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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-27-1994 CHPC MINUTES � . • . Historic Preservation Commission . ., , � /�(� 621 CLEVELAND BLVD. � � CALDWELL, IDAHO 83605 � � TEL.: (208)455-3006 _ � FAX 455-3003 . . Caldwell Depot Facing Seventh Ave. (190G) MINUTES Meeting of January 27, 1994 Present: Elaine Carpenter, Bill Gigray III, Elaine Leppert, Steve Maughan, Roy Payne; Staff: Dennis Crooks, Liz Yeary; Absent: Carol Burbank, Tom Ensley, Vivian McKay. Others in Attendance: Madeline Buckendorf The January 27, 1994 meeting of the Historic Preservation Comm;ction was called to order in the City Council Conference Room at 7:Q0 p.m. The first item of business was reorganization of the Comrrussion. Roy Payne was recognized as a new Commissioner and welcomed to the meeting. The following nonninations were moved, seconded and approved i�narL ously. Chairman: Steve Mauahan Vice-Chairman: Tom Ensley Secretary: Liz Yeary Dennis assured Steve of the support and assistance of the City staff in his role as Chair. The Minutes of the meeti.ng of December 9, 1993 were approved as submitted with motion by Elaine Leppert and seconded by Bill Gigray. Dennis reported that the FY94 CLG Grant proposals had been sent to historians and to date there had been only one response. The next item on the agenda was the draft of the report on town meetinas. Dennis explained the history of the project, of the City Council's authorization to the Commission to investigate the possibility of fonning a historic district in downtown Caldwell. A series of "town hall" type meetings were conducted from December 1992 through 1993. Cities which took part included Nampa, Pocatello and Boise. All three were chosen because they had historic azeas in the downtown and had gone through some sort of revitalization process, and it was felt that one of the aims of the project was to discover if having a downtown lustoric district nught help revitalization. It was agreed that the purpose of the downtown is largely commercial and income oriented. Revitalization appeared to ha.ve worked because there were strong leaders in the community who helped organize and keep things movina. � HISTORIC PRESERVATION CObII�IISSION Minutes 1/27/94 - P.1 , � i + Nampa was led in large part by merchants with the assistance of the City. Their experience showed that the City provided stability for the plan to work, but in the absence of a plan progress was minimaI. Bill Gigray commented that the Commission is seen as another government arm created to slow people down and he thought a meeting between the Merchants and the Commission could discuss some kind of process to get things moving. � Madeline Buckendorf stated that Mayor Winder had indicated to her that people aze less negative as a result of the downtown meetings. The message should still be made clear that the historic buildings were considered an asset in all three districts in the revitalizations. It did not work in every case but the majority were successful. She added that the effort has to be owner drive and business driven with help from the Cominission and City, particularly help with plans for a model block She felt the report was a little dry for those who will read it. Steve said that the first and most important thing was to recognize the importance of ownership and owner control. The merchants have to be made aware that if revitalization is going to be cazried out in downtown Caldwell the historic project will be the most effective and most econorruc without having to invest capital into new facades and is the cheapest way for a downtown to be changed and improved. It is cost effective. Not every building can be saved. We have to demonstrate that we will not force historic preservation onto them. Bill said we should try and get them to complete a plan and Steve responded that Mayor Winder had made a Downtown Plan the central pillar of his administra.tion. Bill agreed, saying that perhaps we need to work with that Committee before the report goes to the Council. The three members of the downtown committee that we l�ow of aze John Pilote, Dave McKay and Carlos Ferreira. The committee was projected to meet the week of January 31. Elaine Carpenter commented that we have to talk to the committee asking them how we can help them achieve their goals. Leave out talk of a historic district. Talk about �ansportation, parking, occupancy etc. Bill said we need to ask what kind of monies are they looking for. Need restaurants, need shops to bring people downtown. In discussing renovation it would be better received if the azchitect or engineer were a local person. Steve commented that we already lmow there is very little interest in a historic distirict. We need to advise people we had meetings about revitalization and our findings. Bill sugoested we meet with the committee before they read the report. Steve a�eed stating that if interest is peaked before they receive the report they will be more interested in reading it but the emphasis should be on revitalization first and historic preservation second. Bill said that he would talk to Dave McKay to ask the committee if they would be willing to meet with us in an infornial manner to discuss this, that we aze working on findings from HISTORIC PRESERVATION C�bIlvIISSION Minutes 1/27/94 - P2 � � � � meetings we have had. Before the report aoes to Council the Commission would seek their input. We will table this until we get a response and see how soon we could meet with them. The next item on the agenda was the use of budgeted funds for historic preservation. Madeline -reported that the State Department of Transportation has installed signs at the historic bridge. We could have a dedication ceremony there. The renovation of the Sazatoga pazking lot and passageway Foncepts were also discussed. Dennis added that the information included in the packet concerning �ant monies available from the Idaho Department of Lands could be used for �eenscapes, particularly if we decided to do a model sidewalk with trees, landscaping, and benches. Elaine Carpenter said that the Depot has been deeded to us and perhaps we could do something with that, such as landscaping the pazking lots that lead to and from the Depot; or look at installing lighting on the building to emphasize its architecture. The Commission appeared to support an investigation into the feasibility of trees, lighting and landscaping around the depot. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, � � Liz eary, A ' t�ve Secretary Planning and Zoning HISTORIC PRESERVATION CObIIvIISSION Minutes 1/27/94 - P.3