Historic Preservation Commission

City of WEBSTER GROVES 4 E. LOCKWOOD AVE. | WEBSTER GROVES | MISSOURI | 63119 314.963.5300 | WEBS TERGRO VES.ORG MEETING MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Date of Meeting: November 14 , 2023 Time of Meeting: Regular meeting 6:30 PM Meeting Location: Webster Groves City Hall, 4 E Lockwood Ave (via teleconference and/or Zoom) MEMBERS (7): Present Absent Anne Halvachs (Chair) x Angela Thompson (Vice - Chair) x Hilary Perkins x Carol Duenke x Michael Rose x Sue Indelicato x Doug Stanley x Dr. Brian Bergfeld x Jean Spurr x Ex-Officio Members (2): Emily Shepard, Council Member, Council Liaison x Mara Perry, Planning & Dev., Staff Liaison x Yolanda Wilkins, Planning & Dev.; Admin. Staff REGULAR MEETING : 1. Approval of October 10, 2003, Minutes – Motion to approve as amended by Carol Duenke; seconded by Brian Bergfeld 6-0 2. Visitor’s comments – a. Bob Springer a resident of Webster since 2006, briefly shared his association with the church; his great grandfather was a founding member and builder of Bethany Lutheran. His grandparents attended and Mr. Springer remembers fond stories shared by his grandmother of their time as members of the church. He shared, how some of the stained-glass windows have his ancestors name on them. Mr. Springer fully supports every attempt to save this structure. TO VIEW THE FULL TEXT OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND MINUTES, PLEASE CLICK THEIR TITLES. Pg 1  b. Mike Blaes a local architect, shared his support for saving Bethany Lutheran Church PUBLIC HEARINGS : None NEW BUSINESS 12 Euclid Avenue – Demolition Request - Single Family Dwelling  The existing single family dwelling was built according to St. Louis County records in 1920. Research that was done for the North Webster walk indicates it is likely from around 1900.  In the North Webster walk the description includes the following: “like most of the houses in North Webster, this house has been modernized over the years. Look closely, though, and you’ll find clues to the house’s age. Probably constructed in the early 1900s, the original: - shaped house sits high on a stone foundation. The wide brick chimney is another giveaway that this is one of the earliest houses in the neighborhood.” Staff has not found any documentation to prove either that was built in 1920 or before. No building permits have been found for the years leading up from 1918 through 1920.  The property has not been previously identified as an at-risk property that should be looked at for a possible designation.  Attached are a few articles about one of the families who lived in the home. The Hubbard’s lived in the house when Wilbert Hubbard Jr. was born. Mr. Hubbard graduated from Douglass High School and was an Alderperson for the City of Rock Hill.  The structure is a 1-story structure, identified at approximately 704 square feet in gross floor area.  The applicant has submitted photographs identifying existing conditions of the structure’s exterior and interior.  The applicant purchased the property on October 2, 2019, for $63,000. The applicant has no plans at this time for the lot. Previous discussions had been to build a new single family structure on the lot. Staff recommends further review of the history of the structure prior to approval of the request to demolish the existing single family dwelling structure. The above-mentioned property has been held over for the second time; HPC members have been gathering information and discussing the criteria for historical nomination of the above- mentioned structure. The HPC members continued with discussions on their findings, research, and possible next steps to hold a public hearing. It was stated, the resident Walter Ambrose has a school named after him and he also was teacher after his time in the military. After much discussion there is evidence, that this structure meets at least one criterion for nomination. TO VIEW THE FULL TEXT OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND MINUTES, PLEASE CLICK THEIR TITLES. Pg 2 In conclusion, all members decided to move forward with requesting a structural report, tax records, and attempt to find more information to support their possible nomination. Motion to hold for further research by Brian Bergfeld second by Carol Duenke 7-0 3401 S Brentwood Boulevard – Demolition Request - Single Family Dwelling  The existing single family dwell was built in 1912.  The City has found no records pertaining to a historic property inventory sheet for the subject property.  The property has not been previously identified as an at-risk property that should be looked at for a possible designation.  The structure is a 1 and a half-story structure, identified at approximately 701 square feet in gross floor area.  The applicant has submitted photographs identifying existing conditions of the structure’s exterior.  The applicant purchased the property on June 20, 2003. The sale price is not available through public records. The applicant has no plans at this time for the lot. Staff recommends approval of the request to demolish the existing single family dwelling structure at the subject property without holding the request for additional review. HPC members discussed the request for demolition, as well as discussing the possible historical value and age of home. During their discussion it was pointed out the home seems to be in good condition as well as maintained. It’s a small home but if it’s torn down it probably will be replaced by a larger home which all agreed this would be a shame. Motion to hold for further review by Sue Indelicatio; second by Brian Bergfeld 7-0 HPC members had a public request to save 407 Fairview Avenue; Bethany Lutheran Church, that has recently gone on the market to sale. Mrs. Perry provided a slide presentation that included, local historic nomination criteria, newspaper articles, photos, historic inventory sheets, findings from Judy Little’s research and a timeline if they considered a possible nomination of this structure. Ms. Duenke shared the information she learned from residents as well as newspaper articles from the Kirkwood – Webster Times. Some expressed the concern of losing a significant historic building that had so much history to the Danish immigrants that settled in that part of Webster. She learned of a 96-year-old woman (Mary Peterson) who husband came from Denmark in 1920 and they later married in 1930 whose children were all baptized in the church. Ms. Duenke explained that this building is significant to Webster because it also has a Historical Society designation in 1904, she spoke on the artist that created the mural and how it later was restored in 2005. She expressed Bethany Lutheran Church has a significance to the foundering of Webster Groves. TO VIEW THE FULL TEXT OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND MINUTES, PLEASE CLICK THEIR TITLES. Pg 3 Information was shared that Pastor Denoon, who did research for 15 Marvin CT has also discovered that some of the original Danish residents that attended Bethany Lutheran Church where possible occupants of the homes that were demolished, and its residents displaced. HPC members all agree this structure meets the criteria for historic nominations. Next Steps – Tasks Mrs. Perry provided a timeline for possible 1st & 2nd reading at the February 6th council meeting and possibly the final February 20th meeting. She also suggested speaking with Tracy Downing, Bob Springer, and Mike Blaes about information they have regarding structure. Along with seeing what the historic society gathered for the plaque.  Carol – to forward links  Sue – book  Hilary – to research historic society archives  Anne – possibly deeper dive into newspaper articles Motion to move forward with Historic Nominations of Bethany Lutheran Church by Carol Duenke; seconded by Sue Indelicatio 7-0 All members agreed to hold over old business of conservation districts on agenda to complete above mentioned task. Motion to adjourn by Hilary Perkins; second by Sue Indelicatio all in favor; meeting adjourned 7-0 OLD BUSINESS : None NEXT MEETING : December 12, 2023 TO VIEW THE FULL TEXT OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND MINUTES, PLEASE CLICK THEIR TITLES. Pg 4