HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-24 HPC SlideshowHistoric Preservation Commission
February 8, 2024
Public Hearing
Landmark designation
302-316 East Bloomington Street
Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building
Location in relationship to districts and local landmarks
302-316 East Bloomington Street
302-316 East Bloomington Street
302-316 East Bloomington Street
302-316 East Bloomington Street
302-316 East Bloomington Street
302-316 East Bloomington Street
302-316 East Bloomington Street- 1913 Photo
302-316 East Bloomington Street- 1920s Photo
302-316 East Bloomington Street- 1969 drawing
302-316 East Bloomington Street
Eligibility Criteria for Local
Designation
In the review of Local Historic Landmarks, it is the role of the Commission to
determine whether the property meets criterion A and B and also whether it
meets at least one of the criteria C, D, E, or F:
a.Significant to American and/or Iowa City history, architecture,
archaeology and culture;
b.Possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and
workmanship;
c.Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of our history;
d.Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past;
e.Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction; or represents the work of a master; or possesses high
artistic values; or represents a significant and distinguishable entity
whose components may lack individual distinction;
f.Has yielded or may likely yield information important in prehistory or
history.
Recommended Motion
Move to approve the designation of 302-316 East Bloomington Street,
the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building, as a Local Historic Landmark based
on the following criteria for local designation: Criteria A, B, C, and E.
Certificate of
Appropriateness
HPC23-0083:
709 Oakland Avenue
Longfellow Historic District
Longfellow Historic District
709 Oakland Avenue
709 Oakland Avenue
709 Oakland Avenue
709 Oakland Avenue
709 Oakland Avenue
709 Oakland Avenue– proposed plan
430 Brown Street – proposed plan
Front Stoop and Step
Conditions for Staff review:
•The building does not have a traditional covered porch at the
entrance where the stoop is planned
•The landing will be restricted to approximately 5 feet wide by 5 feet
deep and will be positioned roughly level with the entry door, not a
step down from the door
•The railing will follow the guidelines for balusters and handrails,
including the use of posts
•The steps will have closed risers and a toe kick (overhang from risers
and stringer)
•The stoop will be supported on piers or posts aligned with the corner
posts in the railing
•The space between the piers will be enclosed with porch skirting if the
space is greater than 18 inches
•All wood elements will be painted to blend with the house
Guidelines
Section 4.1 Balustrades and Handrails recommends:
•Installing square spindles that are 1 ½ inches or greater in width.
•Installing top and foot rails that are at least 2 inches in thickness
•Sloping top and foot rails slightly to allow water to be shed from these
surfaces and help prevent deterioration of these members.
Section 4.14 Wood recommends:
•Substituting a material in place of wood only if the substitute material
retains the appear and function of the original wood. The substitute
material must be durable accept paint, and be approve by the
Commission.
•For many applications, fiber cement board is an approved substitute
for wood provided the fiber cement board is smooth faced with no
simulated wood grain.
•Polyethylene/sawdust composite materials such as Trex , are
appropriate on a case-by-case basis.
•It is disallowed to substitute material in place of wood that does not
retain the appearance, function, and paintability of the original wood.
Guidelines
Section 4.10 Porches recommends:
•Repairing historic porches and conserving as much of the historic
material as possible.
•Replacing badly deteriorated components with new ones that match the
historic components in design and material. Custom fabrication of
columns, brackets, pedestals, and moldings may be necessary, but
many porch components can be ordered through lumber yards.
•Using vertical-grained fir porch flooring for its resistance to weathering.
•Constructing or replacing missing balustrades and handrails using
historic photographs or in a style that is consistent with both the building
and neighborhood (See section 4.1 Balustrades and Handrails for more
details).
•Using wood steps for a wood porch and tile, brick, or concrete steps for
a masonry porch.
•Leaving exposed the support piers below the porch columns. Skirting
must be added to fill the space below the porch floor and grade if this
space is 18 inches or greater. The skirt must be located between the
porch piers.
•Constructing porch skirting using a 3 to 6-inch wood frame with slats
fastened to the back of the frame in a vertical or lattice pattern.
Guidelines
Section 5.2 Decks and Ramps recommends:
•Locating a new deck on the back of a primary building, opposite the
street-facing facade and set in from the side walls at least 8 inches.
•Designing decks so that the size, scale and location do not detract
from the character of the district’s rear yards, if significant to the
district.
•Attaching decks to the building in a manner that will not damage a
historic exterior wall or, other historic materials, or cause wood siding
to deteriorate.
Recommended Motion
Move to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project at 709
Oakland Avenue as presented in the application with the following
conditions:
§Any composite material other than the floor has a smooth finish
§The balustrade, skirting, skirtboard, and risers are constructed of
wood
§The outer piers are revised to align with the balustrade posts above
and are exposed
2024 Work Plan
Preservation Plan Goals
•Goal 1: Identify historic resources significant to Iowa City's past.
•Goal 2: Continue municipal policy of protection of historic resources and
implement this policy through effective and efficient legislation and
regulatory measures.
•Goal 3: Establish economic incentives to encourage the preservation of
historic buildings and neighborhoods.
•Goal 4: Provide the technical assistance necessary to preserve and
improve historic properties.
•Goal 5: Heighten public awareness of historic preservation in the
community and improve preservation education efforts for various
audiences.
Preservation Plan Goals
•Goal 6: Maintain and strengthen preservation partnerships between
municipal government, state government, and federal agencies.
•Goal 7: Establish and implement historic preservation objectives for the
University of Iowa campus and surrounding neighborhoods.
•Goal 8: Establish and support heritage tourism efforts appropriate to Iowa
City's historic resources and community needs.
•Goal 9: Conduct regular review and evaluation of historic preservation
initiatives by the historic preservation community.
•Goal 10: Adopt strategies to preserve historic neighborhoods which reflect
their organic development, historical roles and traditions, modern needs,
and economic health and stability.
2024 Work Plan - Priorities
Oak Grove Park (Goal 1, Goal 5, Goal 10)
Partner with Parks and Recreation Commission, Public Art Commission,
Lucas Farms Neighborhood, and other community organizations to make
Oak Grove Park a public space that honors the site’s heritage. The park,
originally owned by the railroad, was home to many Mexican immigrants
who lived in company-owned housing, old boxcars. Many of those
immigrants moved into the surrounding neighborhood. When the City sold
Elm Grove Park, near the Johnson County Administration Building, it
bought the land where Oak Grove Park now sits. The park is currently
scheduled for major renovation in 2026 or 2027 which provides plenty of
time for us to investigate outside funding sources and develop a
community plan that makes it a public space both for the neighborhood
but also the City.While the majority of the work for this park will occur in
future years, the Commission has determined that it is a priority to begin
investigation and research into the history of the are now.
2024 Work Plan - Priorities
Landmark/District Subcommittee (Goal 1, Goal 2, Goal 3, Goal 7, Goal 9, Goal
10)
In 1996 the HPC designated the first local landmarks and immediately began a list
of the next priorities for designation. In 2015 they revisited the topic and
eventually moved forward with a small group of landmarks in 2017. In 2001 the
first downtown study resulted in two potential National Register districts. The
Commission immediately began work toward a local downtown district. None of
these districts moved forward. In 2016 the HPC hired a consultant to update the
downtown study that has resulted in a National Register listed historic district.
While a few local landmarks have been designated the area, no further local
designation has happened. Work between the HPC and the IC Downtown District
to develop incentives for preservation were not continued by City Council. There
are other large areas of town with historic properties that have never been
surveyed such as the Lucas Farms-Kirkwood Avenue area and the Morningside
neighborhood. The Commission will form a landmark and district subcommittee
to begin to address potential landmarks and potential districts.
2024 Work Plan - Priorities
Engage with the Public and City Council (Goal 2, Goal 3, Goal 4, Goal 5, Goal 9)
Recent work plans have included projects that involved the HPC working with the
Downtown District and the Parks and Recreation Commission do develop
proposals that were taken to City Council but were not picked up by Council for
future work or discussion. As the HPC begins to work through landmark and
district designations, engaging with both the public and Council will be
instrumental to the success of the work. The Commission will continue to foster
relationships between organizations and attend meetings and other public forums
where they can address historic preservation issues as they arise and propose
solutions to incentivize historic preservation.
2024 Work Plan – Ongoing work
Annual Historic Preservation Awards (Goal 5, Goal 9)
The annual awards program highlights successful preservation work within the
community and the expertise of contractors and consultants. As one of the
Commission’s main forms of community outreach, the awards are a high priority
every year and attract an audience of about 100 people. We will continue to
partner with Johnson County Historic Preservation Commission.
Historic Preservation Fund (Goal 3, Goal 4)
With the implementation of the fund in FY 2018, the Fund has approved 28 grants
or loans improving 25 properties. This is a popular program which has helped
property owners maintain the historic character of their properties and has
helped keep valuable material out of the landfill.Recently the annual budget was
increased from $40,000 to $42,000.
2024 Work Plan – Ongoing work
Summit Street Monument (Goal 1, Goal 5, Goal 8)
In 2019 the consultant, Atlas Preservation, completed the “Summit Street
Monument Assessment and Conservation Options Plan” that was financed in part
through a Certified Local Government Grant. Relocating the monument inside and
putting a replica in its place was determined to be the best course of action to
preserve this important piece of Iowa City History. Staff has requested funding for
the 2025 Fiscal Year to complete this funding. Finding a permanent home for the
monument is one part of the process without a current solution.
2024 Work Plan – Long-term Goals
•Landfill diversion through salvage and reduced demolition
•Identifying opportunities to highlight Iowa City’s history as a leader in the
struggle for social justice, racial equity and human rights and preserve the
stories and structures.
•Update of the College Green Historic District
•Update of the Iowa City Preservation Handbook Maps
•Develop a disaster preparedness guide for preservation
Recommended Motion
Move to approve the 2024 Historic Preservation Work Plan
2023 Annual Report
2023 General Information
•Commission consists of twelve seats,
three of which are open now
•12 Historic Preservation Commission
meetings
•Budget:
•NDS budget includes:
$450 for annual mailing to owners
$750 for training and other expense
Historic Preservation Fund: $42,000
(increase of $2,000 for this year)
NR listed properties that were altered
430 South Summit-
rear addition
All project reviews on NR-listed
landmarks or buildings in NR-listed
historic districts
37 properties were altered
Does not include our Certificate of No
Material Effect
Local designated properties that were
altered
All project reviews on local designated
landmarks or conservation districts
23 properties were altered
Does not include our Certificate of No
Material Effect
103 South Governor Street
South porch reconstruction
New Local Landmarks
Original Emma Goldman Clinic, 1920-26, 1973
715 North Dodge Street
Assistance provided on preservation projects
•Technical and Design
assistance from staff
•241 inquiries in 2023
resulted in 85 applications
•Work with other areas of the
City in preserving their
buildings
Senior Center/ Old Post Office
Comprehensive exterior rehabilitation
Assistance provided on preservation projects
Historic Preservation Fund
$5,000 matching grants or no-interest loans to property owners
To date: 54 funding projects on 43 properties
$165,000 of grants and loans provided on $404,000 worth of projects
332 East Davenport Street- Emma J. Harvat and Mary E. Stach House
(masonry repair of all brick)
Before After
Public Education and Outreach
Work without permits
Open positions on the Commission
Lack of available contractors and
drafters for applicants
Historic Barn will get a new
foundation
Issues, Challenges and/or Successes
1025 Woodlawn Avenue
Historic horse barn
foundation replacement
1011 Woodlawn Avenue
Fire damage
Staff worked with the Housing
Fellowship, the student build
group and their architect on 724
Ronalds Street
Climate Outreach Coordinator
presented to the Commission
Parks and Recreation Director
met with the Commission about
City Park pool
Work with the Senior Center staff
on the preservation of the
building
City Channel 4
Partnerships formed or continued
724 Ronalds Street
New construction- student build
Recommended Motion
Move to approve the 2023 CLG Annual Report allowing for revisions to
be approved by staff and Chair
Report on Certificates
Issued by Staff and Chair
Certificate of No Material
Effect
Chair and Staff review
HPC24-0001: 722 Oakland Avenue
Dearborn Street Conservation District
New Range hood vent
Consideration of Minutes
for January 11, 2024
Commission Information
Preserve Iowa Summit
Save the Date: June 6-8 in Mt. Pleasant
Historic Preservation Commission
Next (rescheduled) meeting:
March 21, 2024
location: Emma J. Harvat Hall