Historic Preservation Commission

IDAHO FALLS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting, January 19, 2016 Noon, Annex Conference Room Minutes Attending: Renee Magee, Rox Mitro, Hersh Mynarcik, Kim Smith, Krisi Staten, Graham Whipple, and Julie Williams. Staff Brad Cramer, Director, Brent McLane, Current Planner, and Debra Petty, Recording Secretary. Call to Order at 12:05 p.m. Minutes: None. Civic Auditorium: Cramer said the Civic Auditorium and City Hall are on the agenda because he is considering a staff position assigned specifically to Historic Preservation Planning. The new Municipal Services Director, Pam Alexander, is evaluating all City facilities. She believed the Civic Auditorium was on the National Register. Cramer since learned it is not and asked what it would take to have it listed. Williams said the first step is to get a preliminary determination of eligibility from SHPO. This would inform them there may be a push to modify the facility and the Commission believes it is eligible. Magee said photos of the exterior and interior should be taken. Williams said the request for preliminary determination would include of a letter, photos, and justification for eligibility to SHPO. She said the City of Destiny has a modest history of the building. Magee said Mary Klingler did a great deal of research on the Auditorium for the 150th Centennial. Williams said a building that is eligible to the Register is treated the same as one that is listed. The short term approach would be to list it then complete the process to get it on the National Register. McLane questioned whether it should be a project for next year. Williams said listing it would not take long and is willing to take the lead. Cramer would like McLane to take a support role. City Hall Fire Station: Cramer said the fire department will soon vacate the fire station at City Hall. He said the building is on the National Register. The space is being looked at for remodel. Alexander is sensitive about maintaining the historic elements and integrity of the building and is putting together a committee of City staff to determine what can be done with the space. Cramer made sure that he and Chief Building Official Reggie Fuller are on the committee. He asked if the Commission had any specific concerns. Magee said there are plans to expand the width of the door in Utility Services. If the opening is expanded the terra cotta and the brick would be reused, however, more material would be needed to match the existing terra cotta. She spoke to Fuller about the fire bay doors. He told her he was trying to recreate the old fire doors with an office space behind. Whipple said it is important to preserve the look of the bay doors. Magee told fuller to take photos and email them to Tricia Canaday, Architectural Historian. Magee said CDBG funds could be used for installation of an elevator. The possibility of using the space for a fire museum is still under consideration. Cramer said Bateman Hall has someone in Boise that specializes in Lidar photography. The technology can take digital information to recreate blueprints. Barring the cost, Alexander would like to have the entire building done. He will be invited to take some sample shots first, then possibly the whole building. Julie said it might be possible to involve the INL Technical Assistance Program. Cramer said the original plan for the fire station doesn’t follow the Downtown Design Guidelines. The building is set too far back and there was to be parking at the corner of E Street and Park Avenue adjacent to the street. Staff convinced them to get a variance for the parking and create a public space instead. 2016 Work Program: Magee said the data entry for the Keefer Addition will be complete by March 31st. Cramer said he with check with Thane Sparks for permission to have the Commission do data entry in the computer lab. The Annual Walking Tour is June 25th and covers the 11th Street District. Mynarcik has already placed the date in the Idaho Falls Magazine. Williams will send an email to the Commission with three dates they can choose from to begin the mid-century transportation corridor inventory windshield survey. Whipple is progressing on the Original Townsite Brochure. Roundtable Discussion: Williams said there is a Facebook page for Idaho Falls Preservation. Someone who purchased a home in Hughes Imperial Estates wants to know the history of the home and property. Magee is able to provide some basic information. Williams has a standard response for such requests and will provide her with a link to “Researching Your Home.” Williams said the appointment of a new commission member is in HPC 1-19-16 Minutes - Final.docx Page 1 of 2  process. She reminded the Commission that January 20th meeting for coordination of County and City Historical Groups begins at 11:00 a.m. at the Museum of Idaho. All members are invited to attend. Mynarcik said during the conference he attended last year, he toured downtown Baltimore. He recently learned approval was given to demolish eleven square blocks of abandoned buildings, constructed in the 1920’s, rather than rehab them. He learned during the tour the University of Maryland and Hopkins University bought up a large number of building to rehab. One of the first bottle cap manufacturing buildings was restored and now serves as a design and fabrication studio. The meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Debra Petty, Recording Secretary HPC 1-19-16 Minutes - Final.docx Page 2 of 2