HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 09-09 HPB Meeting Minutes RegularAGENDA
Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Regular Meeting
Thursday, September 9, 1976, at 7:30 p.m.
Edina City Hall Conference Room
I. Approval of the Minutes: August 12, 1976.
II. Jonathan Taylor Grimes House Rezoning.
III. Edina Mills Feasibility Report.
V. Research Projects: Informal Discussion.
VI. Other Business:
VII. Next Meeting Date: October 14, 1976, at 7:30 p.m.
VIII. Adjournment.
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD
HELD SEPTEMBER 9, 1976, AT 7:30 P.M.
EDINA CITY HALL
Members Present: Foster Dunwiddie, Chairman, Tom Martinson, Jim McWethy, George
Burke, Gordon Stuart, Paul Mucke.
Staff Present: Harold Sand, Assistant Planner
I. Approval of the Minutes: August 12, 1976._
Mr. Martinson moved that the minutes be approved as submitted. Mr. McWethy
seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
II. Jonathan Taylor Grimes House Rezoning.
Mr. Dunwiddie indicated that the second reading of the rezoning request
was heard at the August 16, 1976, City Council meeting; however, because there
was a question about the extent the interior modifications would be regulated by
the rezoning.
Mr. Sand clarified that the concern was whether certain specific features
of the house were considered important or if not, what guidelines would be used
to approve or reject applications for permits to modify the interior. He men-
tioned that subsequent to the City Council hearing he had been contacted by
Mr. Arnold Langberg who was the new owner of the property and had not received
notice of the pending rezoning. Mr. Sand explained that he apparently had not
registered ownership of the house with the assessing department prior to the
preparation of the mailing list for the rezoning hearing.
He continued, stating that Mr. Langberg has registered strong objection
to the regulation of interior modifications on the house primarily because it
was on invasion of his privacy.
Mr. Dunwiddie indicated that he received a letter from Mayor James Van
Valkenberg requesting that he meet with Mr. Langberg to explain the intent of the
Heritage Preservation District and resolve the issued. As a result, he and
Mr. Sand met with Mr. and Mrs. Langberg at the site, toured the building and
identified important elements that were part of the original structure. He said
the memo mailed to the members of the Board was a synopsis of that meeting and
that Mr. and Mrs. Langberg would be agreeable to the rezoning of the exterior
with an advisory list of important elements to be preserved appended to the zoning
resolution.
Mr. Dunwiddie indicated that the important elements include the interior
blinds in the front sitting room, the original four panel doors with original
hinges, the three original chimneys, the plaster ceiling rings where chandeliers
were hung, the original plain beveled interior wood base and trim, and the side
lights at the front door. He stated that this approach was feasible because the list
of items is not critical or lengthy. He added that the interior has undergone
major alterations including moving the stairway, converting the kitchen to a
dining room, adding a fireplace and flanking windows in the dining room, a major
rear addition, and screen porches on the front.
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Mr. Stuart inquired if this action would accomplish the necessary protection
of the interior and if the primary concern was the original structure. Mr.
Dunwiddie stated that his primary concern is preventing inadvertant damage
to the original fabric of the house during any future remodeling.
After a general discussion by the Board, Mr. Burke moved that the recommenda-
tion to the City Council for rezoning of this property be amended to include the
exterior and exclude the interior of the Grimes House, appending the following
advisory list of significant original interior elements that should be preserved:
1. The interior blinds in the front sitting room.
2. The original four panel doors and hinges.
3. The plaster ceiling rings for chandeliers
4. The three original chimneys
5. The original plain beveled wood base and trim.
6. The side lights at the front door.
Mr. Stuart seconded the motion. All voted -aye. Motion carried.
III. Edina Mills Feasibility Report.
Mr. Dunwiddie stated that he would attempt to organize a rough draft for
presentation at the next Park Board meeting, October 12, 1976, to request a trans-
fer of land from the Edina School District.
IV. Research Projects.
Mr. McWethy reported the status of his study of Southdale Shopping Center.
Mr. Gordon Stuart discussed his findings from the Title Abstract of the Sly House
on Brookview Avenue. Mr. Dunwiddie indicated it was considered to be occupied
by the Sly family from 1866 to 1901.. He indicated further information could be
gained from the census information filed in the referenced library at the State
Historical Society listed under Richfield Township.
No further action taken.
V. Other Business.
A. Mr. Dunwiddie inquired about the status of the Edina Eye Clinic
moving project.
Mr. Sand presented the copy he wrote for the newspaper advertisement and
read the letter from Dr. Allen K. Larson authorizing the sale of the building for
$1. He indicated that he didn't have much optimism about finding a person willing
to move and preserve the building because Dr. Larson was reserving the right to
remove the doors, light fixtures, and maybe a window or two. He said under those
circumstances it is difficult to justify spending in excess of $100 for one
newspaper display advertisement. The Board generally agreed that one $28 Sunday
classified advertisement should be attempted.
B. Mr. Dunwiddie suggested that it would be appropriate to consider the
rezoning of the Minnehaha Grange.Hall and the "Old Cahill School" located in the
Frank Tupa Historical Park. He indicated that rezoning will further identify
the site as historically significant and that any modifications to the building
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should be undertaken with HPB advice. Mr. Mucke moved that the rezoning be
sebeduled on the next agenda. Mr. Stuart seconded the motion. All voted aye.
Motion carried.
C. Mr. Sand distributed copies of the American Society of Planning
Officials publication "Recycling Public Buildings" and passed around a copy of
the quarterly magazine published by the National Turst for Historic Preservation.
VI. Next Meeting Date: October 14, 1976, at 7:30 p.m.
VII. Adjournment.
Mr. Martinson moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Stuart seconded the
motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Harold Sand