Historic Preservation Commission

IDAHO FALLS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, March 5, 2020 12:00 p.m., Annex Conference Room Minutes Members Present: Carrie Athay (Chair), Rachel McMurtrey (Vice Chair), Christopher White, Hereschell Mynarcik, Kim Smith. Catherine Smith Members Absent: Graham Whipple Also Present: Current Planner Brent McLane Meeting Called to Order: Carrie Athay called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m. Minutes: Mynarcik made a motion to approve the minutes from February 6, 2020. White seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 2020 Walking Tour: A conversation was had regarding the stops along the walking tour. The tour will go from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a 9:30 a.m. set up and will begin at the Downtown Parking Lot with the Sanborn maps of the area. From here, it will continue down Park to Cliff where Catherine Smith will set up the first station and discuss the history of Cliff St. Continuing down Cliff to Johnson Brothers Hereschell Mynarcik will set up the second station discussing Johnson Brothers. The third station will be set up on the corner of Lava and Onieda and will be used as a turn and will be guided by Brent McLane. From here, the tour will continue down Lava to Chamberlain where another station will be manned by Christopher White. White will discuss rail road housing and the importance of the railroad to the area. Rachel McMurtrey will run the next station at the corner of Chamberlain and Short and discuss housing, the old Eagle Rock School and Louis Elg. From Short, the tour will travel to Capital and back up to Lava where Graham Whipple will be stationed. This stop will have information regarding St. Clair and the housing across Capital. Continuing down Capital there will be an unmanned station across from the power station with their information. Continuing down Capital next to the library parking lot, Carrie Athay will be stationed discussing the old ZCMI, Anderson Brothers and warehouses. Down the library parking lot there will be another unmanned station in front of the eagle statue with a display of Captain Bonneville and when Bonneville County started. The final station will be on the corner of Park and the railroad tracks that will be manned by Kim Smith. Smith will discuss Dick Chamberlain and his role in the community, as well as, Ferrell’s and Samson Murphy. The tour will end back at the Downtown Parking lot. McLane requested any information, photos and text by the end of May so he can create the boards. McLane will arrange banners for the light poles around the City and will send out press releases. Anyone else can email blast or hand out printouts that McLane will create to any boards they see fit. Preservation Plan: McLane will send out the Preservation Plan again via email for thoughts. He will try to have this completed by the end of March. Update: Kim Smith created a letter to the Idaho Falls Police Department regarding a memorial for the new Police station being built at the site of the stock yards. McLane will email the letter to everyone so others can provide feedback prior to the final letter being sent. Catherine Smith discussed Downtown projects that were happening last year. Smith stated some have stalled and that the property owners are still working on acquiring tenants prior to completing finishing work. The property that has been seeing the most renovation is next to the Snake Bite. The owner is currently renovating the properties with no word as of yet who will occupy the building. She believes he may be targeting restaurants. The apartments in the Rogers Hotel are all full and they are currently renovating the lobby area. The Bonneville Hotel apartments are also full and is now awaiting commercial tenants. The old shoe shop will be a new pizza restaurant, and next to that Spruce House and Gift. The business next to the Celt has been sold and they are determining whether to expand or turn it into a second establishment. The question was asked if the high rents are scaring people away. Smith said she believes it is a combination of high rents and large open spaces. Smith also reported that Downtown Development has now joined with Main Street America Project and they are very excited. A discussion was had regarding new construction in Idaho Falls. Roundtable: Meeting Adjourned at 12:55 p.m. Respectfully Submitted Ann Peterson, Recording Secretary ACTION ITEMS : Ann Contact the Farmers Market and see about getting a free stall for June 6th and 13th. Brent Collect photos, information and text for boards by the end of May.