Historic Preservation Commission

HISTORIC REVIEW BOARD MEETING NOTES – for June 24, 2019 VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: Connie Anderson Joyce Dalton Kathy Dennis Braeden Gallas Gigi McCabe-Miele Roger Potratz VOTING MEMBERS ABS Billy Greene Dwayne Hurt Todd Zeigler ADVISORY MEMBERS PRESENT: Deb Parcell Paul Roane CITY COUNSEL LIASON: None VISITORS: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion to approve made by Roger Potratz and seconded by Connie Anderson. All concurred CORRESPONDENCE: There have been messages from residents of Elston Grove who are upset about light fixtures that have been altered without notice. See New Business. CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS: 909 Cedar Street – a contributing structure Staff recommends approval of owner’s requests to modify paint colors for siding and trim. The colors are consistent with the recommended colors. Gigi McCabe-Miele moved to approve, Braeden Gallas seconded. The entire committee approved. 212 East 10th Street - contributing Replace fence on west lot line in kind and provide a matching wood fence on the east lot line. Both will be approximately 20 feet back from the front lot line.  Staff recommends approval. Connie Anderson recommends Board approval, Roger Potratz seconded and all approved. 710 Franklin – contributing structure This is a request for a business identification sign for HealthLInc on the second floor. Staff approved. Kathy Dennis recommended Board approval. Connie Anderson seconded and all concurred. 113 York Street – contributing structure This is a requires to provide new windows and doors, a new garage door and tuckpointing in an old, empty structure that is to be renovated to provide housing on the second floor and commercial on the first floor. Windows will be consistent with existing, but door will be a French style door with glass panes – like many commercial doors. Staff recommends approval. Connie Anderson recommended approval; Roger Potratz seconded. The entire Board agreed. 414 Washington Street – contributing structure Exterior to be restored with new wood shingles and windows. Windows may be fiberglass or wood to be repaired wherever possible. Owner proposed adding shutters. Staff recommends approval except for wood shutters. Connie Anderson recommends approval with the staff recommendations, Roger Potratz seconded and the Board agreed. 523 North Franklin Street – non-contributing structure A flat 4-‘-0” x 8’-0” - sign is to be added to the building for business identification. Staff recommends approval since the building has already been substantially altered. Kathy Dennis moved to approve; Braeden Gallas seconded. The Board agreed. 120 West 9th Street This is a request for a storage shed that will not be visible. It would be a maintenance approval. MAINTENANCE REVIEW: See 120 West 9th Street OLD BUSINESS: Our City Council representative has not attended the Historic Review Board meetings so the question of TV antennas on buildings has not made any progress. This is a frustration as many homes have more than one since suppliers do not move old equipment. We need help from our representative Bryant Dabney as an ordinance may be needed. NEW BUSINESS: - Globe lights in Elston Grove have been modified to provide LED lamps. T he globes that were part of fixture have been removed. This is an issues that should have been reviewed with the Historic Review Board and was not. Members of the City Council and Common Council pushed this decision without notification to the Board. Members of the community are very upset and have called Joyce Dalton to find out why the Board allowed this to happen. The Board will write a letter to the committees and the Mayor requesting a hearing and explanation. The Board was very upset that residents follow the rules, but City has not! - Kathy Dennis advised that the two- track system is going forward. 24 houses in the Historic District will be removed and the Board will have to hear those cases. The façade for the existing terminal on 11th street will be moved to accommodate the space needed for circulation and parking. - Arcadia, a restaurant in the Historic District is scheduled to close. The owners want to tear down the building. Deb Parcel advised that Indiana Landmarks is keeping track of this issue. - Deb Parcel advised that Board members and staff should not offer opinions when the public approaches us or comes to a meeting to get preliminary information about a change. All such requests should be handed through proper channels. - Deb Parcel has a request from the Chesteron Historic Review Board for a joint meeting with them and the board from LaPorte. Michigan City would host this. There is an issue about buildings being de-designated and this is an important issue for discussion. Board agreed that t his would be a good idea and Deb will send a message to determine an agreeable date. - When the Board walked though the Historic District earlier in June they found some things that looked like hazardous conditions. Paul has reported those cases and addresses to the Department of Buildings. PUBLIC COMMENT:  Councilman Dabney stopped in at the end of the meeting and heard our concerns about the light fixtures. He agreed that due process was not followed. ADJOURNEMENT: Motion to adjourn made by Roger Potratz and seconded by Kathy Dennis. All concurred