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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-1994HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of the Meeting of February 16, 1994 1. Roll Commissioners Coutu, Smith, Thorsen and Goderstad present; Simacek and Fuchs absent. Also present: Grossman, City Staff, Mr. and Mrs. Hovgaard, owners, Mr. Karel, contractor. Vicechair Smith called the meeting to order. 2. Building Permit review for 801 Pine, Fasbender Clinic (F.L. Wright design) Mike & Cindy Hovgaard proposed to replace the existing roof with a duplicate design in copper. The comer seams in the existing sheet iron roof have opened because of expansion/contraction. They had explored replacing it with a variety of materials. Garlock-French was the only contractor who would warrant the work. They suggested copper instead of sheet iron. Drawings, specifications, description and building permit application were provided. Steven Karel explained that many seams were open and all were suspect. After 35 years of expansion, contraction and repair, patching would no longer save the roof. As it had to be replaced, the choice was copper or another metal. The difference in price is not that great at this time and the copper would last three times as long. He demonstrated how the seams would be structured with invisible barriers to water soldered on the underside the keep the seams watertight and unobtrusive. Expansion joints would be used at the comers to solve the expansion/contraction problem. The copper would not be chemically treated. It would darken to a bronze color in four months and eventually turn blue-green. John Grossman reported that the city building inspector has gone over the design with the contractor and is satisfied that it meets code. Mr. Grossman referred to the Preservation Ordinance criteria: distinguishing original qualities, character or appearance shall not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of historic or original material or distinctive architectural features shall be avoided...if necessary, work shall be done in such a way as to minimize the adverse effect. He suggested that "original material" in this case could have several meanings: painted sheet iron in the literal sense, or copper in the sense of original intent or design. Mr. Grossman reported on a conversation with Tom Olson, formerly of Hastings who was an associate at Taliesin when the design was done by Mr. Wright. Mr. Olson thought that the replacement of the roof in copper to match the original design is the best possible renovation. He is quite certain that Mr. Wright intended the roof to be copper, but that it was changed to sheet iron, painted to resemble oxidized copper, because of costs. Bert Goderstad informed the Commission that other Wright designs, such as Auldbrass Plantation, had copper roofing (The Auldbrass roofing was recently replaced). He passed around the Frank Lloyd Wright Companion by W.A. Storrer showing that the Fasbender Clinic reference (p. 456) said that the "teme metal roof, substituting for copper, which was too expensive". He also passed out a descriptive guide prepared by Mrs. Hazel Jacobsen and Mr. Olson, that states "The roof was to be of copper, turning green with the elements. The price of copper at this particular time was prohibitive, so other metal was substituted." Richard Smith noted that the clinic was on the National Register because of the Wright design and that the commissioners had to be satisfied that copper had been Mr. Wright's intent. He noted that the copies of the drawings (from the Minnesota Architectural Archive) did not specify what kind of metal was to be used for the roofing and that close attention to duplicating the shape of the roof was as or more important than the material. Mr. Goderstad moved and Mrs. Coutu seconded approval of the application for the building permit. Motion carried, 4-0. 3. Minutes of September 29, 1993 Mr. Thorsen moved and Mr. Goderstad seconded approval as printed. Motion carried. 4. Election Mr. Goderstad nominated and Mrs. Coutu seconded a white ballot for Mr. Simacek for Chair and Mr. Smith for Vice Chair for 1994. Motion carried. 5. Update on Survey Contract. Carole Zellie is on schedule and expects to complete the survey in May. Nearly all the photography is complete. She is also doing a newspaper search for additional information. 6. Update on LeDuc House A small working group is exploring ways of working with the Minnesota Historical Society to achieve some form of public access and useful purpose for the property. The alternative is to see it sit vacant and tax-exempt with no likelyhood of development by the Historical Society in the ifareseeable future. The Mayor and Council and HPC members are involved and will be kept informed. 7. Adjournment Mrs. Coutu moved and Mr. Goderstad seconded adjournment. Motion carried.