Historic Preservation Commission

Tybee Island HISTORIC PESERVATION COMMISSON Meeting Minutes Date & Time: December 9, 2024, 6:00 pm Present: Cara Cole, Mike Goldberg, Jacilyn Ledford, Maggie Wright, Cassidi Kendrick Absent: Holly Grell-Lawe (Chair), Marna Lewin Guests: Ellie Isaacs (HSF); Julia Pearce (Tybee/MLK) Observers: Dawn Shay (Forever Tybee); Patricia Sinel (Community Development Director) Location: Burke Day Public Safety Building, Conference Room, 78 Van Horne Avenue Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. A quorum was present. In the absence of the Chair, Maggie Wright led the meeting. The members agreed to change the order of the agenda after approval of meeting minutes so as to start with the update on Tybee/MLK and Lazaretto Coalition from Julia Pearce. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the November 4, 2024 HPC meeting were unanimously approved by upon motion by Mike Goldberg and seconded by Cara Cole. The minutes of the November 13, 2024 HPC Education & Promotion Committee meeting were unanimously approved upon motion by Cara Cole and seconded by Jacilyn Ledford. Guest Speaker Ellie Isaacs, Director of Preservation and Historic Properties, Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) presented “Preserving Tybee—Revolving Fund,” which provided an overview of HSF’s Revolving Fund. Presentation slides are attached to the Meeting Minutes and the narration can be accessed on the recording of this HPC meeting. Announcements Tybee/MLK & Lazaretto Coalition Julia Pearce provided the Tybee/MLK and Lazaretto Coalition update. She shared some details of the well-attended, 5-year strategic planning meeting at Fort Pulaski with the National Park Service concerning what stories will they tell at Fort Pulaski. Tybee/MLK would like the Fort to tell the story of the Lazaretto in a more inclusive way. The Park Service will develop and share the plan developed from the input received at the meeting before the plan is implemented. Julia Pearce then read a statement as follows: Thank you for the creators of the Tybee HPC. They took on a great vision. Historic preservation is the bridge between the past and the future. The decision of what to preserve equals what stories are told. Tybee/MLK Human Rights 1 Organization is requesting an expansion of the HPC to include the world history of the Tybee Lazaretto. In 2020, in response to the senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, Tybee City Council passed a Race Equity Resolution, which included these words: “…a historic comprehensive display of the Lazaretto.” Since 2020, Tybee/MLK and the Lazaretto Coalition have researched the significance of the Lazaretto and the citizens and tourists should be made aware of the unique contribution of that African Americans have made to Tybee, to Georgia and to the nation. The barrier we have found in place includes finding a suitable place for the memorial. The City offered Battery/Lazaretto Park as a possible site. The Park, overnight, mysteriously became private. Mind you, this was after Tybee DPW had maintained the Park for 13 years. Fort Pulaski National Monument and the Lazaretto Coalition had extensive talks about using the Lazaretto Boat Dock. The conclusion was that the location was not suitable due to the limited amount of space. Would the HPC support Tybee/MLK and the Lazaretto Coalition as we lobby City Council for the placement of the Lazaretto Memorial in Memorial Park? One City Council member is on board. The stories we choose to tell are reflections of the lessons we have learned. So, we would like you to think about that and let us know. The Resolution was passed in 2020 and we are coming up on five years and no progress has been made. We would like progress. When asked what they would like to see, Julia Pearce responded that they have a landscape architect out of Atlanta named Quame Henson Graft who has worked with the Weeping Time. When we talk about what we would like to see, it comes back to needing to know where [the Memorial] is going before we can conceptualize what it will look like. Jacilyn Ledford asked if it was correct that Julia is looking for HPC support to put the Lazaretto Memorial in Memorial Park. Julia Pearce responded that HPC could talk to City Council, identifying Memorial Park as an appropriate location for the Lazaretto Memorial and they [City Council] should allow it to go forward. HPC Chair In the absence of the Chair, Holly Grell-Lawe, the HPC Chair’s announcements were provided by Maggie Wright using notes provided by the Chair. Thank you to everyone for their contributions and hard work on HPC’s participation in the Holiday Market on November 30th. The members were reminded to put HPC’s Annual Planning Meeting, scheduled for 10am- 2:30pm on Tuesday, January 21 at the Guardhouse, on their personal calendars, as well as all the 2025 HPC meetings (the 2nd Monday of each month). The HPC Annual Planning meeting has been posted on the city calendar and the Guardhouse is reserved. For the HPC Annual Planning Meeting, in keeping with the tradition, everyone must come up with a historic preservation trivia question for the meeting. This year, your trivia question (with the answer) should be related to the historic built environment on Tybee. They are due by the time of the HPC monthly meeting on January 13, 2025. 2 Members and staff are encouraged to download the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s new 12-page publication called Advocacy Toolkit. It can be downloaded from their website at georgiatrust.org. Click on the “Resources” tab, then in the drop-down menu, click on “Advocacy Toolkit.” Scroll to the bottom and there is a link to download the publication. The publication is a good overview of the basics. Ongoing Business Central Tybee Island Residential National Historic District Application Update The revised application (2.0) for the Central Tybee Island Residential National Historic District was submitted by HPC’s consultant, Bob Ciucevich, on 11/12/24. The submission was formally acknowledged by SHPO on 11/13/24. The SHPO review period is 60 days. Promotion & Education Committee Update on Tour of Homes Planning (May 2025) Another sponsor has signed up for the Trolley Tour of Homes. There was discussion of how HPC can collect money for ticket sales. Cassidi Kendrick is working with Finance on a payment gateway. Next meeting of the committee is December 11, 2024 at 2:00pm in the Conference Room of the Public Safety Building. CLG Grant Update The consultants’ contract was approved by City Council at their meeting on 11/14/24. The contract has been signed and sent to the consultants and the GA Department of Community Affairs as required by the Grant Agreement. Permit Reviews  1805 Chatham Avenue (review completed) Building permit application received by HPC on 11/4/24 for repair of external rot. Property is the Harmon-Weiss Cottage (circa 1900-1909) identified as Field Survey ID #079 in the Tybee Island Historic Resources Survey, Phase 1 (2016). This South End Cottage is a contributing historic structure within the Back River National Historic District. HPC sent the property owner an email on 11/8/24 requesting clarification of the existing and replacement siding. Property owner’s contractor responded on 11/8/24 providing the requested information and indicating intention to maintain the historical integrity of the external features of the structure. HPC recommended approval of the permit to Planning & Zoning on 11/13/24.  1310 Jones Avenue (review completed) Building permit application received by HPC on 11/14/24 for installation of hardie board siding and soffits. HPC sought clarification about the potential impact of hardie board siding on the historic status of the house from Bob Ciucevich, HPC’s consultant on the proposed Central Tybee Island Residential National Historic District. The property is a contributing structure (circa 1948) within the proposed Central Tybee Island District. It is Resource #407/380 in the Central Tybee National Register (NR) 10-900 Index (November 2024 edition). HPC recommended approval of the permit to Planning & Zoning on 11/27/24.  1014 Jones Avenue (review completed) 3 Building permit application received by HPC on 11/21/24 for repair of existing screened porch with no footprint changes. The house was built in 1954. HPC recommended approval of the permit to Planning & Zoning on 11/27/24.  6 2nd Avenue (review completed) Building permit application received by HPC on 11/21/24 for roof and deck repairs. This house is circa 1935. HPC recommended approval of the permit to Planning & Zoning on 11/27/24.  1517B Butler Avenue (review pending) Building permit application received by HPC on 12/5/24 for hanging a gray-colored awning on a commercial building (to be the “Atomic Bar”) in the South End Business Overlay District. The Design Guidelines Manual for the South End Business Overlay District identifies awnings as a “Character-Defining Feature” of the South End District. HPC unanimously voted to recommend approval of the permit. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:07pm with unanimous approval upon motion by Jacilyn Ledford and seconded by Cara Cole. 4