Loading...
Minutes 09-12-16MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016, AT 6:30 P.M. IN CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Present: Eric Salmonsson, Vice Chair Susan Oyer Ginger Pedersen Jason Shaffer Mike Wilson Cheryl Black, Alternate Hollis Tidwell, Alternate Absent: Barbara Ready, Chair 1. Pledge of Allegiance Warren Adams, Historic Preservation Planner Ms. Oyer sat as Chair in the absence of Barbara Ready and called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. Mr. Shaffer led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 2. Agenda Approval Mr. Adams added Item 6.E., Section106 and Chapter 267 webinar, and Item 6.17. Historic Bricks from the Florida East Coast (FEC) railroad station to New Business. (Mr. Tidwell left the dais at 6:34 p.m.) 3. Approval of Minutes The minutes were not available. 4. Communications and Announcements Ms. Oyer explained Barbara Ready was not present as her husband died suddenly. She gave the members the funeral and viewing information. (Mr. Tidwell returned to the dais at 6: 35 p.m.) Mr. Adams explained Michele Dion resigned as she is going to be out of town a lot. Mr. Shaffer moved up to a regular position and the Board has one vacant position for an alternate. Mr. Adams also explained the Board has to change the October meeting to Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 12, 2016 accommodate a CRA meeting. He provided the members with available dates. After brief discussion, there was consensus to meet on October 5th at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Oyer noted she had a scheduling conflict. 5. Old Business: A. Magnuson House, 211 E. Ocean Avenue adaptive reuse update Mr. Adams explained the application that the Board reviewed was approved by the Planning and Development Board and by the City Commission with some conditions. The City Commission determined that heavy landscaping would be better to have than a block and stucco wall. In response to a question from Mr. Tidwell, Mr. Adams advised a decision has not yet been made about the bollards. B. "Robert E. Wells Memorial Avenue" sign unveiling ceremony Mr. Adams had photographs and advised the two signs were installed on MLK Jr. Boulevard: one near the Seacrest Boulevard intersection and the other on Federal Highway. A commemorative ceremony took place on Saturday August 20th. Ms. Black, Ms. Oyer and Messrs. Adams and Wilson attended, as did 10 other individuals and Eleanor Krusell, City Communications Manager. Minister Wright was pleased. The head teacher and a second teacher from Poinciana were present. Ms. Oyer posted event photos on Twitter, but did not see any photos issued by the City. Mr. Adams advised he had sent photos to the Palm Beach Post for an article, but they only used a picture of the sign, and not the photo of the attendees. Last week, Mr. Adams received a call from someone living up north who advised he was the City Commissioner who was responsible for naming the road MLK Jr. Boulevard and he had received a number of calls from individuals concerned the name of the street was being changed. Mr. Adams explained the signs were brown, not at the intersection and they were only commemorative signs and not an actual name change Mr. Adams thought it was good people were noticing it. C. Boynton Woman's Club window and door repair update Mr. Adams advised the first batch of windows were removed from the Woman's Club and are in Sanford being repaired. He was not sure when they will be sent back, but they did have a meeting with the contractor and architect and they reviewed the schedule. There had been one slight problem with the permit as there were items on the drawings which were not included in this phase of the work, which was changed. The windows being repaired are on the east elevation on the second floor, and the openings are protected. The project was moving ahead and will be notable when complete. 2 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 12, 2016 6. New Business: A. Certified Local Government Grant: Black History Interactive Website Mr. Adams received the draft award agreement two months late and for the past two weeks, he was trying to contact the State because he had questions. The original plan was to okay the draft contract and then they would send an official contract. Mr. Adams explained he cannot spend any more time on the item and he suggested removing the word "Draft" which the State said was fine. The project has lost a few months and was supposed to start in early July. They would likely have to ask for an extension. Normally an extension is granted for one month, but Mr. Adams will ask for two or three months. He noted everyone who received a grant was in the same position and it is difficult to get work done on a year-long project in nine or 10 months. Mr. Adams advised he met with all involved with building the website and they discussed great ideas. One idea was, since it is an interactive website, to have an online treasure hunt for children and try to collect items at different buildings. The project will be an interactive map, having 3-D and animated elements, with audio and video. If it works out as planned, it will be an interesting website. Mr. Adams explained they cannot start the work until they have a signed contract and then the contract has to be sent to Tallahassee and returned. Ms. Oyer commented the First Lady for the State of Florida does something similar during Literacy Month with a treasure hunt based on a book through State Parks. Ms. Oyer thought it may tie in and give ideas for this project B. 815 SE 3rd Street potential designation Mr. Adams explained this is the property the Woman's Circle was trying to tear down and someone wanted to move the home around the corner. The man lives in a 1920s property by the railroad tracks and has a fairly large piece of land next to it where he planned to relocate the home. Mr. Adams advised the person was unable to do so, but he spoke about having the dirt road abandoned and building a duplex next to the house. As part of that, he wants to move ahead with designation of the historic house He hoped this designation would come in soon and it showed people are becoming aware of the benefits of designation. C. 631 Potter Road designation request Mr. Adams explained he was contacted by a man who purchased this property. They have done some work to the home and want to designate it. The home was built in 1950 with concrete block and has a few small porches. The owner is an architect and designer and Mr. Adams thought rather than handling all the work and research, the applicant could do so. Mr. Adams noted the fee for a designation application was $15. Mr. Adams did not mind doing the work for someone who has no idea of what they are doing with designating a historic home, but felt the owner could submit an application as he should have sufficient knowledge. Mr. Adams asked the owner why he thought it was significant and was told he thought it was one of the first homes built in the 3 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 12, 2016 Lakeside Garden subdivision. Mr. Adams noted there were two wood -frame houses across the street that were older. Mr. Adams contacted Dr. Pedersen Ginger for information on Lakeside Gardens which she sent. Dr. Pedersen explained Lakeside Gardens dates back to 1925 and it was by the same developer who built Lake Boynton Estates. She did not know if any of those homes survived the 1928 hurricane, but did know the Potter house was there, which predated the subdivision. It was almost a turn of the century home and it was a real pioneer house. She also thought it was on the 1986 site survey. Mr. Adams explained there is another home across the street that is a wood -frame, wood -sided home and down the road to the east was another wood -frame stucco with wood shakes, which pre -dated the home. There will come a point when they have to designate 1950s houses, but he did not know if there were enough homes to designate a District. When they designate 1950s homes, it will have to be something special. Mr. Adams did not want to discourage individuals from designating properties and will think about it further, but thought designation would be difficult to justify. D. National Park Service webinar on the Federal Historic Tax Credit program Mr. Adams explained this item was to inform the Board on September 15th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. there is a free webinar on the Historic Tax Credit Program. Mr. Adams had obtained the information and agreed to forward the information to interested members if they are not available during the day when the webinar is held. E. Section 106. Chapter 267 on Tuesday, November 29th from 2 to 3 p.m. Mr. Adams explained both webinars are free and they are good for continuing education credits. Mr. Wilson asked if they could be viewed afterwards. Mr. Adams did not know, but would forward the link to the Board. F. Historic Bricks from the Florida East Coast (FEC) railroad station. Dr. Pedersen had advised at the last meeting there were bricks found by Ocean Avenue at the FEC tracks. Mr. Adams spoke to the Director of Public Work who was interested in salvaging, storing them and using them in a future City project. They received a release and indemnification form from the FEC, which the City Attorney is reviewing because hats and goggles must be worn when removing them. As soon as that process is finished, Public Works will pick them up and they will try to decide what to do with them. Mr. Adams anticipated 50 or 60 bricks and thought it looked like it was part of the stairs. Dr. Pederson had noted there were also old concrete slabs which were stairs. The north side stairs looked like concrete and it may be a portion of it. Mr. Adams requested Mr. Tidwell look at the home at 224 SW 1 st Avenue near 2nd Street. The owner contacted the Planning Department about building another house on the lot because it is a big lot. The issue was the way the existing historic house was situated. The house straddles the midpoint line and they cannot split the lot down the middle although a planner said they could. The matter was then referred to Mr. Adams 0 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 12, 2016 because they asked if the home was designated. Mr. Adam commented the home was not currently designated and he thought there was an addition to the front of the home which was not original. The Board could initiate a designation procedure, if they wish to do so. He pointed out the City Commission has to approve any designation and the Board would only want to start the process for a dwelling that is really important. He advised the owner it was an option the Board could consider. The owner also asked if they could move the home and did not think it would be that expensive to move it 10 to 15 feet. Mr. Adams explained the expense comes from moving the utilities. He suggested if they moved the home and then split the land, they could receive the tax credits and build a new home on the lot next to it. Mr. Adams told the owner he had to see the property before he could advise him, but has not yet heard back. Mr. Adams wanted to apprise the Board of the inquiry. Ms. Black was familiar with the home and commented the home was in poor condition and was vacant. The home has needed a roof for years and the roof leaks so badly, a downstairs tenant moved out due to the leak. Mr. Adams commented he would visit the property. 7. Other 8. Comments by members Vice Chair Salomonsson thought they should put on the record the Board's disappointment Mr. Adams is rarely able to connect to the technology in the room and use the screen. The members are reviewing homes and do not have a clear vision because the screen does not appear to work. He hoped someone from ITS could fix the problem. Mr. Adams would investigate the matter and hoped it was not due to him operating the technology incorrectly. Ms. Oyer noted Pirates Fest was coming in October and the Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium will be held the first week in February. It is an international event held every other year. She announced the 500 Ocean project underway will have the apartments ready in the next month and a half, and noted they are installing a 45 -foot sculpture by reknown artist Albert Paley on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Federal Highway. Mr. Adams commented there was alot occurring in the City and he was looking forward to the Magnuson and the Little House being ready soon. He thought it would go well with new residents. Mr. Adams spoke to the owners of the house on the corner of NW 1St and 3rd that fell just outside of the proposed Historic District. He explained what would occur if the District moved forward and asked if they were still interested in designating if the District did not move forward. Mr. Adams thought the Board should be vigilant and now is the time start to push for designation. Mr. Adams spoke to 16 people in the last year. If the owner of Gallery Fantasia came forward to designate, they would be fine. Ms. Oyer noted the second and final reading of the CRA Plan would be reviewed at the next City Commission meeting and slot of it impacts historic structures in the downtown as well as the Old High School. 5 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 12, 2016 9. Public comments None. 10. Announce date of next meeting — October 5, 2016 11. Adjournment Motion There being no further business to discuss, Vice Chair Salomonsson moved to adjourn. Mr. Tidwell seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m. &4u�a- I Nv��� Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist N