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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEHC Reg 01-03-17 approved 02-07-17City of Elgin Elgin Heritage Commission January 3, 2017 Minutes A. The meeting of the Elgin Heritage Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers by Chairman John Wiedmeyer. 1. Members Present: George Rowe, Judith Van Dusen, Brian Anderson, Kim Bauer, John Marston, Steve Thoren, Scott Savel, Tom Krebsbach and John Wiedmeyer 2. Members Absent: None 3. Others Present: None 4. City Staff Present: Christen Sundquist, Historic Preservation Planner B. Approval of Minutes: 1. A motion was made by Commissioner Anderson to approve the November 1, 2016 minutes with the following amendments: The location of the Elgin History cobblestone event under Agenda Item E-1-C was omitted. The following was inserted, “…volunteers came out to the site of the Nany Kimball House (302 W. Chicago St)…” The motion was seconded by Commissioner Savel. The motion passed 8-0-1 (1 abstention: Krebsbach). C. Recognize Persons Present: None D. Plaque applications: 1. 1036 Hill Avenue – The plaque nomination received the following average scores: Historic Significance 6.89; Architectural Significance: 6.89; Current Maintenance: 7.33. A motion was made by Commissioner Thoren to approve awarding the plaque for the property with the inscription that would read C. & E. (Cleytus & Edna) Krunnfuss, 1926. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Savel. The motion passed unanimously. The Commission agreed that in the future, if the builder and/or architect cannot be found, that the applicant shall notate N/A in this area on the application form to indicate that they could not uncover the architect/builder in the their research. E. Old Business 1. Reports from Neighborhood Groups on Heritage Related Activities Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes Page 2 January 3, 2017 a. Elgin History Museum - Commissioner Rowe noted that the Heritage Commission’s December Heritage Awards was well attended at the Elgin History Museum. He continued to thank Commissioner Thoren, Commissioner Bauer and Staff for their hard work on a successful evening. Commissioner Anderson wanted to clarify that the photographs used for 928 Bellevue Avenue were not current and that he encourages all to drive past the home to see the new paint colors. b. NENA – NENA held its annual Homes for the Holidays tour the first week in December. Commissioner Van Dusen stated that it was well attended and all of the homes were beautifully decorated for the season. Commissioner Anderson thanked Staff for the timely completion of the plaque for 1015 Douglas Avenue and noted that the owners were pleased to receive it prior to being on the Homes for the Holidays Tour. c. Staff and Chairman Wiedmeyer congratulated the Commission again for their Illinois Association of Historic Preservation Commission’s Commission Excellence Award. The ceremony was held on December 10th at the Joliet History Museum. d. Commissioner Marston noted that there was a fantastic article regarding Elgin’s museums in the latest issue of Bravo that he encourages all to read. e. Commissioner Thoren noted that he recently gave the winner of the Heritage Commission’s Window Treasure Hunt, a two-hour, private tour of the Wing Mansion. The Commission thanked Commissioner Thoren for offering the prize. 2. Mayor’s Initiative Ideas a. Directional Signage 2017 (i) Staff noted that the Downtown Neighborhood Association – Design Committee is interested in partnering for the creation of signage for the Downtown Historic Commercial District. The idea for a competition of the design of the signage was also brought up at the DNA – Design Committee’s meeting in December, 2016. The Heritage Commission agreed that this would be a great partnership. A motion was made by Commissioner Anderson to partner with the Downtown Neighborhood Association – Design Committee for the organization of a design competition for the historic distr ict signage. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Thoren. The motion passed unanimously. b. Web Based App 1. Tour Booklets: (i) Staff noted to the commission that the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s Design Committee will be beginning its second phase in tour booklets. The second phase will be focused on churches located downtown or Elgin’s mid-century modern buildings located in its city center. Staff noted that a mid-century modern tour would be more in line with a possible tour that is being organized for the Chicago Architectural Biennial and/or National Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes Page 3 January 3, 2017 Trust for Historic Preservation Annual PastForward Conference, both held in the fall of 2017 in Chicago. (ii) Staff also stated to the Commission that the Near West Neighbors Association are currently working on a tour booklet to be completed by May, Preservation Month. 2. Photographs: It was noted that the Commission is diligently taking photographs of their assigned buildings and will return the photographs as soon as possible to staff to upload to the website. Commission Bauer noted that she is currently uploading the plaque applications from 1991 working back until 1986 (program start). F. New Business a. 2016 Budget wrap up and 2017 budget projects 1. Ms. Sundquist noted that the partnership with the Downtown Neighborhood Association for the 2016 Mayor’s Awards helped cut a lot of costs associated with the ceremony. Ms. Sundquist also stated that the remaining balance was $1,246.28 and was donated to the Elgin Area Historical Society to be used for the Dairies to Prairies Documentary, Nancy Kimball House and/or the purchase of new equipment. Commissioner Anderson asked if the Commission should set aside funds for attendance for the upcoming National Trust Conference in November, held in Chicago. The Commission agreed to discuss setting aside funds once fees, sessions and tours are known. b. 2017 Heritage Commission Goals 1. Staff presented a list of possible goals that the Heritage Commission could focus on this year. She asked that the Commissioners review the list and at the next meeting the Commission should discuss what to focus their efforts on this year. c. Preservation Month Planning 1. Staff stated that this year’s Mayor’s Awards will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 1 Douglas Avenue – 4th Floor. She noted that this space is currently empty and that the owner, Kurt Kresmery, has graciously offered the space for no fee. The space offers everything that the Commission is looking for including easy access, an elevator, historic elements (exposed brick), a kitchenette, and a large open space. Staff did note that the Commission is responsible for providing chairs, tables and linens along with clean up. Commissioner Rowe volunteered to look into borrowing chairs (250) for the event. Staff stated that she will contact Heritage Commission Associate member, JoEllen Doscher, who was the caterer for the past Mayors Awards events, to see if she’d volunteer to cater the event again this year. The call out for nominations for the Mayor’s Awards will be announced on Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes Page 4 January 3, 2017 January 23rd with a due date on February 24th and preservation month event registration forms due on March 24th. d. Staff noted that there are several conferences and events happening in Chicago in the fall including the Chicago Architectural Biennial, the National Trust f or Historic Preservation Annual PastForward conference and DOCOMOMO Annual National Tour Day. She stated that she will be working with Landmarks Illinois to organize a mid-century tour in Elgin, including Bertrand Goldberg’s Laundry Building for the upcoming conferences in the fall. Once initial items have been organized, she noted that she may need help from the Commissioners with the organization. G. Other Business 1. Commissioner Bauer discussed having the Heritage Commission connect with State Senator, Cristina Castro, to give her a tour of our historic resources in one of our districts. Commissioner Bauer noted that since this is a new appointment for Senator Castro that it would be beneficial to give her a background of Elgin’s history and what we have to offer. 2. Commissioner Van Dusen noted that she was recently in Houston, Texas to visit her son and went on several tours of the historic districts that they have in the City. She found it interesting that the city offers a Historic Building Relocation Program and no ted that it was founded in 2002. The program has successfully relocated 32 homes to provide affordable housing throughout Houston. The program boasts its innovative, green strategy to address its affordable housing needs. If the buildings were not relocated, they would have been demolished, with its materials ending up in the landfill. H. Adjournment A motion was made by Commissioner Thoren to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Krebsbach and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Christen Sundquist, Historic Preservation Planner Community Development Department Approved: 02-07-17