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Minutes 11-28-18 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING HELD IN INTRACOASTAL PARK CLUBHOUSE, 2240 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2852018, AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT: Barbara Ready, it Mike Rumpf, Director of Development Dr. Ginger Pedersen Mike Wilson Jesse Feldman ABSENT: Cheryl Black Hollis Tidwell, III 1. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Ready called to order at 6:30 p.m. The members recited the Pledge to the Flag. 2. Agenda Approval Motion Dr. Pedersen moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Feldman seconded the motion that unanimously passed. 3. Approval of Minutes Motion Mr. Wilson moved to approve the October minutes. Mr. Feldman seconded the motion that unanimously passed. 4. Communications and Announcements None 5. Old Business: A. Magnuson House, 211 E. Ocean Avenue — Update on status of property after the CRA has taken back ownership (see accompanying combined staff report for update). Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, FloridaNovember 28, 2018 Mike Rumpf, Director of Development, explained Mike Simon, CRA Executive Director, was present to give an update regarding the property and to receive direction from the Board. Mr. Simon explained the property was purchased by the CRA in 2007. They spent time and money on the design and construction drawings to convert the dwelling into an office for them; however, it was not converted due to the Board leadership's change of direction. The building remained intact and the CRA moved its office elsewhere. In 2011, the CRA was trying to market the property and convert it to a commercial use. Through offerings and RFPs, the CRA hired a broker to market the property for a commercial use and there were several contracts that fell through. In 2015/2016, the property was purchased by a commercial developer and received site plan approval to convert the building to a restaurant. There were large gaps in the permit approval process; sometimes as long as six months without any real progress or response to comments and construction drawings being made. Mr. Simon explained the building had a restricted nature. Conversion of a building to a commercial building requires a lot of commercial upgrades, especially when the building is old. In his professional opinion, the hurdle the developer had was how to financially make a million dollar restaurant work as there would be a cost including any potential uploads such as windows and commercial grade kitchen elements. He had questioned whether the property would revert back to the CRA. Due to the upstairs and size of the stairs, the upstairs could not be used as dining areas or office space and the building would need an elevator, which increased the cost. The CRA, after having acquired the property, having construction drawings created, and maintaining the property, spent just over $1 million. Mr. Simon noted since 2007 much has occurred on Ocean Avenue. The planned Town Square is a 16-acre redevelopment project directly across the street from the building, and the project caused discussion with adjacent property owners about the property being one piece of a larger whole development and what would be the best use of the property and the building. Mr. Simon wanted to bring the item before the Board for the Board's suggestion of possible individuals that may want the building for residential purposes and if so, if they would be willing to incur the cost themselves to move it and if the CRA moving and preserving the building would be supported by the community. He advised there are many considerations involved in issuing a letter inquiring if anyone was interested in the building. Mr. Simon did not want to issue a letter or post a sign in the yard without discussing it and any options with the Board. He pointed out no one, from a historic preservation perspective would have knowledge of what the CRA would do and what options within the Code the CRA would have to adhere to regarding the use of the building. He felt input from this Board should be sought first before issuing a letter and conveying the information to the CRA Board. As owners, they are at a crossroad, since the original intent and commercial conversion has not materialized. When they look at the three properties together, there is a bigger opportunity with the development, as a whole, and it would be a great addition to the downtown on many different levels. Meeting ite Historic Resources Preservationand Boynton Beach, Florida November 28, 2018 Chair Ready thought since the Magnuson House was on the register o istoric Homes, the property of II under the purviewof the Board to provideinput on its future and to save history. Mr. Feldman noted two or three years ago, a few peoplewere bidding on the property and the Little ouse. One of the individuals was Rodne ar with the Subculture Group. He asked if anyone reached out to those groups. He noted they own Dada i Delray in a similar historic home and it has a lot of drawin the area. He recalled Subculture group had contemplated the Little ouse would be a coffee shop. He thought the property s on a nice street and could be turned into condos, but there are already lot of condos downtown, and peopleill need placesto go that attract them to an area versus any other options they havein theTri-County r thought having type of businessl thing that causes morel live downtown. Mr. Simon supportedideas and explainedas reached out to all the former entities and new entities from Tray Beach, but the Magnuson House is on small piers instead of a stem all and it was questionablewhether those pierscould sustain the weight of a commercial or restaurant use. The Dada and the Sundy House structures are on stem walls and had active residential when they were purchasedconverted. The homesere also in good condition. v the addition in the backthe property or out okay, but the MagnusonII living II dining room. The first floor is small. Most everythingofaccommodate a commercial srr has to be added to the back of the building, i r the cost was. The person in Delrayliked the home a lot until he toured it and he moved onto e Little ouse because it was already built and the risk was less. With the Villages beingconstructed nearby, the Town Square, and amount of people and new construction occurring, staff hoped the developmentl spur interest the commercial side. I may, but the longer the investment is held, the more it wouldcost. The CRA tried to shore up the buildingit wouldnot deteriorate. Mr. Simon advisedthere is no parkingr re only 38 spaces in the garage. blocks, if individually Ioped, would havei for any development threethe sites. Dr. Pedersen understoodthe parkinglot availablein the back walkway wouldr. Simon explainedr longer available. There are movedinto the Town SquareGarage. He explained CRA staff has not run the full course of options, but wanted to explore everything including ovin the building and/or giving it away. Mr. Simon was aware there haddiscussion for years of movingthe historic structures into the parking lot where the amphitheater is and creating a historic row. He likened the situation to the chicken the egg. The projectcould a envisioned, but thereis no one in town yet, so no one will invest in i . Additionally, the Town Squarei takingthe full footprint n one wants to invest a milliondollars in a buildingthat Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 28, 2018 age, when they can invest multi-millions into new and higher returning investments. The CRA initially thought, being the third house to go through the local designation process, that preserving history was the right thing to do. There were also some benefits in design and grant writing as historic structures can avoid some commercial and structural requirements, but in this instance, they were not enough to bring the project to fruition and it did not alleviate the financial concerns. Chair Ready asked if the CRA considered other uses such as a boutique, art or music studio or attorney's office. Mr. Simon responded they had, but there is still some structural conversion needed. He commented it was not the only angle and it was difficult to inform the Board of all the possibilities. He commented the suggestion would be one intention for an RFP or solicitation of interest letter. Staff would not just say the solicitation of interest is to move it, they would say explore any area of interest. There was discussion about using it for the train station, but there is no place to put it yet. The CRA owns the Cottage District site and the majority of the block behind the Oyer home between North Seacrest Boulevard between Fourth and Fifth Avenues and First Street and Seacrest. It is all residential. The home looks a lot like the Oyer home and it would make sense to move it there. Mr. Simon explained if done, it would not be affordable residential. He advised the CRA could move it with the hope someone would buy it. Keeping it as a house would not be bad. Other communities have had historic houses in locations such as the airport, or beachside in Delray. It was noted in historic districts, developers or owners wanted to do something different and were successful in finding someone who wanted the home, whether it was converted to an office or not. Chair Ready commented all would agree the last choice is demolition. She sat on the steering committee with EDAW and the Magnuson House represents the last vestige of that plan, which the citizens embraced. The plan also called to recreate a small Cottage District down the street. Chair Ready mentioned there are many of people who do not agree with the pending development. She thought it would be great to have the Magnuson home remain at its location and to have something built on the vacant lot next door, which the City does not own and make it an interesting destination. Dr. Pedersen explained the three most historic homes left are the Magnuson, Andrews and Murray homes. The downtown has moved in a completely different direction and the two structures do not match. There are tiny apartment buildings, then big buildings on each end and then this house. It was like a fish out of water. She thought it would be nice to save the structure and combine it with the Andrews home. It could be on other CRA property such as where the community gardens were. It should be themed into something to save both structures. She did not know where that kind of money would come from. The plans they saw for the house impressed the Board. They liked the plan, but parking was available in the back. Mr. Wilson asked if the Andrews home was part of the Villages project. Mr. Rumpf explained the plans still show the building was preserved as an office and left undesignated. They may have required it to be designated as the square footage was 4 Meeting is Historic Resources Preservationoar Boynton ac , Florida November 28, 2018 containedin the plan, l r i calculations for it. He thought the property was included in the rezoning. They havesizeable lot next door where home sat originally. Dr. Pedersen thoughtn home could moved two homes be used as professional offices, is in .Delray. Mr. Feldman agreed. II the converted in Delrayone or two parkingsots. Dada has valet and has only two spots in the back for staff. The lot next tote Magnuson home has its own individual r. There are 10 individual units tote north and there are now two owners instead of 10. The CRA wouldlike a the units greatly improved as individual c i jr investment, such as what occurredon 7th Avenue i Ir . From redevelopment per civ , the ownersof like to see the property redeveloped to a larger project than it is now. It can be doneits own. The lot next to it perhapscould commercial development. The larger issue is the parking requirements for commercial/office ar not going down andsites, when a buildingi developed i t r, become very restrictive. Mr. Simon didnot believe if the Magnuson House stayed, and the CRA developedtheir own properties the way they want to, that the lot would technicallynon-buildable. There of not be a two and a halfstory townhouseora wrap-around commercial structure there because it cannot accommodate i . Mr. Feldman commented a constantly hears there is no foot trafficy inquired if i wouldsense to acquireproperty r, bind the lots together and holdo them until there is enough foot traffic to supporti r it to entities that were interested in the past. He suggested I ting a Banyon tree to haver seating underneathi , which wouldreduce seating inside. He noted DADA had three1 by 10 rooms majority the seating is outside. He thought DADA was the best example they have in the areaof what could be done with the propertyore patience of be in the process. The appraised value of the Magnuson House was $325,000, and the CRA paid $800,000 for i . Mr. Simon thought the discussions had merit, but there was no real reason for anyone o risk 1 million to put a restaurant theIf all of Town Squares built the next day and someone came to look at the site, there woulddifferent lin Little House is next to a new buildingin a greatlocation and shouldleased and operating, but the CRA s not have control over individual r r ' motivations for tenants or rent. The rent iseasily 1 a square foot on Atlantic Avenue. He commented the Little House was not affordable givenits size because the output oft the restaurant is small. There are people on the sidelineswaiting o see what will happen. The CRA Board ill not come to the Historic Resource Preservation Board next month to move it or demolition i , as there are too many options. Chair Ready asked whatl there if the land was vacant. Mr. Simon explained ownersn smaller scale rci I development that couldoccur in Delray, sixtyunits could not be accommodated. v roup small version Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 28, 2018 West Atlantic Avenue where Tony's Market has commercial on the ground floor, a second floor of office space and a third floor of residential. Chair Ready thought it was similar to what was occurring everywhere else. Mr. Simon added some of the buildings Chair Ready was referring to were higher. Depending on what the owners want to do may make it financially impossible for the CRA to acquire the property and do something with it. He noted CRA's do not want to be in the private development business, as they assist private development. Additionally, a developer has not approached them. The two owners want to do something with the property. Mr. Wilson asked, since the Historical Society has no office, if the Magnuson property, could be sold at a much reduced cost or given to them or a plan to convey the property to the Historical Society or move the Magnuson home near the Andrews home. Mr. Simon explained the Board ultimately makes the decision. The CRA has the Women's Club, the Old High School, the Andrews and now this home. They are all buildings they want to preserve and need uses to keep the properties preserved. The High School needs activity and someone will want to use it. Mr. Simon explained if he had his way, he would move the Woman's Club next to the Old High School on the west side, move this house next to it and create a campus in the middle. The Woman's Club will be used less, once the Town Square is built because there is no parking, it is out of the way of the hotel and it will be a hard building to activate. He does not have anyone who wants to use the building enough to keep it alive. He agreed aggregation of structures to create a flow between them is a good idea if there is space to do it. Multiple or shared uses, an art gallery or historic office during the day are all options. Chair Ready pointed out when moving a structure to create a District, it is no longer a historic district. Mr. Simon explained that was not his concern. It is saving the building and a reuse is better than no use. Chair Ready thought the only thing left in the Little House that is historic is its fireplace. It was also thought Mr. D'Almeida would object to moving the Magnuson Home next to the Andrews house. Chair Ready asked if the home was moved to the Cottage District and became a residence, if the CRA could retain ownership and rent it and learned they could not. The CRA would add a first right of refusal, but the CRA is not in the housing/rental business. Staff would want to sell it as a single-family residence and put on the tax rolls. The homes are expensive to maintain and he would hope the home would be acquired with someone with the resources to maintain it. The home was not suitable for a first-time homebuyer. Mr. Feldman favored holding onto the property for awhile. Mr. Simon explained the only thing they were prepared to do was to go out and solicit interest in the house, which might range from moving the house to turning it into a restaurant. Mr. Simon did not want to approach the Board after he received letters from people interested in living in the home or move it without the Board being aware of it. It was a courtesy to the Board to advise the Board of the options in their mind as an owner. The direction staff was given by the Board was to find a use. He did not think the CRA Board was interested in creating something it owns there such as an office or other use. 6 Meeting is Historic Resources Preservationoar Boynton Beach, Florida November 28, 2018 Chair Ready noted there appearedo be consensus first choice to havehbuilding remain in placefind another use. The second is is not to demolishbuilding and move it if they haveit was also hoped the CRA could II the property as opposed to givingit to someone. Mr. Simon explainedit wouldcosta out $500,000 to move. If someone wanted to invest the funds to move the home, it would be a winfort e CRA. It is at least $150,000 to move the home, even tote Cottage District and then i would need to be rebuilt because the home needs to be rebuilt to be habitable. Someone wouldant to pay to rebuild a to live in it and preserve i . Chair Ready commented isionr had indicated the value of the house is on the property it sits on and she noted the CRA has more 1 million invested in the home. The CRA just sold the propertyfor $255,000 to the entityr l for the Historic Preservation Board to convert it to a restaurant, i provide ith $200,000 in grants, which is about$600,000 or$700,000 less than neededthe project work. The CRA wouldnot give the property away unless thereincentive tote developer to make it financiallywork. The only reason the CRA would give anything away for less than value would be because the value of the property or the project is worth more than the property itself and to incentivize someone wouldthey i the options. Chair Ready believede CRA had a track record of giving propertythey acquired by payingan exorbitantprice. Mr. Wilson appreciateda r i considered i building n office, ish he did not support and usingvacant lot for parking. He asked if Straticona future requests. Mr. Simon thought anyone involved in the Town Square construction needs a place to park. It could a vacant lot next to 211 E. Ocean, or the Bank of Americasite. All empty space is being sought. They may have to bus workers in from the mail. Parking is an issue. Mr. Feldman noted someoneDelray ale r then went to the Little House. He inquired they were looking o do something i the Little ouse and learned they were not because it was nota orale. The individual ants to be in Boynton Beach and does not like construction. The CRA is to contact developersi individuals. r ld come a time the timingis right. Mr. Feldman reiterated i support to hold onto the propertys it will eventually attractright person. Mr. Simon did not see anythingi i the propertyin the near future. Artists would interested. The property could a music studio. Amanda James was successful having her art gallery in the boutique. The small shops on Eastc are little nuggets o interest. Chair Ready suggested a i the wordout and askingfor something beyond. The property could soup and sandwich, or coffee and dessertshop. Not all requires a massive conversion. Everyone knows someone and the Boardcould reach out and help to find something ere. She explainedBoard would like to be helpful. There a interested entities and not everything requires a massiveconversion. The CRA did not advertise the propertyonly wanted a restaurant to respond. All that the Board suggested l place, it was pointedcost of conversion for Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 28, 2018 smaller uses is still expensive. B. Boynton High School (125 E. Ocean Ave.) — Rehabilitation and adaptive reuse project update (see accompanying combined staff report for update). Mr. Rumpf explained there were not many physical changes since the last meeting and there will be more photos on the next walk through. Progress was made on the windows and testing for water leaks was ongoing. The footers and foundations were poured and inspected, and staff was waiting on the report to determine whether they need to conduct their own inspections. The interior framing and ductwork installation, in addition to the foundation, would essentially commence Phase II. Revised permit drawings were submitted and under review, and an updated project schedule was expected from the contractor and would be provided at next meeting. Chair Ready asked if Mr. Rumpf could arrange a walk through and learned he could, but it may be a timing issue with respect to the demolition equipment at City Hall. Mr. Rumpf understood the roof was finished. Mr. Feldman noted the south side of the building on the second floor and asked if they are re-stuccoing the building as it is the only area of the property that is black. Mr. Rumpf believed so, but would check. C. Historic plaques for designated properties — Status of establishing a marker program (see accompanying combined staff report for update). Mr. Rumpf advised he was able to get an up-close picture of the crest. The vendor had asked for quality jpeg in the historic plaque process. Staff created some sketches. The Board had discussed having the crest in the plaque and the ability to order the plaques without the date. They can order more than one and receive a discount if they order about 12 units and leave it up to the property owner to purchase the date. The members had also discussed altering the crest would provide more space. Chair Ready asked what the Board thought about a sailfish. Mr. Rumpf was told by Mark Hefferin that someone within Straticon reviewed historical documents and an explanation of the crest. He learned the torches are the torches of knowledge. Dr. Pederson thought it correlated to education. Mr. Rumpf sent the sketch of what staff created. The vendor was concerned with the level of detail and he has not responded back yet. He will get feedback and send it to the Board. The subject plaque was 12 inches wide and 6 inches high. The vendor gave him examples and prices. Another plaque was around 8 by 10 inches or 9 by 14. Mr. Rumpf thought if the vendor could produce the plaque in aluminum, they could probably accommodate anything the Board would want. Chair Ready thought if the years were made smaller, they could fit on top of the ribbon. Mr. Wilson thought keeping it to scale and changing the year dates on the side might be cheaper. Chair Ready commented she has not given up on seeking funding from the Historical Society for the plaques. Chair Ready asked if the vendor saw the medallion and learned he had. She explained she 8 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 28, 2018 wouI d be curious about what he would say if the plaque was not so detailed. There was agreement all liked the plaque and it was very distinctive from other communities. Mr. Rumpf advised he will keep working on it. He thought the vendor was interested in working with the Board. D. Boynton School I Schoolhouse Children's Museum (129 E. Ocean Avenue) — Status oft project that was awarded a Historic Preservation Small Matching Grant for building maintenance (see accompanying combined staff report for update). Mr. Rumpf provided an update. The City received a grant from the State for physical improvements and maintenance. Staff was preparing a scope int contract and meeting deadlines from the State, approval from State and then next deadline. There were some cracks, repainting, wood replacements from the soffit and replacing loose boards on the floor of be repaired as needed. Chair Ready noted the City approved painting the building, which was the City's contribution as the matching grant. She thought they may be able to find additional money. 6. New Business: None 7. Other Comments by members. Chair Ready inquired how the Woman's Club was progressing. Mr. Rumpf understood all was of well with the roof work. They CRA would need to go out to bid for all the roof improvements after it was investigated. He did not contact the CRA in advance and he will look into it for the next meeting. Chair Ready requested Mr. Rumpf tell the she has Pecky cypress to donate. 8. Public Audience None 9. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 9