MINUTES
TOWN OF NORMAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT, CITY HALL
100 EAST PHOENIX AVENUE
NORMAL, ILLINOIS
REGULAR MEETING
May 10, 2005
7:00 p.m.
Members Present
Bruce Warloe, Nancy Armstrong, Kathy Smith Whitman, Anne Matter, Bob Ward
Members Absent
Kathy Burgess
Others Present
Associate Planner, Lauren Kerestes, Andy Monniger, Andy Schweizer, Todd and Tamara Anderson, Isaac Gaff
Call to Order
Ms. Matter called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and noted a quorum was present.
Minutes:
Minutes of April 19, 2005 special meeting minutes were approved as submitted.
BG-05-04-01, 312 W. Virginia
This was a request for grant funding by Andy and Diana Monniger of 312 W. Virginia for the rebuilding of their brick front stoop and foundation tuckpointing.
Ms. Kerestes explained that the work had originally been approved in 2003 under Certificate of Appropriateness (CA-03-07-14), but their Certificate of Appropriateness has since expired. So, as a formality, a new Certificate of Appropriateness (CA-05-04-09E) was approved through expedited review. This is the first time they are applying for a Bone Grant to complete the work.
The Commission discussed the grant and asked Mr. Monniger if new bricks were needed for replacement purposes that he would have the sample reviewed by staff. Mr. Monniger indicated that he would.
Ms. Armstrong moved to approve up to $300.00 of Bone Grant funds for the rebuilding of the front stoop and foundation tuckpointing at 312 W. Virginia. Mr. Warloe seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Ms. Matter stated that the commission would move the review of BG-05-04-02, 19 Broadway Place to the end of the evening’s agenda.
CA-05-04-11, 24 Broadway Place, Rebuild and tuckpoint front porch
Mr. Gaff shared with the commission photos of the existing front porch and the deteriorated condition of the brick and mortar. He said that much of the deterioration had been caused by moisture infiltration from shrubbery that had been in front of the porch, but that has since been removed. He explained that the porch would have to be completely dismantled and rebuilt, using as much existing brick as possible.
Ms. Matter noted that one of the bid estimates from Main Street Repair and Restoration included the removal of the concrete slab and installation of a reinforcement bar. Mr. Gaff said that the second contractor, D. T. Masonry, did not think that the replacement of the slab was necessary and that he would likely select the second contractor to do the work.
Ms. Matter asked Mr. Ward and Mr. Warloe if they thought that the replacement of the slab was necessary. Both Mr. Ward and Mr. Warloe indicated that they thought the slab replacement was not necessary.
Ms. Smith-Whitman moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness CA-05-04-11 for the rebuilding of the front porch at 24 Broadway Place as submitted. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
BG-05-04-03, 24 Broadway Place, Rebuild and tuckpoint front porch stoop
Ms. Smith-Whitman asked about the acid wash listed in the bid estimate prepared by D.T. Masonry. She indicated that any cleaning of the brick must be done in accordance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. She asked Mr. Warloe if he thought this type of acid wash would comply and Mr. Warloe said it would.
Ms. Smith-Whitman moved to approve the Bone Grant BG-05-04-03 for up to $825.00 for the rebuilding of the front porch at 24 Broadway Place as submitted. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
CA-05-04-12, 619 Normal Avenue, Window Replacement
Ms. Anderson gave the commission some background on the appearance of the house at 619 Normal. She indicated that it used to appear more as a farmhouse, but that over time, elements were added to make the home appear more Victorian, such as the wrap around porch and relocation of the front door. Ten years ago there had been a front and back addition. Since she and her husband moved in 1998, they had added railings and front steps to the porch.
Ms. Anderson explained that they were not planning any restoration of the windows, that very few were original, and that many of them had been replaced over the years without any consideration give to the consistency in appearance or material.
Ms. Anderson said that the Certificate of Appropriateness requested the replacement of 15 new windows on the first floor with aluminum clad exterior, white wood interior Marvin Double Hung windows. These windows would have fixed muntins on the top half, as submitted in the application. The windows would be one over one with three vertical divided lites in the top sash. She also requested an additional four vinyl replacement windows with interior muntins for the non-street facing facades.
The Commission asked about the color. Ms. Anderson indicated that all the windows would be white.
Ms. Smith-Whitman moved to approve CA-05-04-12 for the window replacement at 619 Normal as submitted. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
CA-05-05-13, 406 W. Virginia, Porch Restoration
Mr. Schweizer explained that he planned on restoring the front sun porch above his garage back to its original appearance. This would require the addition of four interlocking bronze screens with mahogany frames to the porch on the south side and one arch topped unit on the east side. He shared photos of the original porch from the 1930s and the porch, as it exists today.
The Commission expressed their pleasure at the restoration of the porch and the care given to the detail.
Ms. Smith-Whitman moved to approve the CA-05-05-13 for restoration of the porch at 406 W. Virginia, as submitted. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
BG-05-05-04, 406 W. Virginia, Porch Restoration
Ms. Smith-Whitman moved to approve the Bone Grant request BG-05-05-04 for restoration of the porch at 406 W. Virginia, for up to $1443.53. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
BG-05-04-02, 19 Broadway Place, Roof leak repair and replacement of a few tiles
Ms. Kerestes distributed a letter Mr. Shepard had sent to her via email on May 8, 2005, since he could not be at the meeting. The letter expressed his intentions for requesting the grant money, mainly to cover the expense of maintaining the clay tile roof. It was noted that Mr. Shepard had previously received grant money from the commission for stucco repair to his home at 19 Broadway Place in 2003 and that a similar, though considerably larger-scale, roof repair situation had been funded at 24 Broadway Place in 1999.
Mr. Shepard had already been approved to repair the leak in his roof at 19 Broadway Place, through expedited review and was now requesting Bone Grant funds for the work. The work includes removing a portion of the roof to fix the leak, replacement of a few clay tiles, as needed. However, he is not replacing the entire clay tile roof.
Ms. Kerestes indicated that she had spoken with Mr. Shepard about the nature of the proposed work. She had shared with Mr. Shepard that generally the proposed work would be considered maintenance and not restoration and thus, would not be eligible for grant funds.
The Commission discussed at length the nature of the proposed work at 19 Broadway Place and its eligibility for grant funds. Discussion concluded on the agreement that the Bone Grant was established to encourage landmark homeowners and those in historic districts to do appropriate restoration projects. The Commission expressed their commitment to help as much as they could with unique materials, such as tile and slate roofs.
The Commission determined that though leak repairs are generally considered maintenance, this project would be eligible for grant funding, because of the uniqueness and high priority of preserving clay tile roofs.
Ms. Smith-Whitman moved to approve the Bone Grant request BG-05-04-02 for clay tile roof leak repair at 19 Broadway Place, for up to $787.50. Mr. Warloe seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Historic Preservation Month Events
Ms. Kerestes announced that the awards for the Historic Preservation Month artwork that the commission had judged would be handed out to the students prior to the May 16, 2005 Council meeting. She invited all members to attend and asked Ms. Matter to help in the distribution of awards at the ceremony.
Other Business:
Ms. Kerestes reminded the Commission that if they were interested in attending the June 2-4 Joliet Conference to let her know as soon as possible.
Ms. Kerestes also mentioned the following expedited Certificates of Appropriateness had been approved:
- APPROVED: CA-05-04-08E, 19 Broadway Pl: Roof leak repair
- APPROVED: CA-05-04-09E, 312 W. Virginia Avenue: Foundation tuckpointing and brick replacement
- APPROVED: CA-05-04-10E, 24 Broadway Pl: Asphalt roof replacement with like
Adjournment:
There being no further business, Mr. Ward moved that the meeting be adjourned at approximately 8:50 p.m. Mr. Warloe seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Lauren Kerestes
Associate Planner