Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

December 17, 2007                      Monday                                5:30p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members, Chuck Crotser, Lynne Landwehr, John Fowler, Dean Miller, Elise Wheeler, Vice Chair Robert Pavlik and Chairperson Barbara Breska  

                        Committee members Wheeler, Landwehr and Pavlik were absent. 

STAFF:                Jeff Hook, Senior Planner 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  At this time, people may address the committee about items not on the agenda. Items raised are generally referred to the staff and, if action by the committee is necessary, may be scheduled for a future meeting. 

The action of the CHC is a recommendation to the Community Development Director, another advisory body, or City Council and therefore is not final and cannot be appealed.  

There was no public comment. 

MINUTES: Minutes of November 26, 2007 regular meeting.  The minutes of the November 26, 2007 regular meeting were approved on a 4:0 vote. 

DISCUSSION ITEMS: 

1.    City wide.  Historic plaques for Contributing and Master List Historic Properties:  Discussion of design and placement alternatives.  (Jeff Hook) 

Jeff Hook presented the staff report and asked Committee members to discuss key questions and design options for historic plaques.  He noted that former CHC member Dan Carpenter had surveyed various cities for ideas on historic plaques, and his findings and recommendations were attached to the staff report.   

Dan Carpenter, 2030 Johnson Avenue, explained his recommendation and encouraged the Committee to include Contributing Properties in the historic plaque program. 

Committee member Miller supported keeping the existing historic plaque design, but using it for Contributing Properties, with a new bronze style plaque used for Master List properties. 

Chairperson Breska supported the use of bronze historic plaques for Master List properties and felt that a property’s date of construction should be in the largest print on the plaque for emphasis. 

Committee member Fowler supported including Contributing Properties in the historic plaque program, and wanted staff to return to the Committee with standards for plaque placement and design.  He felt that many Master List property owners would prefer a high quality bronze plaque to the current painted aluminum plaque and would be willing to pay for the upgrade.  Depending upon cost, the City might want to consider a financial incentive to offset a portion of the bronze plaque and encourage owners to upgrade their historic plaque.  In the meantime, both Contributing and Master List plaques would look similar during a transition. 

Committee member Crotser agreed with Committee member Fowler and supported the use of a simple bronze plaque for Master List properties with two or three lines.  The bronze plaque would be the same size as existing plaques; plaques for Contributing properties could be slightly smaller.  Owners of Contributing properties should be expected to purchase their own plaque, following the approved City standard. 

Committee member Miller suggested using the current aluminum sign design, without historic names, for Contributing Properties and using bronze plaques, with historic names, for Master List properties. 

Chairperson Breska was concerned that not all Contributing Properties were well maintained, and wondered if all properties should qualify for a historic plaque. 

Committee member Crotser felt that  owners of Mills Act properties should be required to upgrade to the new plaque design.  He felt the bronze plaque should keep the same basic size and format as the existing plaque, but that it would create and higher quality “image” for Master List properties.  He felt the format of the “message” on the plaque was not as important as the material change, and agreed that the date should be the most prominent information. 

On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Fowler, the Committee continued the item with direction to staff to return at the January 2008 meeting with visual alternatives of two plaque designs (bronze and aluminum).  The motion carried, 4-0. 

2.   Video Presentation.  Treatment of Historic Windows. (Jeff Hook) 

Jeff Hook presented a DVD entitled:  “Historic Windows:  Preservation Techniques,” produced by the State of Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. 

COMMUNICATIONS: 

1. Agenda Forecast – Staff

Staff provided an agenda forecast for the January 28, 2008 CHC meeting. 

2. Historic Survey Status

Jeff Hook noted that staff was incorporating advisory body changes into a revised draft South Broad Street Corridor Plan, and suggested this would be a good time to include updated historic survey information.  Committee members Crotser and Miller agreed to meet between Christmas and New Year’s to assemble the survey information. 

3. Contributing Properties List Maintenance

Staff noted that the Contributing Properties List needed updating and that staff would be coming to the Committee with this item in January 2008. 

4. Committee

Committee members were concerned about the dilapidated condition of the historic Motel Inn on upper Monterey Street.  On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Miller, the Committee directed staff to send a letter to the property owner of the Motel Inn, requesting an update on the property’s status and preservation methods.  The motion carried, 4-0. 

Committee members Crotser and Miller indicated they would attend the City Council meeting on 12/18/07 regarding the Chinatown Mixed-Use Development Draft EIR.