HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHPCMinutes_2013_10_091
Brookings Historic Preservation Commission
October 9, 2013
A meeting of the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission was held on Wednesday, October 9, 2013
at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall. Members present: Janet Gritzner, Dennis Willert, Leah Brink, Les Rowland
Mary Bibby, and Tom Agostini. Holly Fetzer-Fickler was absent. Shari Thornes, City Clerk, was also
present.
Chairperson Bibby called the meeting to order at 5:14 p.m. A motion was made by Brink, seconded by
Gritzner, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes, motion carried. A motion was made by Brink,
seconded by Rowland, to approve the August minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Next meeting: November 21st at 5:30 p.m.
Final Report on Combined Mayor’s Awards Event. The Commission reviewed the draft evaluation
report on the combined event. They felt the event was very successful with over 120 in attendance and
the combined effort should be continued.
Bob Yapp Workshop Update. The BHPC has been funded bring in Bob Yapp, a national historic
preservation consultant, to provide a multi-day preservation event with one day dedicated to historic
preservation seminars and three days for a “Window Restoration Boot Camp.” The BHPC would like to
partner with other local preservation-friendly organizations to cross-promote the event. Cross-
promotion opportunities and options under consideration are as follows:
• April 2014 - “The Brookings GreenFest” to promote Earth Day on April 22, 2014, partnering with the
Brookings Sustainability Council
• April 2014 – Brookings Garden & History Festival, partnering with Downtown Brookings Inc.
• May 2014 – Preservation Month, partnering with Downtown Brookings Inc., Brookings
Building Contractors and Habitat for Humanity
Thornes reported that the Sustainability Council is very interested in partnering on this event; however,
Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22nd and the weekend prior is Easter. The Council suggested April 9-13.
Unfortunately, several April dates have already filled for Mr. Yapp. His current available dates are April
1-6, 15-19, May 1-25.
The Commission discussed possible dates and suggested early May might be better due to weather.
Thornes will coordinate with the Sustainability Council and also check with Downtown Brookings Inc. to
determine the date and format for the 2014 History and Garden Festival.
There was further discussion on the workshop topics and format, whether to offer a three-day intensive
window restoration workshop or to offer three one-day workshops. Thornes will investigate the
options and provide an update at the next meeting.
Sustainability Advertising Campaign Poster. The Brookings Sustainability Council is developing a public
education campaign using Brookings leaders and local residents promoting various sustainability
initiatives. The ads will be used on websites, social media, email and other free venues. SDSU
Marketing & Communication is generating the design and photos. Two of the posters will promote the
reuse of buildings and historic preservation. The BHPC is responsible to provide the narrative for the
2
poster that should include local statistics/facts, if available, and a narrative about the photo. Historic
property owners Mark Kelsey and Calla Hogue and Dave and Tasha Jones agreed to participate. Photo
shoots are scheduled within the week.
Now You See It Column. Gritzner has written and submitted columns for the new feature. Bibby and
Gritzner continue to work with the Brookings Register to coordinate the publication.
SD Grant 12-016 Closeout Report. The State Historic Preservation Office staff contacted Thornes late
August to advise additional 2012-13 grant funds were available, but had to be expended by 9/15.
Thornes secured an additional $3000 for the BHPC to promote of the Historic District Trolley Rides and
to send one person to the National Trust Conference. Rowland is attending the conference. The City
received a total of $13,502 in National Park Service funds for the 12-13 cycle and the grant has now
been closed out.
Preservation Partner Reports.
o Downtown Brookings Inc. (DBI)
Festival of Lights/Central Residential District. Bibby and Thornes met with Jamison Lamp,
Chamber of Commerce, and Kristin Heismeyer, DBI, regarding a cooperative event of Trolley
Rides to highlight the Central Residential Historic District during the Parade of Lights. A
letter has been sent to the Central District property owners encouraging them to decorate
for the event. A utility bill stuffer will be included in the November 1st billing to promote
the BHPC, DBI, Chamber, Children’s Museum and Cultural Center events. BHPC members
will plan to attend the ride and staff the hot chocolate station.
Thursday, December 5th
• Festival of Lights @ Cultural Center
• Reindeer @ Children’s Museum
• Horse Trolley rides in Central Residential District
o Staging at Cultural Center with hot chocolate, across street from reindeer
o Rides from 5-7 pm, prior to parade (20 minute rides)
o DBI and Arts Council taking pictures for future slide show
• Parade of Lights, 5-7 pm
o State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Paul Porter, SHPO Restoration Specialist, has accepted a
job with the Arkansas SHPO. His last day will be December 6th and he starts in Little Rock on
December 16th.
o Preserve South Dakota (PSD). Kate Nelson has left her position as executive director with Preserve
South Dakota. No word on a replacement yet.
Historic Properties Reports
o SHPO Site Visit Summary
• SHPO staff members were in Brookings on 9/4 and 9/25 to meet with property owners
regarding state and federal program, technical assistance and national register eligibility.
o 11.1 Review – 605 Sixth Street / University District. David and Sara Kneip, owners of 605 Sixth
Street, have applied for a demolition permit for a house and garage located at 605 Sixth Street. The
house is a contributing property and the garage is a non-contributing property in the Brookings
3
University Residential Historic District. The Kneip’s own a real estate company located adjacent to
605 Sixth Street. They wish to remove the house and garage for a 28’ x 40’ addition and additional
parking. The State Restoration Specialist and staff toured the property on 9/2 to evaluate structural
condition and historical integrity and found it to be in poor condition and not a good candidate for
moving.
o 11.1 Review – 307 Third Street / Commercial District. Brian Gatzke has applied for a demolition
permit for 307 3rd Street, which is the former Brookings Locker Market, circa 1920s, located adjacent
to the Brookings Commercial Historic District. The owner purchased the property with the intent
of demolishing the structure. Plans include a 3 level building with mixed use commercial retail on
the main floor and loft-style apartments on the upper two levels. The proposed timeline is
completion in three years. SHPO staff and Thornes toured the structure on 9/25. SHPO is requiring
a case report to include proposed design of new structure. The case report is pending.
o 6th Street Reconstruction Project (Main to Medary). The Brookings City Council will discuss this
issue at an upcoming City Council meeting. Chairman Bibby had already provided the following
comments on June 4th when SD Department of Transportation Secretary Darren Bergquist toured
projects and met with city officials.
“Thank you for traveling to Brookings and for the opportunity to have a conversation with you about the
proposed US Highway 14 project from Main to Medary Avenue. I am here as a representative of the Brookings
Historic Preservation Commission. Our purpose is to allow the city to engage in a comprehensive program of
historic preservation to promote the inspiration, pleasure, and enrichment of the citizens of this city and to
preserve, promote and develop the historical resources of the city.
Among our charges is the responsibility to protect and preserve our cultural landscape. Within that cultural
landscape is the canopy of trees along Sixth Street between Main and Medary Avenues and the green space
provided in the boulevards. Your project description would remove the trees and much of the boulevards in
order to expand the number of existing traffic lanes and incorporate a bicycle lane along that stretch of
highway. In our view, the necessity to expand the number of lanes is not a crucial need. I travel that route
almost daily from my home on Eighth Avenue and rarely is there any congestion. Traffic operates smoothly.
What do your traffic volume studies show?
Part of the setting of the historic district on the north and south sides of the street are the old-growth trees
that have been there since the neighborhoods were developed. Those plantings were part of the overall design
and character of the neighborhoods, and removing them to widen the road even further will create a potential
for effect on both districts. Also the reduction of the front lawn of these properties will have the potential for
effect on the historic resources that front Sixth Street. Depending on the current setback and what the new
setbacks would be, this project has the potential to impact property values and decrease said values depending
on the degree of impact to these sites.
A better solution to any traffic congestion on Sixth Street would be to reconfigure the major intersections to
allow for higher volume of traffic during peak times, but maintain the four lane as it is on the blocks in
between. The other issue here is that the wider the road, the higher the tendency for people to drive faster.
Installing a bike lane along a major road like this is not going to help matters for safety of cyclists. In fact, it
could seriously increase the risk of injury or death as a vehicle speed increases five or ten miles per hour.
Putting bike lanes on Seventh or Fifth Street might be a better solution for students to travel safely between
the University and downtown.
4
Entrance to another community in South Dakota, slightly smaller but even richer in historic treasures, was
recently described by a visiting writer as a “characterless strip lined with the usual gas stations, fast food
outlets, motels, malls. My guidebook had promised a ‘gem-like historic town,’ but any such claims could only
be justified by the few blocks squeezed into the small business area close to the riverbank.”
In Brookings, the trees and the boulevards create a good transition to the downtown area. Brookings does not
need nor want a speedway or “characterless strip” from 22nd Avenue to Main. For those who wish to get
around the town quickly, there is a Highway 14 bypass. For those of us who live here, please let us keep the
lovely thoroughfare we have.”
The BHPC may be asked to provide formal comments in writing.
Announcements/Correspondence/Communications/Calendar
• Coughlin Stadium is scheduled to be demolished. There was discussion regarding its historical
integrity.
• Oct 29-Nov 2 National Trust Conference – Indianapolis
• November 1st State Property Tax Moratorium Application Deadline
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes