HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCDATE=AUGUST 5, 2008 (5) Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes page 3
August 5, 2008
f.Watch Factory Depot: Chairman Briska has not heard from Lindsay Stanton who is working
with legal to get the land declared abandoned and turned over to the city. Jennifer Fritz-Williams
will remind Lindsay to contact Bill for an update. Chairman Briska also suggested installing a
banner on the north gable end of depot to identify the building and its former use.
g. Downtown Historic District: Jennifer Fritz-Williams reported that the Downtown
Neighborhood Association is working on this project. Anyone interested in assisting them can
attend their monthly meetings. The next one is Tuesday, August 13`h.
h. E1gin.Historic District Survey: Jennifer Fritz-Williams reported that Allen+ Pepa Architects
will be starting the survey work this month.
E. New Business.
a. Staff Report:
a. Amendment to Historic Preservation Ordinance Re: Significant Exterior
Architectural Features: Jennifer Fritz-Williams presented the revised language
proposed by the legal department to strengthen the definition of significant exterior
architectural features. Suggestions from the commissioners included adding the
following features: masonry piers, gargoyles, gate posts,roof cresting, ridge caps,
finials, corbelled masonry, and chimney straps.
b. Neighborhood Groups Reports:
a. ARCHES/NENA: Commissioner Couture mentioned that the next ARC14ES
meeting is Wednesday(tomorrow) at DNA 7 pm.
b. Near Westside Neighbors: Commissioner Durrenberger announced that he will be
giving a lecture about the D.E. Wood house on Thursday at 7pm. This property was
demolished for a parking lot.
c. GPA: Chairman Briska announced that the Annual Housewalk is September 13'h
from 9 to 5:30 in the Spring-Douglas Historic District.
d. SWAN: Chairman Briska announced that SWAN is planning a tour of Kit Houses.
No date at this time.
e. ECN: Commissioner Couture announced that the next Elgin Community Network
lecture will be about energy savings in older houses:
c. Report from the Historical Society: None
d. Cell Phone Tour: Jerry Turnquist made a presentation to the commission regarding creating
a cell phone tour of the city. Small signs would be placed at strategic, historic locations
throughout the city with a phone number on it to call for additional information. Anyone
interested can call the number and hear a pre-recorded message about that specific location.
This idea came out of an Image Committee Meeting held about the Veterans Memorial. The
City of Aurora has the same system and Jerry called one number on his cell phone and let the
commissioner hear the recording on speaker. Everyone thought this was a wonderful idea
and other suggestions from the commissioners included Walton Island, the cemetery, Old
Main, significant downtown buildings, Lords Park, and Wing Park. Chairman Briska stated
that an orderly approach would entail first: Identifying the sites, second: Compiling a script
and recording the messages (possibly by Jerry Turnquist), third: Installing the signage, and
fourth: Publicizing the new system. Commissioner Ristow wondered what the timeline
would be for bringing the system online. He suggested rolling out the publicity during
preservation month next year, giving the commission plenty of time to research sites, record