HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987 07-28 HPB Meeting Minutes Regularti
A G E N D A
EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 19811, AT 7:30 P.M.
EDINA CITY HALL LOWE LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM
I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
April 28, 1987
II. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBER:
Donald Wray, 4211 Alden Drive
III. EDINA THEATRE
3911 West 50th Street:
Proposed Reconstruction
IV. BAIRD HOUSE
4400 West 50th Strret
Status Report
V. OTHER BUSINESS
VI. NEXT MEETING DATE: June 23, 1987 at 7:30 p.m.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1987, AT 7:30 P.M.
EDINA CITY HALL LOWER LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman, Gordon Stuart, David Gepner,
Gary Nyberg, Cy Stuppy, Lois Wilder,
Donald Wray and John Metil
STAFF PRESENT: Harold Sand
OTHERS PRESENT: John Titus Jr., Paul Pink
I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
Mr. Nyberg moved approval of the April 28, 1987 minutes.
Mrs. Wilder seconded the motion. All voted aye.
II. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBER:
Mr. Stuart introduced Mr. Donald Wray, 4211 Alden Drive as
replacement for Tom Martinson. Mr. Wray said he has been a
resident of Morningside for his entire life. He was born one
block from his present location, attended Morningside Elementary
School, Wooddale School and St. Louis Park High School. He is a
retired mechanical engineer previously with Ornamental Iron Co.
in Minneapolis,
III. EDINA THEATRE, 3911 WEST 50TH STREET
Mr. Stuart recalled that this item was previously considered
at the April 28, 1987 meeting and the Board asked the architects
to consider restoration of the front elevation, preservation of
the marquee and sign and retaining the small stores facing West
50th Street. Mr. Paul Pink and John Titus of Paul Pink and
Associates, associate architectural firm on the project were
present to answer questions. Mr. Metil asked if the additional
height of the building was setback from the front of the
building. Mr. Pink responded that it is behind the existing
shops 35 feet from the street. The north elevation shown would
not be visible from the eye level perspective. Mr. Nyberg asked
about the height of the building compared to the parking ramp.
Mr. Sand responded that the project is predicated on construction
of a third level to the south side parking ramp and the theatre
should not look out of scale compared to the ramp. This proposal
will be considered tomorrow night May 27, 1987 at the Community
development and Planning Commission meeting.
Mr. Sand said that the Board reviewed plans for a 3
auditorium theatre with 1400 seats at the last meeting. The plan
incorporated new auditoriums on the same level facing west. The
existing stores were eliminated to allow expansion of the lobby,
restroom, concession office and storage areas. The HPB expressed
concerns abut the loss of the shops, painting of face brick,
restoration of the facade and utilization of brick on the new
building. The Planning Commission and area businessmen also
expressed concern about the loss of the shops and continued the
hearing on the proposal. The proponents have responded with a
totally revised plan illustrating 4 auditoriums with total
seating for 1400 people. This plan has two auditoriums on the
ground floor facing west and two auditoriums directly above
facing east. The plans preserve the small shops, restore the
front facade and illustrate face brick on the four sides of the
new structure. The architects have also provided copies of the
original construction documents for the building and several
sketches for interior and exterior remodelling prepared by Jack
Liebenberg. Mr. Sand said it was important to note the changes
proposed in the front entrance which eliminates the display cases
on both sides and construct a projecting ticket booth in the
center of the entry. Mr. Pink added that the design was prepared
by David Mesbur without benefit of the original plans. Now with
the original plans they can be more accurate in the design.
In response to Mr. Wray, Mr. Sand explained floor area ratio
(FAR) and the 1.5 FAR limitation in the PC -2 Planned Commercial
District. The original plans provided a conforming 1.47 FAR,
however, the revised plans have 1.67 FAR which requires a zoning
variance. The additional floor area is necessary to preserve the
shops and to accommodate the added circulation for the two story
auditorium configuration.
Mr. Pink inquired if the concern about preserving the store
fronts was related to the existing businesses or the relationship
of the building to the street. The Board generally concluded
that active store fronts were important to the image of the
district.
Mr. Nyberg inquired about the loss of the display cases by
the entrances and the new door proposed. Mr. Titus explained the
exiting requirements for the building. He added that Cineplex
Odeon is pursuing a design concept in several locations where
they recall the character of the 1930's and 1940's movie houses
through design on the interior and exterior.
Mr. Metil said the architects were totally responsive to the
wishes of the Board and they should commend and approve the
project as submitted. Mr. Nyberg moved the Board commend the
architect for their plans and approve the project. Lois Wilder
seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried. Mr. Metil
moved to specifically disapprove any plan that removes the shops
or creates a false facade. Mr. Stuppy seconded. All were in
favor. Motion carried.
IV. BAIRD HOUSE, 4400 WEST 50TH STREET
Mr. Stuart said the Board approved a permit to remove a
limestone and fieldstone retaining wall and construct a lannon
stone wall two feet north of the present location. The change is
in connection with the West 50th Street reconstruction project.
The wall was removed and has not been replaced. Mr. Sand said
that Mr. Jack Curtis checked with some construction companies
concerning integrating the fieldstone with the lannon stone
wall. They advised that it would be possible if a frost footing
and concrete block retaining wall was constructed using the stone
as a veneer. However, this would be much more costly than the
normal stone wall.
V. OTHER BUSINESS:
A). Lewis Jones House, 5717 Blake Road.
Mr. Sand handed out an article about Lewis Jones that
was published May 4, 1987 in the Edina Sun Current. The article
dates the Lewis Jones house at 1879. Mr. Jones was born there
and has lived there ever since. The house is a vernacular "T"
shaped 1 1/2 story farm house that was common for the period but
now is quite rare in Edina. Mr. Jones was a farmer and involved
in an early rezoning of land to "community store" district
adjacent to Vernon Avenue (then Minnesota highway No. 169)
Mr. Sand said that this would-be an appropriate time to
consider if this property should or should not be zoned Heritage
Preservation District. Mr. Jones is 82 years old and wishes to
continue living there. However, there is the real possibility
that the property will be sold and the house demolished for a
subdivision of.the property at some time in the future. The
Board should visit the site to consider the significance of the
structure. The property is rundown and overgrown with weeds so
any proposal to the zone the property HPD would be very
controversial.
B). COUNTRY CLUB DISTRICT SOUND WALL
Mr. Sand said the property owners on Sunyside Road
adjacent to T.H. 100 at the westerly edge of the Country Club
District are requesting construction of a sound wall. The City
and the HPB received letters in the mail today with a petition
for a public improvement. The letter asks if State and Federal
assistance is available because the wall will protect the
environment in a National Register District. Mr. Tim Glines,
director of the Grants Management Office at the Minnesota
Historical Society indicated funding for private projects has not
been available since 1981. In addition funding would normally be
considered for historical research or repairs to threatened
historically significant structures rather than construction of a
new sound wall. The Board may be called upon to assist with and
review the project as it progresses through the hearing process.
the members of the Board should try to view the area to consider
the impact of a sound wall on the views and character of the area
as perceived from the highway and within the neighborhood.
VI. NEXT MEETING DATE:
June 23, 1987 at 7:30 P.M.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Nyberg moved adjournment at 8:55 p.m. Mr. Stuppy
seconded. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
'x'4rr,4
Harold Sand
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