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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission - Meeting Date: 9/22/2011 regi 41 Historic Preservation Commission GLEI\114E Minutes THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 4:00 P.M. —CONFERENCE ROOM 2A GLENDALE CITY HALL 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at approximately 4:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Vice Chairperson Grose, Commissioner Versluis, Commissioner Lenox, Commissioner Worsdell, Commissioner Renning. Commissioners Absent: Chairperson Shady, Commissioner Hirsch. City Staff: Jon M. Froke, AICP, Historic Preservation Officer/Planning Director, Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner, Marilyn Clark, Recording Secretary. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice Chairperson Grose called for a motion to approve the Historic Preservation Commission minutes for January 27, 2011. Commissioner Lenox made the motion to approve; Commissioner Worsdell seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as written. IV. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR None V. WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES None VI. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS None VII. OTHER BUSINESS BRONZE PLAQUES PROGRAM Jon M. Froke, AICP, Historic Preservation Officer/Planning Director provided an update to the Commission on the Bronze Plaque Program. The City Council adopted the Historic Preservation Plan in 2003. Since that time, the Planning Department, as the liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, has been implementing the Plan. September 22,2011 Minutes-Historic Preservation Commission Page 2 The Bronze Plaque Program was established in 2004. It was set up to tell the story of important historic resources and to honor those properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Approximately one hundred eighty plaques have been designed, fabricated, and affixed to residential properties in Historic Districts. Twenty-seven bronze interpretive plaques have been designed, fabricated, and affixed on commercial buildings and in some cases on individual historic sites. The Floralcroft Heritage Grant provided funds to produce a brochure that provides for a walking tour and driving tour of the interpretative bronze plaques. The brochure assists residents and visitors to Glendale who want to know more about Glendale's history. Recently six bronze plaques were stolen from historic sites in Glendale. This is the first reported theft of bronze plaques and they were recovered and returned to the Planning Department. The Planning Department is working with individual property owners to return the plaques so that they can be reinstalled. No action was required on the part of the Commission as this item was for informational purposes only. MARTY ROBBINS BRONZE PLAQUE Jon M. Froke, AICP, Historic Preservation Officer/Planning Director presented this agenda item. A request has been made through the City Council Items of Special Interest process to fabricate and erect a bronze plaque in honor of Marty Robbins. This request was made in 2006 and again in 2011. The City of Glendale has a longstanding policy to not name buildings, places or things after individuals. Country and Western musician Marty Robbins was born in Glendale on September 26, 1925. He left Arizona in 1952 to pursue a musical career in Nashville, Tennessee. He died in Nashville on December 8, 1982 at the age of 57. Mr. Robbins' music appeared on 52 studio albums, 13 compilation albums, and 100 singles. In his career, Robbins charted 17 Number One singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, as well as 82 Top 40 singles. He wrote over 500 songs. Mr. Robbins' musical accomplishments are profiled in two books published by the City of Glendale: "Glendale" Century of Diversity (1992 and 2000) and "Glendale" Our Past, Our Progress, Our People (2008). A comprehensive profile of his life is found in a book published by Andrew Means: "Some Memories" Growing up with Marty Robbins (2007). Mr. Means was a guest speaker at the September 27, 2007 Glendale Historic Preservation Commission meeting. At that time he made a presentation on the book and presented a signed copy to the Commission. Since Mr. Robbins' death, an alleyway in Historic Downtown Glendale has been christened as the "Marty Robbins Plaza" by a local property owner. The area is identified with a wooden plaque on the side of a commercial building located on the north side of Glendale Avenue, west September 22,2011 Minutes -Historic Preservation Commission Page 3 of 57th Drive. The Marty Robbins Glendale Exhibit House was located at 5804 West Myrtle Avenue in the mid 2000's before it closed. Recognizing the accomplishments of Marty Robbins has already been achieved through numerous books, fan clubs, websites, and the existing plaque in Historic Downtown Glendale. There are no public funds available for a bronze plaque and the private sector has already recognized Mr. Robbins. REQUIRED ACTION: The Commission will need to make a recommendation on how to proceed with respect to a bronze plaque for Marty Robbins. The Commission unanimously recommended not to proceed with a plaque for Marty Robbins. The decision was based on the conditions set forth in the Bronze Plaque Program and because there are no public funds available for this request. Other options are for the Glendale Historical Society or the private sector to proceed with a plaque on private property. MYRTLE AVENUE CULTURAL GATEWAY Jon M. Froke, AICP, Historic Preservation Officer/Planning Director provided an update to the Commission on the status of the completion of the Myrtle Avenue Cultural Gateway. Construction plans have been prepared by the City's Architectural Historian, Motley Design Group. The project consists of the restoration of the Adobe House and Gas Station. The construction plans were submitted to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. for their review and approval. The National Park Service approved the construction plans on March 17, 2011. Restoration of the two buildings represents Phase II, which is the final phase of construction for the restoration of this important gateway into Historic Downtown Glendale. Phase I construction consisted of hardscape improvements including a small parking lot, landscaping, lighting and public artwork. Adobe House improvements will consist of environmental abatement of asbestos and lead, adobe repairs, roof and frame preservation, rehabilitation of doors and windows, new exterior paint, and plumbing and electrical system upgrades. Gas Station improvements will consist of stucco repair and preservation, rehabilitation of doors and windows, new exterior paint, roof repair, plaster repair and interior preservation. Anticipated completion date for the restoration project was slated for September 30, 2011. Given federal reporting requirements to the National Park Service associated with grant funding, the project will not be completed by this date. Once a new construction and completion schedule is prepared, the Historic Preservation Officer will provide this information to the Commission. September 22,2011 Minutes-Historic Preservation Commission Page 4 No action was required on the part of the Commission as this item was for informational purposes only. SANDS ESTATES HISTORIC DISTRICT Jon M. Froke, AICP, Historic Preservation Officer/Planning Director provided an update to the Commission on the Sands Estates Historic District. On April 15, 2011, the National Park Service placed the Sands Estates neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. This neighborhood represents the eighth Historic District in Glendale. Sands Estates consists of 176 single-family ranch style homes in six subdivisions, along with three apartment buildings. The structures were constructed between 1947 and 1966. Sands Estates is located at the northeast corner of Orangewood Avenue and 59th Avenue. The Planning Department notified the property owners of this designation by way of a letter. This is the eighth Historic District in Glendale. No action was required on the part of the Commission as this item was for informational purposes only. BEET SUGAR FACTORY UPDATE Jon M. Froke, AICP, Historic Preservation Officer/Planning Director provided an update to the Commission on the Beet Sugar Factory. The Beet Sugar Factory is an iconic building located in the Glendale Centerline. It opened in 1906. Through the last century, it has been used for various manufacturing operations such as sugar, beer, soy sauce, and Squirt soda pop. Squirt was the last manufacturer in the Beet Sugar Factory having closed their bottling operations in 1986. A smoke stack depicted in many older photographs of the site was removed in 1951. Forward Brands is a Phoenix based company and the new owner of the five-story Beet Sugar Factory. They plan to open a distillery on the ground floor of the building to manufacture premium vodka, tequila, rum, gin, and flavored liqueur. Only a portion of the ground floor of the Beet Sugar Factory is needed for the distillery operation. There is an existing single story accessory building located south of the Beet Sugar Factory that will be used as a tasting room. This building is located at the immediate northwest corner of Lamar Road and 52n1 Avenue. Construction activity and minor renovations to the Beet Sugar Factory and tasting room will occur this fall. Roof repairs and window replacements are needed for the Beet Sugar Factory as well as interior modifications to accommodate the distillery. Minor interior modifications will be necessary to retrofit the accessory building to accommodate the tasting room. Grand opening of both facilities is anticipated by the end of this calendar year. No action was required on the part of the Commission as this item was for informational purposes only. September 22,2011 Minutes -Historic Preservation Commission Page 5 VIII. STAFF REPORT Jon M. Froke, AICP, Historic Preservation Officer/Planning Director discussed the Glendale Arizona Historical Society and their efforts to promote public awareness and appreciation of the history of Glendale. A brochure was given to each of the Commissioners that included an application for membership to the society. IX. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS As a point of interest, Commissioner Worsdell distributed a newspaper article regarding the nomination of the Sands Estates Historic District to the National Historic Register, and another article regarding the history of the Spicery. Both articles appeared in The Glendale Star. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:00 p.m. NEXT MEETING: January 26, 2012 Respectfully Submitted, Marilyn Clarkdecording Secretary