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Michigan State Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting Minutes January 18, 2019
Minutes of the State Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting
January 18, 2019, 10:00 A.M.
Board Room, Fourth Floor, Michigan State Housing Development Authority
735 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Michigan
Rhonda Baker, Kemba Braynon (arrived at 10:07), Lane Demas, Dale Gyure, Janet Kreger, Brian Rebain, Krysta Ryzewski, Grace Smith
New board member Dr. Lane Demas introduced, a history professor at Central Michigan University with a focus in the history of race and popular culture in North America.
Misty Jackson
Dean Anderson, Amy Arnold, Laura Ashlee, Brian Conway, Debra Ball Johnson, Katie Kolokithas, Joelle Letts, Martha MacFarlane-Faes, Nathan Nietering, Stacy Tchorzyski, Diane Tuinstra, Todd Walsh; Legal Affairs Division: Scott Grammer
Joe Frost, Mike Jaskula, Michael Appel, Jancey Mallett, Mary Keys, Lauren Strauss, Ken Siver, Michael Olsen, Ruth Mills, Darla Van Hoey, Scott Slagor, Glenn Pape, Ryan Schumaker, Nancy Finegood, Galaan Dafa
Rebain called the meeting to order.
Motion to elect Grace Smith as vice-chair of the State Historic Preservation Review Board for a 1-year term
Motion: Kreger
Second: Gyure
Vote: 7-0
Motion to approve the agenda of January 18, 2019 regular board meeting
Motion: Smith
Second: Baker
Vote: 7-0
Motion to move approval of September 14, 2018 minutes.
Comments: Smith: Tibbits National Register nomination – Smith restated that the minutes should reflect that the nomination should not use Criterion B for Mortimer Smith.
Motion: Kreger
Second: Baker
Vote: 7-0
Motion to move approval of November 2, 2018 special meeting minutes.
Motion: Smith
Second: Gyure
Vote: 6-0 Abstain: Baker
Comments: Kreger: Thanks to Nathan Nietering for detailed capture of the conversation and relevant issues in the minutes from November.
Review of Board Bylaws
Walsh passed out marked up copies of the current bylaws with suggested, largely technical changes noted.
Comments: Kreger stated most of the change goals are bookkeeping related, current bylaws reflect the federally-required goals of the Review Board with the addition of local historic district study committee report review. Conway noted that the review of National Register sites to be delisted technically does not require Review Board action, but SHPO felt it was best to bring it before the Board so all are up to date. Rebain noted that in the bylaws, it specifies that the chairperson is authorized as the signatory for all Board decisions, therefore this does not need to be voted on each time. Grammer stated he hadn’t previously been asked to review the bylaws and therefore had not had the chance to review all proposed changes yet. Rebain asked if there was any desire by the Board to receive more formal comments from the public during meetings, or continue in the ad hoc manner currently used. Gyure asked if there been any complaints with the current ad hoc approach. Rebain indicated there have been no complaints. Braynon suggested that if there were public comment, it should be limited in duration but that public comment can be both valuable and meaningful. Kreger noted that the Board’s official duties are dictated by the National Park Service, which indicate that nothing that the Review Board does is binding. Conway replied that while that is true, the Review Board actually has substantial power for giving SHPO direction; one such example being how to handle the recent situation at WMU. Further thoughts may be shared by email but Kreger recommended that today, the Board can feel comfortable approving the current bylaws and the technical corrections rather than delay. Bylaws are meant to be regularly reviewed for updates, and this can happen going forward.
Motion to accept the technical changes suggested by SHPO staff which will be reviewed by Grammer.
Motion: Smith
Second: Kreger
Vote: 8-0
Board Training Update – Todd Walsh
National Register reviewer Jim Gabbert was contacted about meeting with the Review Board for a training and has expressed interest but does not have a set schedule yet, looking at June or July.
Conway indicated he is pleased to have Dr. Lane Demas join the Review Board and noted that board member Sally Bund’s term has expired, and she was not reappointed by Governor Snyder. It would be a nice gesture for the board to make a motion for a resolution to be sent to Sally thanking her for her service.
Motion to recommend sending a resolution of thanks to Bund
Motion: Baker
Second: Gyure
Vote: 8-0
NOTE: SHPRB member Braynon arrived at 10:07
BRIAN D. CONWAY, STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER
Upcoming items:
DEAN ANDERSON, STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST
TODD WALSH, NATIONAL REGISTER COORDINATOR
Nathan Nietering, Preservation Specialist
Nominated projects to receive 2019 Governor's Awards for Historic Preservation:
Cadillac House rehabilitation, Lexington, Saint Clair County
Capitol Theatre rehabilitation, Flint, Genesee County
Cobbs & Mitchell Building rehabilitation, Cadillac, Wexford County
Grand Army of the Republic Building rehabilitation, Detroit, Wayne County
Innovative Preservation Trades Training Programs, Michigan Historic Preservation Network, Statewide
Warner Historic Homestead restoration and associated archaeological education program, Brighton vicinity, Livingston County
Motion to accept and recommend the six nominations as presented.
Motion by Demas
Second by Smith
Vote 8-0
Site: Oxford Downtown Historic District, Oxford, Oakland County
Presented by: Scott Slagor, Commonwealth Heritage Group
Moved for Approval: Braynon
Seconded: Gyure
Vote: 8-0
Criteria: A, C
Level of Significance: Local
Comments: Village President of Oxford Joe Frost wished to thank SHPO staff. Oxford is a Main Street community which believes strongly in the tenets of the program, especially historic preservation. The Village strongly supports this nomination to the National Register. Kreger, asked how many years Oxford has been involved in Main Street. Oxford has been a select level community since 2004. The Oxford DDA was established in 1985. Kreger stated that you can tell the difference these tools have made to improving this community. Rebain added that this was a very well done nomination.
Site: Northland Gardens, Southfield, Oakland County
Presented by: Ruth Mills, Quinn Evans Architects
Moved for Approval: Kreger
Seconded: Baker
Vote: 7-0 (Abstain: Braynon)
Criteria: A, C, g
Level of Significance: Local
Comments: Kreger noted that this nomination and the Plumbrooke Estates nomination are wonderful mid century modern examples because they are intact, whole neighborhood spaces where people can get used to the idea that they are in fact now ‘historic.’ Kreger also liked the acknowledgement in the nomination for the intentional inclusive ethnic background. Demas countered that there may have been a white backlash to the incursion of some of the incoming black community to the area. Maybe the case doesn’t need to be made to the extent as written. Braynon appreciated the nuanced history of ethnic integration here where people are working together to embrace that. The background of the FHA was helpful contextual knowledge in defining these types of community developments. Smith added that the nomination included excellent architectural descriptions. Ryzewski noted the good distinction between architects and builders, and the various types of builders. Smith added it was nice to read a little about some of the features of interiors of these homes, which is unusual for residential district nominations. Kreger stated it would be appropriate to also note the distinctive landscaping unique to each property.
Site: Plumbrooke Estates, Southfield, Oakland County
Presented by: Ruth Mills, Quinn Evans Architects
Moved for Approval: Smith
Seconded: Ryzewski
Vote: 7-0 (Abstain: Braynon)
Criteria: A, C
Level of Significance: Local
Comments: Ken Sivers, Mayor of Southfield wished to thank the SHPO. He agreed with Kreger’s statement that modernism is now ‘historic’ and must be documented as such. Southfield was the fasted growing city in America in the early 1960s and the explosive growth is embodied in mid-century architecture which people in Southfield didn’t initially recognize as significant. Some people now move to Southfield because they want to live in a mid century house! Through persistent efforts, people now recognize this important built environment and that it makes Southfield a special place. Kreger noted that nominations and efforts such as this short-circuit the typical preservation story in which before being recognized as historic, a neighborhood such as this must suffer through a period of decline followed by heroic efforts at reclamation. These are recognized from the start as wonderful homes that skip the familiar cycle.
Joe Frost, Associate Planner with Main Street Oakland County expressed congratulates to Southfield on their advocacy and effort to designate districts.
Smith asked Walsh if criterion exception g is not cited, what will NPS do with the 1974 date? Walsh cited an example where a majority of the district is within the period of significance. They are still considered to be contributing because they are just barely too young to meet the 50-year threshold.Mills cited specific NPS guidance with a very definitive break where no new development took place after. Baker commented that in Sec. 8, pg. 15, the wording states that ‘several’ houses were added in the 1970s – does two count (per the list) as several? Walsh indicated this may be revised.
Site: William Hawkins Ferry House, Grosse Pointe Shores, Wayne County
Presented by: Brian Conway, State Historic Preservation Officer
Moved for Approval: Kreger
Seconded: Smith
Vote: 8-0
Criteria: B, C
Level of Significance: Local
​Comments: Smith inquired if there any way to include Ferry’s career as art collector. Walsh indicated NPS guidance does not appear to accommodate art collection as an area of significance. Smith asked if it could be classified as OTHER/art collector, as the house was built specifically for the art. Smith went on to note that the garage is included in the nomination, but there is no description or mention of significance in sections 7 or 8. Demas inquired of the level of significance based on the prestige of the art collection and its significance. Kreger stated that it must be compared elsewhere across the state, or country, and there just haven’t been that many related events or contexts developed. Conway stated a very unique aspect of this Ferry house story is the family connection to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Site: Marwood Apartments, Detroit, Wayne County
Presented by: Debra Ball Johnson, State Historic Preservation Office
Moved for Approval: Smith
Seconded: Braynon
Vote: 8-0
Criteria: A, C
Level of Significance: Local
Comments: Representatives in the audience: the developers voiced support for the National Register nomination and are undertaking the rehabilitation with Federal Historic Preservation tax credits and MSHDA LIHTC, and Federal Housing Trust Funds, also local awards from Detroit and local tax credits.
The board took a 20 minute break – 1:10pm back in session
Motion to adjust remainder of today’s meeting schedule so that discussion of 2019-20 meeting schedule will follow Annual Resolutions
Motion: Baker
Second: Braynon
Vote: 8-0
Removal Requests
Longyear Hall of Pedagogy, Marquette, Marquette County
Philip and Maria (Hasselbach) Dingleday House, Canton Township, Wayne County
Fourth Ward Polling Place, Petoskey, Emmet County
Grand Riviera Theater, Detroit, Wayne County
Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Church, Detroit, Wayne County
Chateau Frontenac Apartments, Detroit, Wayne County
Fountain of the Pioneers, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County
Comments by Walsh: A wholesale clean-up of SHPO data resulted in determining these structures no longer exist. The City of Kalamazoo requested that the Fountain of the Pioneers be removed from the National Register.
Motion to recommend that the so-named structures presented January 18, 2019, be provided to NPS to be removed from the National Register.
Motion: Kreger
Second: Gyure
Vote: 8-0
AMY ARNOLD, STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Oakwood Historic District Boundary Modification Study, East Lansing, Ingham County
Comments by Arnold: The boundary modification proposes to add 50 homes to the north and about 20 homes to the west of existing boundaries. It will also add the former East Lansing High School, built in 1927, now the Hannah Community Center. Finally it would remove two infill apartment buildings dating from 2005 and 2008 from the district. The report lacked a strong historic context, provided no information about who lived in the homes or the architects, not enough history on the school and changes to the structure, and to the neighborhood over time. The maps were difficult to read and interpret. The report uses terms that aren’t acceptable, such as ‘English Cottage,’ which should be ‘Tudor Revival.’ We take issue with their desire to remove the two apartment complexes. Both designs must have been approved by the historic district commission, and once removed, the HDC can’t have the ability to review any future proposed changes.
Kreger noted that Arnold’s assessment seemed accurate and highlights several important points.
Signature Authority for Board Chair
Motion: Baker
Second: Smith
Vote: 8-0
Signature Authority for Counsel
Motion: Kreger
Second: Braynon
Vote: 8-0
Conflict of Interest Forms
Annual conflict of interest forms were distributed to board members, signed, and returned to Walsh. Those board members not finishing them at the meeting must return them by mail in a timely manner
2019-2020 meeting schedule, to be adopted by the board: May 31, 2019; Sept. 20, 2019; Jan. 17, 2020
Motion: Smith
Second: Ryzewski
Vote: 8-0
Scott Grammer, Staff Attorney
Michael Jaskula v. Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission
Review Board member Baker recused herself and has not been provided with the case file for this appeal.
Review Board Comments:
Smith: There is a clear considered decision based on the Secretary of the Interior Standards. Rebain noted that the Administrative Law Judge did a fine job tying the decision back to the Standards.
Kreger noted that in reading the transcripts, there was the discussion of size, scale and massing. Could those definitions have been looked up while the appeal was underway to help define these issues? Kreger continued that it seems these terms were being applied more in the sense of zoning instead of in the preservation context.
Smith highlighted a discussion of guidelines vs. standards. None of these are black and white and all are subject to interpretation. Kreger: noted that the decision followed the standards, named them, gave their reasons, discussed the size scale and massing issues, came to a decision.
Motion to uphold the Administrative Law Judge’s decision to affirm the Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission’s denial of the petitioner’s request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the property at 928 Virginia SE, Grand Rapids, a contributing building in the Fairmount Square Historic District.
Motion made by: Kreger
Second by: Smith
Vote: 7-0 (Baker recused)
NOTE: Baker rejoined the meeting to finish discussion and vote to adjourn.
Motion to adjourn: Smith
Seconded: Gyure
Vote: 8-0
Meeting adjourned at 1:53 pm
Prepared by Nathan Nietering