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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 21 2012 EPC Minutes ApproveMEETING MINUTES City of PRESERVATION COMMISSSION Evanston Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7 p.m. Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Room 2200 Members Present: Suzanne Farrand, Kris Hartzell, Anne McGuire, Amy Riseborough Thomas Hagensick, Garry Shumaker, Scott Utter and Jack Weiss Members Absent: Kristen Armstrong -Matz, Andres Lombana, and Dian Keehan, Staff Present: Carlos Ruiz Presiding Member: Garry Shumaker Declaration of Quorum With a quorum present, Commissioner S. Farrand called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Chairman G. Shumaker arrived soon after. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES of August 30, October 18 December 20, 2011 and January 17, 2012 This item was discussed later in the meeting, at which time it was motioned (A. Riseborough) and seconded (A. McGuire) that the minutes of January 17, 2012 be approved. A voice vote was taken and the minutes were approved. Vote: 8 ayes 0 nays. It was motioned (S. Farrand) and seconded (J. Weiss) that the August 30, 2011 minutes be approved. A voice vote was taken and the minutes were approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 0 nays. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Survey Sub -Committee - Phase 2 Update This item was discussed later in the meeting, at which time Carlos Ruiz reported that the volunteers (Anne Earle and Mary McWilliams) and the consultant (Granacki Historic Consultants) are in the process in conducting the research for Phase 2. C. Ruiz completed the research of the properties on Judson and Hinman (Certificates of Appropriateness issued) since 2001. Lara Ramsey of GHC has taken photos of all the buildings. Mark Varner, GIS Specialist, has some concern that the photos might be too large to download them faster from the internet. Also, the contract with GHC is signed. Garry Shumaker asked to set up a meeting with the consultants and Mark Varner. Page 1 of 7 Preservation Commission On another subject Garry Shumaker said Andres Lombana had volunteered to produce a video on historic preservation. STAFF REPORTS Items A and B were discussed later in the meeting: A. Discussion on scheduling the 2012 Preservation Commission Retreat Carlos Ruiz said the Commission could benefit from a retreat to set goals and focus on current issues such as sustainability. Some of the accomplishments from prior retreats include: The adoption of the current Preservation Ordinance; the Northeast Evanston and Oakton Historic Districts; the development of the current application form, to name a few. The challenge is to come up with ideas that the City Council will embrace. Garry Shumaker said the Commission could work on more community outreach initiatives such as the re -survey of historic districts and the window symposium. Other ideas included a new walking tours pocket book. Commissioners agreed to consider a list of topics and suggesting dates for a retreat. B. Discussion on scheduling the 2012 Preservation and Design Awards Carlos Ruiz said that Preservation Month is in May. He would like to hear about nominations and ask the Commissioners participation in preparing the awards program and the selection of jurors. Miscellaneous: Tom Hagensick suggested listing the standards for review at the beginning of a project rather than at the end of the discussion. R&TA is not meeting at the moment due to time conflicts. Carlos Ruiz said he had posted on line a question about restoring aluminum windows. He had also explained in answering some of the responses that the Commission applies the standards for review for all case (landmarks and properties within historic districts). He received an email from Brad White, author of the Evanston Preservation Ordinance, with a comment that the Preservation Ordinance was not meant to be applied the same to a landmark and to a building in a historic district. When looking to a building not contributing to the district, what should be considered is the impact on the district not the building alone. On another subject, Carlos Ruiz informed the Commission that the contract purchasers of the former Kendall College property would like to meet with the Commission to introduce themselves. They do not have any plans to show the Commission yet. C. Discussion on forming a committee to integrate energy efficiency goals and sustainability principles with historic preservation This item was discussed at the appropriate order on the agenda. Page 2 of 7 Preservation Commission Catherine Hurley, Sustainable Programs Coordinator/staff to the Environmental Board was present. Carlos Ruiz said C. Hurley would be very instrumental on how to get the community involved. He said today there is within the historic preservation community a strong interest in addressing the issues of sustainability, energy efficiency and historic preservation. Looking at the current trend, should the Preservation Ordinance be amended? or guidelines developed to complement the ordinance with procedures that will address sustainability, energy efficiency and historic preservation The formation of a committee will be very helpful in addressing these issues, to look at the preservation ordinance and the information available through the internet, and published documents such how efficient are existing buildings as oppose to tearing them down. Also, thinking about new construction within historic districts, and new materials that are energy efficient, environmentally friendly and historic preservation minded. Garry Shumaker asked if this initiative is being done throughout such as Site Plan and Appearance Review and the Building Department. Catherine Hurley said this initiative in partly in the interest of the City Manager. A Committee could be considered a model to come together and draw sustainability and historic preservation together. The Environmental Board has vested interest on this issue as well. C. Ruiz said the City has adopted for large developments rules as to how energy efficient a building should be. From the building code new windows have to have certain energy efficiency rating. The new Committee's goal could be to better understand what the Preservation Ordinance is asking from the sustainability point of view, what the current trend is, or what other national organizations such as the National Trust and the National Park Service are doing for sustainability. The new Committee could start with that type of analysis and develop a guideline of what we would like to achieve as a City and have historic preservation as one of the components of sustainability. Getting other people involved, have workshops and public meetings where an initial framework for determining what sustainability and historic preservation have in common could be worked out. For an initial phase a small group is recommended and from there have more opportunities for people in the broader community who care about historic preservation and sustainability. Garry Shumaker suggested expanding the new Committee to include individuals such as Dean Mosca and people in the Building Department, who are more adapt in understanding these things. From the Commission's purview and goals, sustainability is a little far reaching, but it is important to understand how those things can be affected by sustainability. He mentioned the Commission's window symposium and that it is a clear indication that the Commission is committed to the sustainability and the continuation of preservation in that vein. That information should be worked in how this is presented back to the City Manager and what this Commission has begun to do. The following Commissioners volunteered to be part of the Committee: Anne McGuire, Garry Shumaker, Tom Hagensick, Scott Utter, and Kris Hartzell. Page 3 of 7 Preservation Commission Catherine Hurley would be also a Committee member and Carlos Ruiz will staff the Committee. G. Shumaker asked to include Dennis Marino for the first meeting. UNFINISHED BUSINESS No unfinished business NEW BUSINESS A. 2241 Sherman Avenue (NEHD/C) — Construct a two -car garage in the same style and exterior stucco finish of the main house. Jim McGuire, owner, presented plans for the construction of two -car detached garage at the rear of the lot with an alley access. The garage materials are stucco, double hung windows, similar roof line as the house. The existing garage will not be demolished which has access from the street. The proposed new garage is compliant with zoning. Commission members noted that the proposed garage is a substantial garage. The massing of the garage is comparable to the massing of the house. The proposed garage is a 1 '/2 - story garage. There are other garages in the neighborhood of similar size and a 2-story coach house in the neighborhood. The garage door material would be wood or aluminum clad door. It was moved (J. Weiss) and seconded (Kr. Hartzell) to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the garage at 2241 Sherman Avenue in that it meets standards for construction 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 16. The motion passed. Vote: 6 ayes, 2 nays. B. 1937 Sheridan Road (L) — Re -opening the existing west entry doors while reworking the existing west entry stairs and plaza to accommodate new accessible walkways. Improve exterior lighting at the new plaza, and new landscaping keeping in kind with the existing. [Alteration/Construction/ Demolition] Robert Carlton with Northwestern University, Aric Lasher, Bill Kinane, and Dennis Rupert of HBRA architects presented the project. A. Lasher said the proposed work is the restoration of the west entry of Deering Library, as a functional entry to the building. The building was built in 1930s by architect James Gamble Rogers. Deering Library is an extraordinary example of the late collegiate Gothic with some Art Deco. When the main library was opened in 1970, the west entrance to Deering was permanently closed. Access to Deering Library was and remains currently through a lower level corridor in the back of the original library. The scope of work for the west entry will include: Providing an accessible route to the entrance, improvements and restoration of the plaza using historically accurate material, restoration and re-lamping of the historic lighting at the exterior of building, Page 4 of 7 Preservation Commission as well as providing some new lighting at the accessible route at the relocated steps to the entry plaza. Interior component includes: way finding, improvements to the accessible route within the building that connected internally to the main library. Also, restoration of finishes, lighting fixtures and providing new cases and restoration of existing display cases. It was moved (J. Weiss) and seconded (A. Riseborough) to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for Deering Library at 1937 Sheridan Road in that it meets all standards for alteration 1-10. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 1 abstention. It was moved (S. Farrand) and seconded (K. Hartzell) to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for Deering Library at 1937 Sheridan Road, because it meets all of the standards 1-5 of demolition. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 1 abstention. C. 2253 and 2303 Sheridan Road (L) - West elevation: New exit stair addition on the first and fourth floors. Glazing infill of the arch opening as part of the first floor landing of the new stair. Restoration of 12 double hung wood windows on the west primary fagade and the replacement of 14 non -original windows with wood aluminum clad windows to match the original windows. Replace existing non -original railings at 4t" floor brick dormers at Foster House (2253 Sheridan) with new painted steel railings to match original. Removing a non -original addition above the bridge link between Foster House and Green House 2303 Sheridan. [Alteration/Construction/Demolition] Steve Matz of Northwestern University, and Dan Weese, architect presented the project. D. Weese said the site plans shows brick walkways connecting the buildings and extend to Sheridan Road and to driveways to the north and south. They form a focus point on the center of the quad. Two buildings are involved, Foster and CCCS, a tower shaped building at the center of the run of buildings on Sheridan. Other work within the courtyard is not visible from the street. The project is providing accessibility to the buildings in the quad. The project affects the western elevation of the CCCS building and the Foster House as well as the end elevation of both buildings and a small portion of the Foster House building. CCCS is the building with the steeper roof at the center and Foster House is to the side. There is a 2-story bridge link between CCCS and Foster House. The chimney is part of CCCS and the bridge link between Foster House and the building to the east is called Green House will be removed. Dan Weese said at one in time there was an extensive window replacement program, so all of Foster House windows have replacement aluminum double hung windows, that match the original but the detailing is different than the original. In CCCS there are three different window types: at the first floor where the arch windows are located and in the basement are the aluminum replacements, at the second and third floors, are the original wood windows and at the upper floors (four and five) are replacement windows (1950s or 1960s). These windows are in Page 5 of 7 Preservation Commission disrepair and do not match the muntin pattern of the original. There are guard rails in the dormers on Foster House that are not original either. The scope of work includes: removal of the exterior steel fire escape and replace it with an interior fire escape with an infill lobby at the first floor that will serve both buildings. At the roof top the new structure is setback approximately 8 ft from the front of the building. The eave of the original roof will remain intact as well as the Chimney and the mansard roof below the windows at CCCS. Dan Weese said the restoration work includes: Cleaning and repointing existing masonry, reusing existing brick, matching the coursing and patterning of the brick, the color and the texture of the mortar and the mortar joints. Replace the non - historic guardrails at the Foster fourth floor dormer; install a new steel guardrail; repair or replace in kind roof slate and flashings. Alterations: Removal of the non - original addition at the link between Foster and Green House. Additions: Stair infill; the stairs on the north breezeway; restore the original wood windows on floors 2 and 3 and to replace the non -original replacement windows on floors 4 and 5. The arches will be butt glazed. Dan Weese asked if the Commission would consider the replacement of all the windows at 2, 3, 4, and 5 floors. The main issue besides sustainability and energy efficiency is maintenance and the fact that there are 3 different kinds of windows. The Commission response was that before a decision is made they would like to see what the alternatives are. Dan Weese and Chris Matz agree to come back next month and address the Commission's comments below: • Provide more information to better understand the details of the proposed butt - glazed infill glazing at the south bridge link. • Try to achieve greater sense of connection between the new at -grade infill glazing and the new glazing at the roof. • Possibly eliminate the brick infill at the south breezeway and make the infill all glass. • Push the glazing back from the existing brick arch so the arch reads more clearly. • Concern about adding elements to the overall composition that introduce asymmetry. • Concern about the detailing of the railings and retaining walls at the north breezeway • New replacement windows to replace the existing non -original windows at floors 4 and 5 are acceptable • Restoration of existing original windows at floors 2 and 3 is desirable • Removal of existing non -original addition at bridge link between Foster House and Green House to the east is acceptable • Replacement of non -original guardrails at dormer balconies at Foster House to match railings as detailed in original drawings is acceptable. Page 6 of 7 Preservation Commission COMMUNICATIONS No communications. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was moved and seconded to adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved at 8:50 p.m., February 21, 2012. Respectfully Submitted, Carlos D. Ruiz Senior Planner/Preservation Coordinator, Community and Economic Development Department — Planning and Zoning Division Page 7 of 7 Preservation Commission