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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 20 2012 EPC Minutes ApproveAPPROVED 9M MEETING MINUTES City of Evanston EVANSTON PRESERVATION COMMISSION Tuesday, November 20, 2012 7:00 P.M. Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Room 2200 Members Present: Susan Farrand, Tom Hagensick, Dian Keehan, Amy Riseborough, Garry Shumaker, Scott Utter and Jack Weiss, Members Absent: Kristen Armstrong -Matz, Kris Hartzell, Andres Lombana and Anne McGuire Staff Present: Carlos D. Ruiz Presiding: Garry Shumaker Declaration of Quorum With a quorum present, Chairman G. Shumaker called the meeting to order at 7:12 pm APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES of March 20, May 15, August 21, September 18, and October 16, 2012. This item was discussed later in the meeting, at which time the following was approved: August 21, 2012 Minutes - Correct Scott Utter last name and page 6 of 8 G. Shumaker It was moved (S. Farrand) and seconded (A. Riseborough) to accept the August 21, 2012 minutes as corrected. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Jack Weiss revised the sentence as follows: I understand that you want to move parking to the edge of the campus for a more pedestrian friendly campus. That will create a balance between green space and buildings." It was motioned (S. Farrand) and seconded (A. Riseborough) to approve the October 16, 2012 minutes as amended. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Survey Sub -Committee - Phase II Grant Update Carlos Ruiz said the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency approved the survey's final report (Lakeshore Historic District). He also requested the maximum amount of the reimbursement (total cost of project $21,000). Page 1 of 7 Preservation Commission APPROVED Next Sub -Committee meeting will be scheduled in January 2013. Garry Shumaker left messages to Mark Varner, when the survey should be on line up and running. The Sub -Committee will discuss the next grant cycle. STAFF REPORTS A. Update on meeting with Patrice Frey, Director of Sustainability, National Trust for Historic Preservation This item was discussed later in the meeting, at which time Carlos Ruiz reported that Garry Shumaker, Anne McGuire and he met with Patrice Frey, Director for Sustainability at the National Trust. The National Trust is working with many communities to address sustainability from the preservation point of view. Carlos Ruiz said they talked about window replacement. P. Frey is in support of window restoration. They talked about solar panels, insulating homes (walls and roofs). He said the City has a full time sustainability coordinator. Garry Shumaker would like to have information on line such as literature about sustainability. P. Frey said she could provide a fact sheet that lists numerically how to make your historic site more efficient. G. Shumaker said an applicant should see first the check the list when seeking information on line. He noted that the Commission purview is not the mechanics of sustainability of buildings. However, the Commission's contribution should be putting this information out for home owners in laymen terms. The Commission discussed the City's periodic mailings where the Commission could contribute information such as the window seminar and about sustainability. Other ways to reach an audience would be giving a summary of the window seminar, or give information about how one can be sustainable from the preservation perspective. Garry Shumaker said other people from the City including Catherine Hurley, Dean Mosca, Martin Travis should be involved. Dian Keehan said a completed zoning analysis would be helpful to have particularly in important projects. G. Shumaker said Patrice Frey is on board with the preservation issues and with what the Commission is doing about them. 2013 Preservation Commission Officers: Carlos Ruiz said a slate of officers should be placed on the agenda for the December 2012 meeting. G. Shumaker informed that Kristen Armstrong has resigned from the Commission and she asked to be considered for appointment as Associate member. Also, Andres Lombana may resign from the Commission. Sustainability Issues: Page 2 of 7 Preservation Commission APPROVED The Commission discussed topics for a preservation symposium in 2013. Commissioners agreed on including sustainability for the symposium. Also invite Carla Bruni and Julie Liska. Scott Utter mentioned a person who can talk about air leakage in buildings. Bill Rose at University of Illinois may be another resource. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. 1026 Forest Avenue (LSHD) — Remove existing aluminum and wood siding. Replace existing 3" exposure with 4" exposure hardie board siding. Match existing wood siding details with hardie trim details. New corner boards, band board, casing, frieze and crown. Remove existing single pane wood windows and aluminum storms. Replace 17 double hung windows "wood" with "Marvin" aluminum clad wood replacement insert units. Replace 5 existing windows with "Marvin" full replacements. Match existing details as similar as possible. (Revisions: Review existing siding and trim and window mullion details. Compare with new material details. Replace existing 1x8" band boards with 5/4x8 hardie trim. Replace existing 1x8 fascia and crown with 5/4x8 and azek crown. Replace existing "east" gable siding with hardie board siding. Replace existing "north, west and south" gables siding with staggered edge hardie shake siding. Restore existing trim details. New crown and cap detail on east elevation windows only. 5/4x4.5" casing with 2x sill on all other windows. Six light mullion detail on the east elevation windows. No mullions in all other windows). Mark Anderson, contractor and owners presented the revised plans. M. Anderson said based on the Commission's comments at the last meeting, they made the following revisions: Head board siding 4' vs. 3" exposure, saving the gable band around the house, the front of the house is somewhat Colonial, the other three sides of the house are more Queen Anne. On the front elevation they are saving the front door and all the trim around the front door and the gable band that goes around the house. They will use corner boards around the house. The existing windows have 5" casing, they are using 5 1/4" x 4'/2" wide. The casing detail will be used around the house. The gable band on the front elevation is 18" to 20" high and each square is 5 1/4" square. The north elevation gable detail will remain; it is 16" tall made out several pieces. The soffit boards on the side (1x6 butt joint) will be replaced with hardie board. On the south corner of the elevation, there is a dormer with column details on the dormer. The bay on the south side will be restored. The west side and south side gables have a flat band 5 1/4/ x 12 to be replaced in kind. They wanted to save the details on the house including: the cantilever, the front door, the front door trim, the gable bands, on the south side the bay newel details. Garry Shumaker thanked M. Anderson for the well thought out presentation. Page 3 of 7 Preservation Commission APPROVED It was moved (J, Weiss) and seconded (D. Keehan) to approve the COA for alteration at 1026 Forest because standards for review of alteration 1-7, 9 and 10 apply and have been met. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. B. 1622 Forest Place (L/LSHD) — Demolition of existing coach house. Construction of a new six -car coach house in place of existing coach house on alley Paul Janicki, architect presented the project. P. Janicki said their intent is to demolish the carriage house and replace it with a new structure with about the same footprint and mass, but in a style that is consistent with the Mayo and Mayo design. The carriage house was not redesigned by Mayo and Mayo. P. Janicki said there are no original carriage house doors or man doors. On the west elevation: the dormers have been filled in with siding and casement windows were put in place. On the north side there are openings for AC, windows are boarded up, doors and windows are not original. He said there are not enough historic features to save. Chris Perry and Bill Demode, structural engineers, said the carriage house has structural issues including: south end of the building, entire room was fired damage, studs were damaged, and fire damage was painted over. Rafter tails are beginning to rot and need to be replaced. All around the building has problems where siding comes down to grade and is rot. In some locations there was a masonry curb, the joints in the masonry have been flashed out. At an area over a gable is out of plumb. List of structural repairs: new wall siding and cladding, replace studs, new deeper roof rafters for fire requirements, new floor frame and joists, providing a new framing system, a new curb, new rafter tails, steel beams bearing on wood columns, some of these columns are splitting. Paul Janicki said there will be no change in the use of the building; second floor will still be a dwelling. The project is compliant with zoning. Regarding special use, Paul Janicki said they may or may not apply for special use. He said that is not part of this application. Dian Keehan asked if they dropped the scale of the structure from 2'/2 to 1-1/2 stories. S. Farrand felt very strongly that the structure should be saved; it is contributing to historic district and the alley as well. She was not convinced that the only solution was to tear it down. Janicki this is an opportunity to transform the carriage house to match the style of the house. There is a historic precedent especially with Mayo and Mayo. None of the carriage house doors are original. Anne Earle and Mary McWilliams said that it was not unusual in Evanston that barns were not remodeled in the same style of the house. Garry Shumaker said the structure does not have enough left to justify its preservation; especially when the Mayo and Mayo remodel is being celebrated. S. Page 4 of 7 Preservation Commission APPROVED Farrand said that from the alley it fits in that context. Scott Utter was concerned with the protection of low style vernacular architecture and its diminishing quantity within the City. He would like to see it repaired and brought back to what it was. D. Keehan was concerned with the scale of the new structure. P. Janicki said the height of the new structure is probably 2' higher than the existing carriage house. Dian Keehan asked about the length being 90' the existing is 62'. P. Janicki said the porte cochere adds up to the 90'. The Commission held the decision on demolition to do more research on the structure. Garry Shumaker suggested pulling down the height of the structure to reduce the scale. S. Farrand said on the alley on the west side there are garages smaller than the proposed structures. On the other hand, east of the alley, the structures are similar in scale to the proposed carriage house. G, Shumaker suggested eliminating the porte cochere. P. Janicki said the garage to the north is similar in scale to the existing garage; the proposed structure would be taller. Carlos Ruiz said the design of a new structure should be approved before the Commission decides on the demolition. C. Ruiz said the Commission will have to review the project for the special use. P. Janicki agreed to send revised plans to staff or Garry Shumaker for comments. It was moved (J. Weis) and seconded (T. Hagensick) to table the item. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. NEW BUSINESS A. 1140 Hinman Avenue (LSHD) —Replacement of seven double hung wood windows with new double hung Fibrex windows. Jim McNamara, contractor, presented the project. J. McNamara said he would like to replace 7 windows, 3 windows east and 4 facing south. All windows are on the second floor. The windows are being done in a color consistent with the woodwork on the home, pine interior to be painted. All the material on the exterior will remain intact and will not be covered with any material. The windows weights pockets will be removed and filled with insulation. Jim McNamara said the existing check rail heights are 1 3/4, 2 1/32" The existing sash style width is 2" similar to the new windows. Visible glass slight loss is from 29" to 28 '/4". Scott Utter said the frame is included representing a 20 % loss of visual light. J. McNamara said the existing glass area is19 '/2" vs. 17 9/16. The actual loss of visual light loss was approximately 12%. Page 5 of 7 Preservation Commission APPROVED Garry Shumaker asked if the rest of the windows will remain. J. McNamara said the front windows are original on the porch bay area. The top third floor windows are original. The small double hung windows with leaded glass are also original. Garry Shumaker said that the proposed windows for replacement seemed to be reasonably repairable. Jim (no last name) of Andersen Windows said the owner wants to closely replicate the windows that have been already replaced on two bedrooms on the second floor south side of the home and have more energy efficiency. One of the replaced windows is Andersen. Three windows on the south side were done 10 years ago (not Andersen windows). The brick molds on the exterior and other wood work has remained intact. Garry Shumaker said based on the information and details shown, he could not imagine approving the replacement of windows on the front bay. Loosing between 10% to 14% of glass light and changing the profile and the shadow line of the windows would be a mistake. He rather have insulated storm windows. T. Hagensick said he would like to know more about the windows on the east elevation; they do not appear to be too far gone. Garry Shumaker said the Commission's purview does not extent to the affordability or cost implication. The owners should investigate restoration of the windows; they do not appear to be beyond service. In the past the Commission has approved windows on secondary and rear facades with the Renewal product. He said on principal and primary facades, specially on landmark buildings, mixing and matching windows is not in the best of the purview of the Commission is. Three windows on the rear porch are Renewal. Need to understand what the rest of windows are. Garry Shumaker said he would like to see more information that the windows are not serviceable, especially on the front elevation. If the motivation is energy efficiency only, he is not inclined to consider replacement. The applicants agreed to resubmit the proposal. B. 604 Judson Avenue (LSHD) Interior remodel and addition to existing 2-story + basement single family residence including new roofed porch at east side, 2-story + basement addition to the south side, 1-story addition to north side, window replacement and roof re -configuration at east side. Chris Bremer, architect presented the project. C. Bremer said they are proposing alterations to the front east elevation by removing the center peak roof and constructing a gable across the second floor of the east elevation of the house. Also change the windows on the existing enclosed porch and constructing an open front porch. There is a one story addition on the north elevation and a two story addition on the south elevation. Page 6 of 7 Preservation Commission APPROVED Commissioners expressed concern with the proposed front elevation where a gable roof is being added. Also they pointed out that the roof lines are not yet worked out. S. Utter said on the west elevation the one-story gable with a chimney is not correctly drawn. The roof should be a hip on the east. The Commission pointed out that there were errors on the elevation drawings. Garry Shumaker said even though there are many alterations to the house, the applicants should look at the alignment of windows, carefully look at what the elevations and what the rhythm of the structure is. He suggested building a small model of the structure to show it will come together. He also said it will be useful to see a second floor plan. J. Weiss said the proposed revisions on these elevations are significant changes to the house. Mary McWilliams said the house is a contributing structure for age; it is a Gothic cottage (vernacular) if the front elevation peak roof line is removed, and the history of the house is being removed. Don Ruther of 535 Judson said the little gable over the front door is not quite relevant to the rest of the house. The roof pitch of the proposed gable is not quite appropriate and looks more suburban. He suggested about the existing porch to at least make some logic of the little window above, the three windows on the second floor don't seem to relate anything very clearly, and the roof along the side either. Chris Bremer agreed to withdraw the application until next meeting. COMMUNICATIONS No Communications. ADJOURNMENT I was motioned (J. Weiss) and seconded (A. Riseborough) to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. on November 20, 2012. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Respectfully submitted, Carlos D. Ruiz Preservation Coordinator, Community and Economic Development Department/ Planning and Zoning Page 7 of 7 Preservation Commission