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