Historic Landmarks Commission

Morgantown Historic Landmarks Commission February 15, 2017 The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm at the Morgantown Public Safety Building. Attending : Shannon Tinnell, Jeanne Grimm, Bill Kawecki and Kathy Hanko. Absent: Rodney Pyles January minutes were approved. NEW BUSINESS: Railroad Depot on Garrett Street- In response to recent break-ins, MHLC gave its okay to obtain secure doors to replace doors not original to the structure. Review of draft report of Suncrest Survey - Sam Di Stephano of the Mills Group submitted the report early. It appears that it is not satisfactory. The work done by WVU students is well done. Mr. Di Stephano reported that he found no structures eligible for historic designation in the survey area, but provided little documentation to support the findings. Jeanne will meet with him to discuss findings. Preservation bills introduced in the WV Legislature - Delegates Rodney Pyles and Upson introduced HB2416 to increase the state historic rehabilitation tax credit from 10% to 25%. Companion bill SB238 was introduced by Senators Fern, Plymale, Weld and Maroney. Downtown Morgantown Historic District – Consultant, Mike Gioulis, submitted the final report to SHPO and also delivered a copy to MHLC. Publicity History Roundtable –The MHLC will ask Kristi Baker who does communications for the City of Morgantown to submit information about the Roundtable to the newspaper and add it to the City’s website. Bill will create a flyer for distribution around town. Shannon will e-mail interested parties and post on social media. OLD BUSINESS: Deckers Creek Pedestrian Bridge - MHLC sent a support letter to the WV Department of Highways. There are some concerns about the old piers that are not part of the new bridge. There is a sanitation pipe nearby and vegetation growing through the stones. MHLC sent a budget letter to the mayor for consideration. Development grant submitted by the City - No decision has been made yet as the deadline for approval is February 24. SHPO has set March 31 as the due date for a new round of development grants. If the City’s current application is not funded, it can resend the application for the new round of funding. MHLC’s Stone Resources Phase 2 grant application is also up for approval on February 24. If not funded, SHPO staff member, Pam Brooks, says no second or third round of grant applications will be funded this year. The Historic Landmarks Commission archives were moved by Bill Kawecki from the City Manager’s Office to the Aull Center. Elizabeth Satterfield, an undergraduate history student at WVU is organizing and entering the materials into a data base. Historic markers - Ms Schaupp is working with the DOH on placement of the W. T. Willey marker. The marker at the Old Stone House has been replaced. There is no further information on the Warner Theater, the Seneca Center, Indian Park marker, or the Court House plaza renovation. Submitted by, Kathy Hanko Secretary