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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-19 HPC Minutes MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL AUGUST 19, 2010 - 7:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chair Ron Cockriel. 2. ATTENDANCE Present: Chair Ron Cockriel, Vice-Chair Richard Currie, Commissioners Bob Creager and AI Galbraith, Liaison Dave Fisher, Recorder Lois Behm and Guest George Rossbach. Absent: Commissioners Caleb Anderson, Lu Aurelius and Pete Boulay 3. APPROVAL OF I AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA Richard moved to approve the aqenda as presented. AI seconded. Ayes - all. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Minutes of June 17, 2010 Richard moved to approve the minutes as presented. Bob seconded. Ayes - All. 5. CHAIR OPENING STATEMENTS I PRESENTATIONS - None 6. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Georqe Rossbach 1998 - 1999 Mayor of Maplewood Mr. Rossbach said he moved to Maplewood in 1926 when he was 4 years old and has lived here since except when he was in the Navy during World War II. Their first home was at 1319 Co. Road C, about 1 block from where he lives now. His Father was a carpenter and a sort of jack-of-all-trades. They rented houses and his Father fixed them up in lieu of part of the rent; when they were done and saleable the family would move on to another house to fix up. His Father eventually built his own house, with help from George and his brothers, then figured out if he kept building and selling for a profit he would eventually have a home mortgage free. It worked, and he had a mortgage-free home and 4 sons in the construction industry. During those years they lived in a lot of houses - mostly in District 33 where he lives now, in the Hillcrest Golf Course area, and on Flandrau near Frost before he went in the Navy. The area was mostly truck gardens and dairy farms, except north of C, east of 61 and west of Box Street, which is now Hazelwood. That section had been platted with 40' lots and there were a lot of homes belonging to people who had jobs unrelated to the farming or dairy industry. The center of activity in that area was around Highway 61 and County Road C. Fisher's Store and the brand new Arbolado School were where most community events took place. The Fisher family is well known now - there were several girls and two sons, Bill and Art, but there was also Grandpa Fisher who was in the Civil War. He went around to the schools talking to the students and singing his songs, and he was always a welcome character. In the winter he would be at Kohlman Lake day after day fishing. Arbolado School was the place where community meetings, dances and other social activities took place. It was a pretty good school for its time - two rooms with potential for a third, and a small gymnasium where the walls were out-of-bounds for basketball and you couldn't arch the ball too much or it would hit the ceiling before going into the basket. Fisher's store was the other hub of activity. It was operated out of the ground level basement of their large two story home, but in the Summer they moved everything into a tar paper shack about the size of a single garage and operated from there. The building was about 50' from the highway and there was a steep slope between. The brothers, Bill and Art, shoveled sand from Belcher's sand pit (about where the KSTP building is now) into their dump truck and hauled it to the space between the highway and their store to bring it up about 8' to level the area for their customers. George graduated from Arbolado Grade School in 1936. At that time his Father received his Veterans Bonus from WWI which gave him the money to buy a lot on Howard Avenue near the Hillcrest Golf Course and build their first home. He graduated from North St. Paul High School in 1940. He got out of the Navy in 1945, built his house on County Road C in 1946 and has been there ever since. He lived in 22 houses from the time he was born until 1946 and has been in that same house for 64 years. He and Bonnie celebrate their 66 anniversary this year. He has watched things change over the years, the farms are all gone, every-thing has been developed and there have been huge changes in the 84 years since he moved here. During the questions that followed he verified that "Witches Woods" was the wooded area behind the former Beebe Laboratories site. 7. OLD BUSINESS a. Frost Avenue Bridqe Desiqn Dave provided information from a presentation to the Community Design Review Board, which shows they prefer Concept 2 because the railing allows better viewing of the lake than the concrete parapet. Ron asked if it was true that the design chosen by the CDRB had been approved by the Council. Commission preferred the design #1 with the concrete parapet because it looks more like the original design Dave said the CDRB liked Concept #1, with the steel railing, rather than #2 but he does not know if Council has approved it. He said that is more a Michael Thompson question. Richard said the Maplewood Area Historical Society talked about it and their preference was #2 because of its historical appearance, resembling the original bridge. The Society president had stated at the meeting that if there is Federal money involved there is a required study regarding historical status. Ron commented that there is the other dual arch bridge in Phalen which was built shortly before this one which is the same design and one of the reasons #2 was chosen. He added that he had a long conversation with Brian Murphy, who is the design engineer for the St. Paul Park & Recreation and the lead engineer for the bridge in Phalen Park. They have designated their bridge as historically significant and their task force decided that instead of keeping it in its current unsafe condition they are going to strip it down to the original concrete then rebuild it with the stone facade, the original railing and the stone cap on top which brings it to legal height. They will be spending 1 Y, million to restore it to look like the original bridge in the late 1920's and preserving what they have. Supposedly, with Concept #1 the new bridge will be a look-alike, but with the iron railing in place it isn't. There will be much traffic on the Gateway Trail and on the Frost Avenue Bridge, and since it is the twin of Phalen Bridge; we have an opportunity and should restore the bridge historically, since it is the gateway into our oldest neighborhood. Ron also commented on the National monument on the west side of the lake which is dedicated "In memory of the Civilian Conservation Corps personnel. . . ." and contains native stone taken from the area as well as stone from the White House, the Departments of Interior, War and Agriculture and several pieces of stone from nationally significant places. Both bridges and the monuments in the park were all built by the CCC personnel. There is also a task force working on the Phalen-Keller Regional Trail through this corridor and, talking with the head of the task force, he learned they plan to save some stone from the old facade, crush it and use it in planters and other things around the park. He believes Maplewood should really have a historic plan in place to create continuity with what is being done by St. Paul in this area. AI said he also believes the Commission should revisit the matter with staff about the reasons for the choice and reasons for preserving the bridge and see if the Minnesota Historical Society is or can be involved with the projects. Bob commented on the thoroughness of Ron's research and since Ron has done his part Bob thinks it is time for staff to do their part. Dave will check on the status of the bridge to see whether there is still time to bring it back for further discussion and consideration. Richard moved brinqinq back the discussion of desiqn Concept #2 for the Frost Avenue Bridqe. Bob seconded the motion - Ayes - all. b. Create Heritaqe Award - Discussion Only Ron asked for comments about the discussion at the July meeting. Bob said Dave was going to find out if there was a place we could use for displaying the individual awards. Dave said he didn't get an opportunity to talk with the City Manager about this, but did talk with Karen Guilfoile and she had no objection to an area in the Community Center or City Hall being used for that purpose. He also asked about each of the Commissioners bringing 3 names to this meeting to be considered for award. Ron asked if the Commission is willing and ready to proceed with an award program. Bob said he thought we had already made the decision to go ahead. Ron pointed out that we need to set criteria before making the choices for individual to nominate. Richard remarked out there are 2 types of worthy candidates: those who work out in the public eye and those who work quietly behind the scenes, both serving the community. Ron said we need to have this on the next agenda, but for action - not just discussion. c. Oath of Office Commissioner Lu Aurelius, who was to take the Oath of Office, was not present. 8. NEW BUSINESS - None 9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Richard announced August 28 is Johnny Appleseed Day at the Bruentrup Heritage Farm. b. Richard said that since the Ordinance revision changed the name of this Commission from "Historic" to "Heritage" the members should have new name tags. c. Ron mentioned Friday, August 18 is the City's free movie night at the Bruentrup Heritage Farm. Lois added that there will be popcorn, hot dogs, cookies, chips, ice cream and beverages available as well. d. AI asked about the status of the smokehouse at the Farm. Ron said he heard it had been approved, and Bob Overby wants to get it going - he took it down so he knows how to put it back up. He has the drawings, the numbered bricks and pictures of the original so they hope to have it done by the end of summer. The intent is that it will be useable. Dave added that he had forwarded the plan to the Minnesota Historical Society and it went through the City's matrix approval process with no objections. e. Bob said Carolyn Peterson had talked to him about old cars at the Farm on the 28th, and he just wanted to announce the old cars will be parked by the granary and he hopes Norm at Shroeder Milk will have his Father's old truck there. 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Follow up from June 17. 2010 HPC Meetinq - Discussion Only 1. Already talked about space for the Heritage Awards program. 2. Regarding the former tourist cabins site - everything about The Shores is only conceptual and the material will come back to the Commission again. 3. Regarding other commissions: *Kingston Avenue right-of-way vacation *Met Council - variance for 2-story parking ramp at the Beam Avenue park-and-ride Planning Commission on the 1 th, and Design Review Board on 24th *HRA on August 11th talked about the green building ordinance being considered *Participation in Livable Communities programs - see City web site *In last 2 weeks a surge of code enforcement activities at vacant homes, keeping Public Works Department busy. b. HPC Bio Info In order for Dave to apply to the State for certification he needs a bio from each commissioner, sort of like a resume, with information about education and life experiences which are pertinent to the work of this commission. Dave would like it by the next meeting in order to complete the application. 11. ADJOURNMENT 8:23 P.M.