartzell as Secretary as the Preservation Commission Officers for 2011. Kris Hartzell seconded the motion. The motion passed. Vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays. VII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Carlos D. Ruiz Preservation Coordinator December 16, 2010