Historic Preservation Commission

Tybee Island HISTORIC PESERVATION COMMISSON Meeting Minutes Date & Time: March 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Present: Holly Grell-Lawe (Chair), Marna Lewin, Cara Cole, Mike Goldberg, Cassidi Kendrick Absent: Mary Anne Butler Observers: Jackie Boling (former HPC Intern), Dawn Shay (Forever Tybee) Location: Burke Day Public Safety Building, Conference Building, 78 Van Horne Ave Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. A quorum was present. Cassidi Kendrick made an announcement that she will be transitioning into a new position with the City of Tybee, as the Communications and Outreach Director. Kendrick will continue overseeing the HPC and attend meetings as needed and until the Main Street/DDA Coordinator position is filled. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the February 26, 2024 HPC meeting were unanimously approved upon motion by Cara Cole and seconded by Marna Lewin. The packet of the February 3, 2024 HPC Annual Planning Meeting was unanimously approved upon motion by Cara Cole and seconded by Marna Lewin. Announcements Tybee/MLK Holly Grell-Lawe updated that Pat Leiby could not attend tonight due to the Tybee MLK Annual Lazaretto Day program from 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Guard House. Leiby provided an update to HPC via email that stated Tybee MLK will be moving forward with May 7th as the date for the Black History Trail (BHT) dedication. Brent Levy from DPW has the BHT signs and they expect them to be installed soon. Leiby also asked if HPC would like to be involved in the kick off event for Preservation Month. It was determined that HPC can promote the event on social media by Cassidi Kendrick and members will share the event details and plan to attend the event. At this time, we are not able to provide any additional manpower to the event. Interested individuals can reach out to Pat directly if they are willing to volunteer. Marna Lewin stated she will reach out to Pat about volunteering. Lazaretto Coalition Marna Lewin emailed Julia Pearce to request an update. At this time there is no update from the Coalition to be shared. Lewin will reach out to Tybee MLK members again seeking more information. HPC Chair Holly Grell-Lawe provided two announcements stating she will be leaving March 28th and not returning to Tybee until May 5th. Additionally, internet communications may be limited during that time. Cassidi Kendrick will take the lead on usual HPC communications during the Chair’s absence. The Chair will participate in meetings via phone until May. Additionally, the Chair shared that HPC has received the first set of comments from SHPO regarding the Strand Summer Cottage/Central Tybee Island Residential National Historic District nomination package. Staff and HPC Chair have reached out to Bob Ciucevich regarding the comments received and confirmed with him that the existing budgets (FY24, FY25) are adequate to continue this project. The SHPO comments will be forwarded to HPC members for review. Ciucevich shared that the boundaries for the district are set, and have been changed from the original nomination packet submission. Staff and HPC Chair will work with Ciucevich to make sure the changes sought by SHPO are addressed. Ongoing Business May 2024 Historic Preservation Month Planning There has been adequate correspondence between HPC members via email discussing the planning of Historic Preservation Month activities, including some feedback from some individuals in the community who have assisted with these activities in the past. It was determined that six weeks was not an enough time to successfully plan a Tour of Homes and HPC agreed to postpone this event to next year (May 2025). In place of the Tour of Homes, the HPC Chair, HPC Advisor (Sarah Jones) and Staff (Cassidi Kendrick) brainstormed ideas ahead of the HPC meeting so that members could review the proposed activities and volunteer to assist with activity implementation. The brainstorming work plan document highlighted three proposed Preservation Month activities, including a golf cart tour, Archival Library Open House, and Fort Screven Walking Tours. These activities could be done in conjunction with social media promotion and with coordination support from the Tybee Island Historical Society. After lengthy discussion of each item and the responsibilities and duties of each, the commission unanimously voted (upon motion by Mike Goldberg and seconded by Cara Cole) to move forward with the TIHS Archival Library/HPC Open House and self-guided Fort Screven Walking Tour, with some support from TIHS. Commission members, Marna Lewin and Cara Cole, agreed to assist staff with coordinating the Open House event with TIHS. Cassidi Kendrick also shared that everything was prepared to move forward with the across the road banner and yard signs for Preservation Month. 2 Permit Reviews 2 2nd Street—This demolition permit has been reinstated as of March 4th 2024 due to issues that the purchaser has with DNR being resolved. Staff and HPC Leadership have communicated and begun reaching out to individuals interested in relocating the upper cottage on this property. 1611 Jones Avenue- Permit application to enclose porch. HPC does not recommend approval due to the permanent alteration of the external façade of this historic Raised Tybee Cottage that may have the potential to be eligible for listing on the National Register. Received on 2/28/24. Responded 3/18/24. 12 10th Terrace- Known as the Geriner Cottage, this permit application requested to add a screen porch and renovate the interior of the home. HPC Chair sent a letter to the property owner to make them aware of the property’s potential eligibility to be listed on the National Register and that alterations could jeopardize this potential listing and tax incentives. The property owner replied, and declined to reconsider the permit request. Received on 2/28/24. Responded 3/18/24. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:05pm with unanimous approval upon motion by Cara Cole and seconded by Marna Lewin. 3