MINUTES
TOWN OF NORMAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT, CITY HALL
100 EAST PHOENIX AVENUE
NORMAL, ILLINOIS
REGULAR MEETING
January 13, 2004
7 p.m.
Members Present
Anne Matter, Bruce Warloe, Nancy Armstrong, Kathy Burgess, Kathy Smith Whitman
Members Absent
Tammy Griffard, Bob Ward
Others Present
Mercy Davison, Town Attorney; Wayne Aldrich, Downtown Redevelopment Director
Call to Order
Ms. Matter called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and noted a quorum was present.
Minutes
Ms. Armstrong moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 11, 2003, and Mr. Warloe seconded. The motion carried 4-0. (Ms. Smith Whitman was not yet present.)
Phase II Demolitions in Downtown Normal
Ms. Davison and Mr. Aldrich provided a brief summary of the proposed Phase II demolitions in Downtown Normal. The summary follows: As part of the overall Downtown Redevelopment Project, certain demolitions are certain or likely to occur. Many of these demolitions involve structures built prior to 1945, which would trigger the need for prior approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. In addition, because state and federal funding will be used on various portions of the downtown project, certain state approvals will also be required prior to demolition. The state factors into its analysis the recommendation of the historic commission. Depending on the circumstances, the state analysis can take several months. As a result, Town staff wanted to obtain the recommendation of the historic commission as soon as possible, even though none of the listed demolitions are set to occur in the immediate future, and some may never occur. Town staff also explained that many of the possible demolitions will be conducted by private entities seeking to redevelop sites. Some demolitions on the list may never occur. The list of possible demolitions is attached in a memorandum with further explanation.
The commissioners had also received an analysis performed by the McLean Historical Society on the following properties to assist in their deliberations: 106-110 Parkinson, 102 E. Beaufort, 107 W. North, 109 W. North, 200 W. College, and 138 E. Beaufort. The historical society analysis concluded that none of the properties researched were of historical or architectural significance.
After the commission reviewed and discussed the list, Ms. Burgess moved to acknowledge the commission’s finding that due to extensive alterations the following properties lack enough historic or architectural significance to qualify for historic designation: 107 W. North, 109 W. North, 209 ½ W. North, 102 E. North (both the building fronting onto North and the one-story storage shed in the rear), 106-110 Parkinson, 138 E. Beaufort, 132-134 E. Beaufort, 102 E. Beaufort, and 101 E. College. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion passed 5-0. Ms. Smith Whitman then moved to require that all permits issued for demolition of Town-owned properties in downtown Normal be conditioned on the Town making an effort to salvage appropriate historic materials and the Town documenting the structure with photographs for the archives. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion passed 5-0.
After a lengthy discussion on the significance of 200 E. College, the commissioners requested additional information on the property in order to reach a decision. Ms. Matter, Ms. Burgess, and Ms. Armstrong noted that the structure has been significantly altered over the years and is now surrounded by pavement, losing its former residential qualities. Ms. Burgess, Mr. Warloe, and Ms. Smith Whitman stated that, regardless of the architectural or historical significance, the structure is an unofficial landmark in the downtown. All of the commissioners expressed concern over the redevelopment that would occur on the site, especially in light of the adjacent historic landmark structure (202 E. College). All agreed that if 200 E. College is replaced, the replacement structure must be sensitive to both 202 E. College and to the location as a terminal vista at the top of the hill on Broadway Avenue.
The commissioners asked Mr. Aldrich if the Town would consider restoring the structure. He answered that restoration was unlikely and that the Town purchased the property with the intent to promote redevelopment. Ms. Davison agreed to bring additional information to the February meeting.
Certificate of Appropriateness, 5 Broadway Place, CA-04-01-01
Ms. Matter, the owner of 5 Broadway Place, briefly explained her request to replace 8 balusters on various parts of her porches. Although the Matters completely rebuilt the porches in 1994, the balusters at issue have already rotted. As a result, the Matters proposed to use a modern, synthetic material called Azec. This material can be carved like a wood product, and will look identical to the existing balusters. Ken Lewis of Old Home Restorations worked with a sample of Azec and told the Matters that the project can be successfully completed with this material, which the commission has never before considered.
The commissioners agreed that the material had an appropriate appearance, noting specifically that it does not have the “shiny plastic” appearance of many vinyl products. They also noted that this material can be milled and shaped like wood and that it can be painted to match the surrounding porch materials. Mr. Warloe specifically noted that although the commission has in the past required the replacement of historic materials with similar materials (i.e. replace wood with wood), the Matters had tried that approach and the wood had failed at considerable expense. As a result, the rest of the commissioners agreed that this modern material would be an appropriate wood substitute for this project. The commissioners requested that Ms. Davison investigate the use of similar modern materials in historic properties elsewhere in the state.
Ms. Burgess moved to approve the Certificate, and Ms. Smith Whitman seconded. The motion passed 4-0, with Ms. Matter abstaining.
Bone Grant Program Revisions
The commissioners tabled this item until the February meeting.
Other Business
- 604 Broadway. In previous meetings the commissioners have discussed the future of 604 Broadway, the only structure in the Town built by Town founder Jesse Fell and likely the oldest structure in the community. The structure transitioned from single-family ownership to a rooming house with multiple renters in the mid-1990s and has been in a state of decline for several years. The structure is located in a multiple-family residential district and is surrounded by student housing. There are no specific plans for the structure at this time. The commissioners requested that Ms. Davison investigate options for the structure, including alternate locations if the Town were able to acquire the structure. Suggestions included a Town park, the Soldiers and Sailors orphanage site, Fell Park, and an old neighborhood.
- Brick Streets. The commission had requested that Ms. Davison prepare a report on the status of brick streets in the Town of Normal. Neither the Historic Preservation Commission nor the Town Council have ever taken official action on brick streets. Ms. Davison brought to the meeting the a report to the Town Council from 1982, in which the city manager identified the existing brick streets and recommendations on which brick streets to preserve, and memorandum from the City Engineer to the City Manager in 1998, which listed the brick streets to be preserved unless otherwise directed by the Council. In sum, the streets recommended for preservation in the 1982 memo remain brick streets. The commission requested that Ms. Davison investigate options for the remaining brick streets, including Hester and Florence, which have never been recommended for preservation.
- Old North Normal Sign Illustration. The commissioners reviewed the two potential illustrations for the Old North Normal signs. They requested that Ms. Davison obtain an illustration of a foursquare, which style best represents the architecture of the district.
- Modern Materials. The commissioners discussed the likelihood that property owners would continue to request Certificates of Appropriateness for modern materials designed to appear historic. As an example, the commission reviewed an informal request from Jack Chizmar of 606 Normal Avenue to replace his historically inappropriate wrought iron front railings/columns with a product called Fiberail. Ms. Davison showed a sample of the material to the commission. The commission requested that Ms. Davison obtain information on such modern materials from the state preservation agency.
- Preservation Awards. Ms. Matter requested that the Preservation Awards be placed on the February agenda. She requested that Ms. Davison research previous nominations and stated that the commission would need to work quickly in order to arrange an award ceremony for preservation week in May.
No other business was discussed.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Ms. Matter moved that the meeting be adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m. Ms. Burgess seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Mercy Davison
Town of Normal Staff