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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHPCMinutes_2009_12_03Brookings Historic Preservation Commission December 3, 2009 A meeting of the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission was held on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall. Members present: Pam Merchant, Mary Bibby, Janet Gritzner, Dennis Willert and Pat Powers. Joanita Kant was absent. Shari Thornes, City Clerk, was also present. Chairperson Willert called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Motion was made by Bibby, seconded by Powers, to approve the October 3rd minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried. A motion was made by Merchant, seconded by Powers, to approve the agenda as printed. All present voted yes; motion carried. Schedule next monthly meeting - January 7th at 4:00 p.m. Preserve Brookings. Stephen Van Buren, the newly elected president of the Preserve Brookings non-profit organization, met with the Commission to discuss the role of the Preserve Brookings and the organization’s relationship with the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission. He said the organization is in the process of reviewing its mission and getting back on track with its original origins. He asked the BHPC members for their perception of the Preserve Brookings organization and its future. Comments included the following: Commission members felt the Preserve Brookings organization was originally formed to serve as an advocacy group to protect historic resources in a way that the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission could not as a city entity. Possible opportunities for the Preserve Brookings organization to consider in addition to a closer relationship with the Commission, was to work more closely with Preserve South Dakota, the statewide nonprofit for historic preservation. Training may also help the group become more focused on their advocacy role. The Commission suggested the Board leadership attend a National Trust Better Boards training session. The proposed Brookings Endangered List may be a good local project for the group to become more involved in preservation advocacy. The Commission felt the core responsibility of the Preserve Brookings organization is to serve as a political activist/advocacy group and take stands against any proposed actions that would threaten historic resources. The recent county courthouse issue was cited as a recent example. Increasing membership was discussed. He will provide a list of their board members. Van Buren said the group is working on a project called “snapshot Brookings” that would involve photographing every structure in town essentially freezing that moment in time as a benchmark tool. Merging with county GIS databases was suggested. He said the project hasn’t gotten legs under it yet and is concerned it doesn’t mesh with the group’s mission. He feels his group needs to refocus and not lose sight of its purpose while still following other project opportunities. Van Buren will work with city staff to better coordinate the two organizations and he plans to attend BHPC meetings. Preserve America Sign Selection. The following draft list was prepared for review and action at the January. 1. Pioneer Park Bandshell 2. Hillcrest Park Tree Claim 3. McCrory Gardens 4. Government Center – Carnegie, Courthouse, 1921 Building and Central Elementary 5. Sexauer Seed District 6. SDSU – Ag Museum 7. SDSU – Administration 8. SDSU – Sylvan Theatre & Campanile 9. SDSU – Horse Barn 10. Downtown Annual Reports (City & National Park Service). Thornes reminded the Commission that the State and City annual reports for 2009 will be due on February 15th. National Register Nomination – 202 5th Street. A motion was made by Merchant, seconded by Powers, to formally support the proposed nomination of the 202 5th Street to the National Register of Historic Places. All present voted yes; motion carried. Central Residential Historic District—National Register District: City/County Expansion Plans – The City and County are considering two locations for a shared facility. One would involve east half of the 300 block between Main Avenue and 5th Avenue adjacent to the Commercial District. The other location would be the north half of the 500 block on 3rd Street south of the Library, which would be in the Central District. A decision is expected by 12/29/09. National Trust Conference Report. 2009 NATIONAL PRESERVATION CONFERENCE National Trust for Historic Preservation Nashville, Tennessee October 13-17, 2009 Mary Bibby Report Prior to attending this conference, my impression of Nashville was Grand Ole Opry and Country Music. That it definitely is--but so much more. From civil war battle areas to ecclesiastical wonders (even Ryman was once a Tabernacle), Nashville stands out as a model of preservation efforts. Over 2,000 preservationists came together to take a look. The conference had several educational thrusts: Plenary sessions with major speakers and entertainment; Small-group luncheons or sessions led by a moderator or panel with audience participation; Tours of historic areas; Exhibit Hall and Bookstore; and, best of all, the opportunity to mingle and share experiences with preservationists from around the country. Our Opening Plenary was held at the historic Ryman Theater, home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 - 1974, and restored in 1994. Originally built as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1889, its acoustics are still among the best there are. Songwriter Dave Berg began the program with music. We then heard from Governor Phil Bredesen and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. Richard Moe, President of the National Trust gave his annual report followed by guest speakers Dame Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust (U.K.), and Bill McKibben, environmentalist who spoke about global warning. We walked in a misty drizzle to an Opening Reception held at the beautiful Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the magnificently restored former main post office. Rain and cold were with us throughout the conference to the annoyance of our hosts who kept saying how lovely October weather usually is. The Frist does not have a permanent collection and instead hosts traveling exhibitions. One of those while we were there was a Georgia O'Keefe display. Earlier that Wednesday we had attended a Save America's Treasures (SAT) Luncheon. Speakers were Bowling Green, KY, Mayor Elaine Walker and her husband Dorian who have been a moving force behind the restoration of several residential and commercial buildings. Their story was of particular interest because of the similarity of Bowling Green and Brookings: both small college towns with many homes used as student rentals. In restoring the dwellings back to single-family use, the Walker family did much of the hands-on work themselves. One home is featured in the June 2009 issue of THIS OLD HOUSE, p. 64. Another of their successes was the restoration of a 1921 Standard Oil filling station that they transformed from an eyesore into a local attraction. It was also interesting to learn more about the Save America's Treasures program inasmuch as Brookings' 1921 Building has been designated an SAT landmark. Wednesday morning had given us an opportunity to visit three case studies of Nashville preservation leadership. First was President Andrew Jackson's 1120-acre plantation, The Hermitage. Robbie Jones, Senior Architectural Historian, showed us the original restored farmhouse, the Mansion--extensively remodeled over a period of almost two centuries--and several log cabins used as slave quarters. Equally compelling were Robbie's stories of Andrew Jackson. Next we traveled along Lebanon Pike to see Stone Hall, a 1910 Neoclassical manor, at the center of the Stone Hall Park and Nature Center. Our guide was Phil Potter, board president of Greenways for Nashville which is developing nine miles of paved multi-use trails. Potter's incredible dedication to this effort gave testament to the power of one individual's vision. Our final stop was the Italianate Two Rivers Mansion known as the McGavock House. This beautiful place is still standing but in dire need of exterior repair. The Metro Nashville Parks Department uses the 14- acre site as a public park. The mansion is available for use by local nonprofit groups and as a rental facility. On Wednesday afternoon we attended the excellent educational session "Nuts and Bolts: Commission Best Practices." Speakers Monica Callahan from Madison, GA, and Jeff Cronin of Pasadena, CA, led a spirited discussion about the responsibilities of a Historic Preservation Commission in enforcement of design guidelines. Because their Commissions have far more authority than ours does, it clearly pointed out what "could be" "if only." Former First Lady Laura Bush spoke at Thursday's Advocacy Luncheon. She spoke about her role as Honorary Chair of Preserve America and the commitment she has to preserving our cultural and national heritage. I took the opportunity to speak to her about our Save America's Treasures 1921 Building--but it was a brief conversation. My approach made National Trust President Moe very nervous. That afternoon we had a chance to see the Vanderbilt University area and also visit the beautifully restored Union Station which has become a Wyndham Historic Hotel. Later that day National Preservation Awards were given at the War Memorial Auditorium just down the street from Tennessee's State Capitol. The John H. Chafee Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Policy was given to Mrs. Laura Bush and Jon Nau, III. Outstanding preservation accomplishments throughout the nation were also recognized. And several accolades were given Peter H. Brink. An evening tour of Nashville's Edgefield and East End areas across the Cumberland River was an eye opener of what can be done with down-and-out neighborhoods. Having survived fire, flood and tornadoes during the 1900's, the Edgefield area became an undesirable location with run -down schools, crime, and little if any civic pride. We spoke with one young family in a lovely home whose grandparents had "stuck it out" there and worked to make a difference. And, within the space of a generation--thanks to a committed core of residents who refused to give up--homes have been restored and economic conditions improved. Neighbors took charge in creating the first neighborhood National Register District, then the first local Historic Zoning District. Another preservation success story was the nearby Five Points district now filled with desirable eateries and local businesses. We visited one home that illustrated the adaptive re-use of a commercial brick rectangle into a stunning modern art showcase complete with fabulous functional sliding barn doors! It is featured in the October 2009 NASHVILLE ARTS MAGAZINE, p. 27. Friday's Luncheon brought together Local Preservation Commissions for the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Annual Meeting. After routine business, we heard from Ann Roberts, former Nashville Metropolitan Historical Commission Director. Her work in Nashville preservation has been awesome. She told about the Hatch Show Print, one of America's oldest working letterpress print shops, that was destined to be demolished. The Hatch Show Print did and still does print most of Nashville Country Music's show posters. With Ann's efforts and that of other preservationists in the area, they were able to have the shop moved a couple of blocks onto Broadway in the honky tonk area. Other endeavors have not always been as successful but her take-home message was to persevere. That afternoon I attended a session on "Commissions: Traveling the Right Road" which turned out to be about road planning and how to obtain required permits. I then attended a session on "Crossroads of Fresh, Sustainable, Local Preservation." Although interesting, it spoke more to the needs of urban centers such as Salt Lake City. So I tried "Point A to Point B: Creative Avenues to Support Preservation at the Local Level." In this session much emphasis was placed on survey taking. The next high light of the conference was a talk by Robert Hicks, author of WIDOW OF THE SOUTH about the civil war Battle of Franklin, TN, just south of Nashville. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war with 9,500 casualties and 2,000 dead. The venue for his talk was the amazing Downtown Presbyterian Church, the interior of which resembles an Egyptian temple. A Friday Night Fling gave attendees a chance for music and dancing at B.B. King's Blues Club and then a walk along Broadway in the honky tonk section to our nearby Nashville Renaissance Hotel. We returned to the Downtown Presbyterian Church for the closing Plenary session on Saturday morning. The Fisk Jubilee Singers were incredible. Then we heard from the Hon. Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, who gave an inspiring talk about the legal aspects of preserva tion. And then a speech by Congressman John Lewis who was in the forefront of America's Civil Rights movement. It was truly a privilege to hear from these fine speakers. Overall, it was an excellent Conference both in programming and pace. The speakers were informative and helpful. The participants brought enthusiasm and interest. It was encouraging to feel a part of a larger, the "We're all in this together" experience. We were reminded that patience, perseverance and partnerships are crucial to preservation efforts. And then there's the ever-present need for funds. But when seeing results like the many splendid examples in Nashville, it's obvious that progress is being made and that the work is well worth the challenge. Calendar December 1st Mayor’s Christmas Party, SDSU Performing Arts Center, 5-7 pm July28-Aug 1, 2010 National Alliance of Preservation Commissions – Forum 2010, Grand Rapids, MI Oct. 26-30, 2010 National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conf – Austin, TX Future Agenda Items: SDSU Horse Barn, Local District Project, Realtor Workshop, University District & SDSU Foundation Property Acquisition, Nominating Committee Formation Nominating Committee. Merchant and Gritzner agreed to serve on the nominating committee to develop a slate of officers of the January meeting. Vacancy. Thornes announced that Jerry McCollough and his wife were moving to Minnesota and he had resigned from the Commission. Submitted by Shari Thornes