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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986 09-30 HPB Meeting Minutes RegularA G E N D A EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1986 AT 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM I. Approval of the Minutes: June 24, 1986 August 26, 1986 II. 4528 Bruce Avenue. III. Peterson House, 5312 Interlachen Blvd., c..1880. IV. Slye House, 6124 Brookview Avenue. c. 1866. V. Grange Hall painting VI. Country Club District VII. Resignation of John C. Childs VIII. Next Meeting Date: October 28, 1986 at 7:30 p.m. IX. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 39, 1.986 AT 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Gordon Stuart, Cy Stuppy, Tom Martinson and David Gepner MEMBERS ABSENT: Gary Nyberg, John Childs and Lois wilder STAFF PRESENT: Harold Sand I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Mr. Martinson moved approval of the June 24, 1986 and August 26, 1986 minutes. Mr. Stuppy seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carried. II. 4528 Bruce Avenue. Mr. Sand reported that the Bruce Avenue house was recently completed by Mr. Gustafson and the structure conforms closely to the plans approved by the Board. The house was recently featured in the Parade of Homes and was quite popular. The house sold quickly for more than the $289.000 asking price which indicates that compatible design can be profitable. Mr. Sand suggested that it would be appropriate to write a letter to Mr. Gustafson thanking him for his cooperation. Mr. Stuart said this is an example of a house where the Board has had an impact on what was built. Mr. Stuppy and Mr. Stuart agreed that the letter should be sent. Mr. Martinson stated that the letter may not be a good idea for several reasons. First, Mr. Gustafson cooperated with the Board only because he was required to cooperate. Second, the house is way too bulky for the lot. Third, although the house is dressed up as a Tudor house it is not a very good Tudor house. It is one thing to say that we are happy everything turned out for you but Mr. Martinson still would not vote for that house. He has lots of reservations about it. He would hate to send a letter saying this is a great deal and then have someone come back proposing to do something equally bad and say that we sent a letter of commendation. Mr. Martinson said the design is not very good and the bulk is way too much. This was the best we could do under the circumstances but not a model of what we want to see. when we send a letter commendation it should be for a house that is exceptional. Mr. Martinson expressed a concern about incremental change in Country Club District that will eventually change the scale and image of the neighborhood. It is clear that people enjoy living there but they apparently do not understand what it is that is special about Country Club and if they change the neighborhood will it be less desireable? He is very concerned about losing Country Club because there is nothing like it. He is not aware of any National Register District in the country that has been allowed to let anything go the way this one has. Mr. Gepner suggested an education program for the residents to appreciate what they have. The Board discussed different strategies. Mr. Martinson suggested a meeting with Mr. Richards and neighborhood leaders like Mrs. Paulus. Mr. Sand mentioned that some of the boulevard elm trees in Country Club have been lost to Dutch Elm Disease. The City has not been replacing trees but some property owners have planted a variety of deciduous trees. Many time these new trees do not have the same color shape and character as the elm and will tend to change the character of the neighborhood. There are several disease resistant varieties of elm that are now commercially available that could be planted to retain the established pattern. The City does not have funds set aside for replacement of these boulevard trees, however, it could possibly be done with an assessment or through a coordinated private effort with quantity discounts. The Board generally discussed the problems with various type boulevard trees. No further action taken. II. Peterson House 5312 Interlachen Boulevard c.1880 Mr. Sand presented the staff report. The Peterson dwelling is a 1 1/2 story L shaped house designed in the Eastlake Style. This style is a refinement and simplification of some of the Victorian design excesses of the Victorian Picturesque and Queen Anne. The principal ornamentation present in the Peterson House is fish scale shingles and ball and stick decoration in the gable roof ends. In addition, there is an ornamented bay window on the front elevation. The front porch has been enclosed and the interior modernized but the remainder of the dwelling is preserved as original construction. Mr. Sand also pointed to the similarities between the "L" or "T" house as classified by the Minnesota Historical Society. Mr. Martinson says they are both correct designations. There is a whole new branch of vernacular studies that are categorizing buildings by typology and not by styles. If a building is not really strongly styled they call it by its typology. Mr. Sand said the design is clearly indicative of the pioneer heritage of Edina. The exact construction date of the Peterson House is not known, however, it has been established as circa 1880 according to the research of Mr. Hess. The date is placed at 1882 by Assessing Department records and the 1968 statement by the owner that the house is 86 years old. This date fits with the 1880 to 1900 bracket for Eastlake Style and 1865 to 1900 bracket for the "L" and "T" house. The abstract for the property is very complicated and the property was involved in real-estate speculation and a number of lawsuits. However, Paul Peterson bought the property in 1879.for $1,000 which indicates there were not structures. Mr. Martinson says the house should not have been built before 1877 to 78 or after 1885 to 1886 thus 1880 and 1882 are appropriate dates. Mr. Sand presented a copy of 1901 U.S.G.S. map of Edina that was updates in 1913. This map was recently located and may be the most recent map showing individual structures. The 1885 census indicates Paul Peterson was born in 1858 in Denmark and moved to Edina when he was 21 years old. Mr. Peterson was a widower but he had a male roomer, Mr. A. Nelson, age 60, born in Sweden living with him. Mr. Peterson's occupation is listed in the census as a farmer. Mr. Peterson sold the property in 1925 at age 67. The next owner of the property was Fred S. Child who purchased the West 13 1/2 acres of the South 1/2 of Government Lot 3 for $9,263.59. Mr.Child was already a resident of the area because he served as village recorder (clerk) from August 14, 1920 (when Charles Beverly Yancey resigned) to March 8, 1922. Mr. Child was apparently a hobby farmer because he was employed by the Slocum Bergren Company a wholesale grocery company until 1947. Mr. Child served the Village of Edina again as trustee from April 28, 1947 until 1954. The bulk of the property was sold in 1949 to Henry A. Anderson and Gunnar A. Johnson to form the 30 lot plat "Beverly Hills" with streets "Hollywood" and "Vine" Mr. Child retained 1 1/3 acres for the house and in July 1949 obtained a building permit to remove a barn and rebuilt a 20 by 4 foot garage in the same location at a cost of $700.00. In August 1956 Beverly Hills 2nd Addition was platted from the 180 foot by 334 foot lot retained for the house. Two additional lots were created, one north and one west of the house. In September, 1956 a building permit was issued to move the garage from the northerly lot and construct an 18 1/2 by 22 foot garage behind the house. Mr. Child is the contractor and the cost is $300.00. The only other building permit activity is a sewer and water connection permit in 1963. The site was considered "Rural Edina" until quite recent times. Route 9, Minneapolis was the postal address until 1943 when 5330 Interlachen Boulevard was assigned. The rural route address was dropped in 1948 and the street address changed to 5312 Interlachen Boulevard in 1960. Mr. Sand reported that the property has significance in three areas of concern to the Board. The house is associated with an early pioneer in the village, Paul Peterson and with Fred S. Child, former Village recorder and trustee. The house is in a prominent location and reflects the agricultural heritage of the community. The house is also a well preserved, unaltered example of an architectural design idiom, the Eastlake Style which is worthy of preservation. For those three reasons the property is qualified for Zoning Heritage Preservation District. The owners of the property, Philip and Jane Campbell are very interested in approval of the Zoning. Mr. Sand briefly reviewed the procedure for recommending rezoning of the property. Mr. Martinson concurred with the staff report and moved to recommend HPD Zoning for the Peterson House and forward the report to the Planning Commission and City Council. Mr. Gepner seconded, all voted aye. Motion carried. IV. Sfye House, 6124 Brookview Avenue c.1866 Mr. Sand said this item was included on the agenda to update the Commission. He has found references to the Slye family in the Roberts family history. There is also a reference to agricultural implements constructed by William Slye may have been donated to the Hennepin Country Historical Society. The 1874 accessing recorded list the location of the house on the west half of the property (E 1/2 of SW 1/4) rather than the east half as it exists. They must have read the legal descriptions incorrectly. Mr. Stuart mentioned that the house was also represenative of the Community's agricultural heritage. Mr. Sand said the dwelling at 5909 Wooddale Avenue has been mentioned as the Slye farm hired hand's house by Donna Skagerberg. However, the house does not appear on the 1901=1913 U.S.G.S. Map so it must be later. No further action taken. V. Grange Hall Painting Mr. Sand presented a sample of siding stripped from the Grange Hall and presented a memorandum about the recent sandblasting and painting of the structure by the Park Department. Mr. Sand says he photographed the building before it was painted to document the changes. Mr. Martinson moved that the Board comments that by now there are a full range of preservation technology methods that are widely understood and available through the State and National Trust describing positive methods of cleaning historic structures. That we should transmit this information to the Park Department and Engineering department so they understand how they should put out their bids. Mr. Stuppy seconded the motion. Mr. Stuart commented that they should have requested a permit for the work that was done. All voted aye. Motion carried. VI. Country Club District Mr. Sand said this item was discussed above under item No. II. VII. Resignation of John C. Childs Mr. Childs is moving to Plymouth and has submitted his resignation. The Board expressed its regret. The Board discussed possible replacements. VIII Other Business A. Mr Gepner reported on the September 1.8, 1986 meeting of the Minnesota Chapter of The Society of Architectural historians held at St. Stephens Church. B. Local Certified Governments. Mr. Sand said he is still waiting for Member's resumes. C. 1885 Census. Mr. Sand obtained a copy of the 1885 census for Richfield township and plans to correlate residents with property ownership on the 1885 map. Estimates indicate approximately 30 percent of residents were tenants. D. 6615 Belmore Lane. Mr. Sand presented some information about the property indicating it is included in the list of 1900-1920 structure in the history book. A realtor recently contacted the city concerning possible subdivision of the large site. The current owner, Charlotte Bloomquist moved to the house in 1918 and has lived there continuously until she recently suffered a stroke. The house was 2 or 3 years old when they moved in. The realtor is checking for more information about the history of the structure. E. Driving Tour. The Board agreed to meet Saturday, October 18, 1986 at 10 A.M. to tour some of the historic sites in the City. IX. Next Meeting Date: October 28, 1986 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Stuart discussed inviting the Board's Council liaison, Fred Richards to discuss goals and objections the Council wishes the Board to pursue. X. Adjournment Mr. Martinson moved adjournment. Mr. Gepner seconded the motion. All voted aye. The motion carried. Respectfully submitted, -1 J Harold Sand