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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-08 PACKET 07.o�Corre� U� Ot1l HISTORIC LANDMARK MINUTES CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION April 13, 2021 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation was duly held at the Cottage Grove City Hall 12800 Ravine Parkway South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on the 13th day of April, 2021. I. CALL TO ORDER Reckinger called the meeting to order at 7.00 II. ROLL CALL IV Boike took the roll. MEMBERS PRESENT: Herb Reckinger, Joseph Gall, Marie Sumstine MEMBERS ABSENT: Corinne Marz, Verlyn Lindemann OTHERS PRESENT: Ben Boike, Community Development Director; Mike Mrosla, Senior Planner; Councilmember David Thiede APROVAL OF THE AGENDA Gall moved to accept the agenda. Sumstine seconded. The agenda was unanimously approved. OPEN FORUM A. Introduction of Interested Committee Members Prospective members of the ACHP, Bryan Edwards, Jacob Grundhauser, and Linda Johnston, introduced themselves. B. Remembering Gross ACHP members shared remembrances about former Committee Member Bev Gross. V. PROJECT UPDATES A. Cedarhurst Property Presentation/Discussion — Three Sixty Real Estate Solutions Boike stated that Three Sixty Real Estate Solutions will be providing a presentation on pro- posed development plans for the Cedarhurst property. He noted that the Cedarhurst Mansion is on the national and city historic registers. Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 2 of 5 Jeremy Novak provided background information on their company and their philosophy on redevelopment and historic preservation. He introduced Marvin Wanders from Three Sixty and Will Kratt from ISG Architects and Engineers. Wanders noted that most of the outbuild- ings have fallen into disrepair; however, a couple of the them, including the stable, may be able to be repositioned and restored. He noted that the mansion needs a tremendous amount of deferred maintenance. They gave a presentation showing past projects they have done. Novak stated that they are still in the planning phases and community engagement process for the Cedarhurst property. Their focus is the preservation of the historic integrity of Cedarhurst. Sumstine asked if they are planning to put apartments on the top floor of the mansion. Wanders responded that they are taking a cautious approach with redeveloping the man- sion, which could include a restaurant and event center. They aren't planning to put apart- ments up there; however, they could do a bed and breakfast. He noted that they have several ideas for the mansion but have not yet decided on any uses. Boike asked that they share the information provided to the City Council about the long-term plan to financially supplement the mansion with development on the property. Wanders explained that the mansion is very expensive to maintain and could cost $4 to $5 million to restore. Their strategy to save the mansion is to develop the rest of the site. Thiede stated that the company wants input from the community on what types of business would work on the property. He asked the Committee for their suggestions. Johnston asked about the organ pipework in the ballroom and if see the organ would be brought back. Wanders explained that they are looking at the history of the mansion and trying to find historic elements for the renovation of the mansion. He then provided some history on the mansion. Sumstine asked what kind of businesses they are looking at the property, noting that she is opposed to apartments in the mansion. Wanders responded a restaurant in the mansion and in the front courtyard area possibly a brew pub, coffee shop, and retail shops. The commercial uses would need to fit into the existing neighborhood. They will pull design elements from the mansion and incorporate them into the other buildings on the site. They are also looking at building townhomes on the property. They feel very strongly about get- ting community input. Edwards asked what the typical asset hold time is for Three Sixty. Wanders replied that they don't sell most of their properties and have a management company as part of their business. VI. ACTION ITEMS A. Election of Officers Boike stated that Reckinger volunteered to serve as Chair of the ACHP. He then asked for a volunteer for Vice Chair. Gall nominated Sumstine for Vice Chair. Reckinger seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 3 of 5 B. Historic Preservation Month and Proclamation Boike reported that every May there is a proclamation at the City Council meeting for His- toric Preservation Month and presented the draft proclamation for the ACHP to review. Gall made a motion to approve the Historic Preservation Month proclamation as written. Sumstime seconded. Motion passed unanimously. C. Historic Preservationist of the Year 2021 Nomination Discussion Boike stated that at the same Council meeting where the proclamation is read, the Historic Preservationist of the Year is honored. He provided a list of past recipients. He noted that at the last meeting it was suggested that Herb Japs be nominated for 2021 to be recog- nized for his work with the ACHP and other activities. Reckinger noted that Herb's wife Jan stepped down from the Committee after Herb passed and thinks she would be honored for her husband to receive this award. Boike stated that he reached out to Jan Japs about ac- cepting the award on Herb's behalf but has not heard back yet. Gall made a motion to award the 2021 Historic Preservation of the Year to Herb Japs. Sumstine seconded. Motion passed unanimously. D. Dodge Nature Center Roofing Project Review Boike stated that the Dodge Nature Center property was added to the Local Register of Historic Places in 2017, and they need to replace the roofs on some of the buildings. Those roofs are currently cedar shakes, and they are requesting to replace with asphalt shingles. Sumstine asked if they can save some of the original shingles for historical pur- poses. Boike responded that they probably could, and that the City could also photodocu- ment the buildings. Thiede asked if those were the original shingles. Sumstine noted that the report says they think they are the original shingles. Sumstine suggested that Dodge Nature Center could use the old shakes on a pergola in a garden area. Gall made a motion to allow Dodge Nature Center to utilize asphalt shingles to replace cedar shakes as long as they save some of the shakes for historic purposes. Reckinger seconded. Motion passed unanimously. E. 1881 Old Town Hall Rehabilitation Grant Boike stated that Parks Director Zac Dockter has talked with Blue Stream Group about de- veloping a master plan to rehab the Old Town Hall building with the master plan being grant ready for renovation purposes. The cost would be approximately $1,500-1 the City would be able to finance that. He is looking for the ACHP to approve applying for the grant for the master plan. Gall asked if there is any information on the plans for the building. Boike responded that the $1,500 would go towards laying out what that rehab would look like. Once the plan is ready, the City will pursue grants to help finance the rehab. He ex- plained that the motion tonight is to hire the group to help with that plan. Gall made a motion to move ahead with the project and the grant. Sumstine seconded. Motion passed unanimously. F. Atkinson Cemetery Tree Boike stated that he discussed replacing the tree with Parks Director Dockter who ex- plained that they don't want to start digging until they know where the graves are located. Gall suggested grinding out the tree stump and placing a new tree there. Sumstine stated that there used to be a lot more gravestones and wonders if a map was created of the grave sites when the cemetery was cleaned up. Thiede asked who owns the cemetery. Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 4 of 5 Boike stated that the City's Parks Department maintains it but does not know who owns it. The ACHP discussed possible ways to locate the graves such as ground penetrating radar and about other ways to replace the tree. Thiede suggested contacting someone from the Atkinson Cemetery Association about replacing the tree. Grundhauser found information on the cemetery including locations of graves and the tree. Boike stated that staff would get the information to the Parks Department and continue the discussion at the next Com- mittee meeting. G. Hamlet Park Naming Boike stated that at the last meeting the ACHP discussed naming the new ballfields at Hamlet Park. He noted that Parks Director Dockter stated that the City will be following the naming policy, which was attached to the packet. He asked if the ACHP had any recom- mendations. Reckinger recommended naming the fields after William Crockett, who is from Cottage Grove and died in died in the Vietnam War but listed as is MIA, noting that he emailed this suggestion to Dockter. He provided a presentation on Crockett. Gall made a motion that the ACHP recommend naming the new Hamlet Park ballfields after William Crockett. Sumstine seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Boike stated that this recom- mendation will go before the Parks Commission. H. Cottage Grove Journal Articles Boike reported that he reached out to the Cottage Grove Journal about the ACHP submit- ting historical articles for publishing. He asked that the Committee let him know if there are any articles they want in the paper. Gall suggested an article about William Crockett, which it would be good to publish around Memorial Day. He also suggested Historic Preserva- tionist of the Year and remembering prominent community members who have passed, in- cluding Bev Gross. Reckinger mentioned the history of Military Road. Boike will transmit and work with the Journal on the articles submitted by the ACHP. I. Oakwood Pavilion Johnston stated that the pavilion at Oakwood Park was built in the 1970s by the Cottage Grove Jaycees. She would like to photojournal the pavilion before it is demolished. While the structure is not historic, it is part of the City's history. Boike stated that he will ensure photos are taken before the pavilion is taken down. VII. MINUTES A. February 9, 2021 Gall made a motion to approve the February 9, 2021, minutes. Sumstine seconded. The motion passed unanimously, and the minutes were approved as distributed. VIII. HISTORIC INQUIRIES, ARTICLES, AND RESEARCH INFORMATION 1►C•7iL� IX. COMMITTEE COMMENTS / ITEMS OF INTEREST None Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 5 of 5 X. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMENTS Thiede asked if the Committee had any questions for him. There were questions and com- ments regarding the new road by the marshalling yard going to St. Paul Park and if there will be a bridge over the railroad tracks, the sale and redevelopment of the former Boondocks building, naming the water body behind the Boondocks, and future development plans for the Jansen Farm on 90th Street and Keats Avenue and the former Mississippi Dunes golf course. XI. STAFF COMMENTS None XII. ADJOURNMENT Gall made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Reckinger seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 9.12 p.m.