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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-22-04 City of Farmington 325 Oak Street Farmington, MN 55024 Mission Statement Through teamwork and cooperation, the City of Farmington provides quality services that preserve our proud past and foster a promising future. AGENDA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 2004 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. Call to order 2. Approval of agenda 3. Approval of minutes of May 6,2004, regular meeting 4. Public Hearings - none 5. Reports a. Rural Study - Final draft report 6. Unfinished Business a. Dew Days Trolley Tour Review b. Designation of Heritage LarIdmarks in 2004 c. State Historic Preservation Conference, September 23-24, 2004 7. New Business a. Lyric Theater - Potential Heritage LarIdmark and Reuse Study b. McVicker Property - Consultant Comments 8. Miscellaneous 9. Adjourn HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES May 6, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Fortney called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: John Fortney, Tim Burke, Patrick Garofalo, Bev Preece, John Robertson, Edgar Samuelson Absent: Nathan Estep Also Present: Robert Vogel, Consultant; Lisa Shadick, Administrative Services Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Garofalo, second by Robertson to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (February 19, 2004) MOTION by Robertson, second by Garofalo to approve the February 19, 2004 Minutes. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None 5. REPORTS 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a) Discussion of Jackie Dooley's House In February the Commission toured 313 Walnut Street, owned by Ms. Jackie Dooley. The structure and design ofthe home has been kept very close to its original form. It could be seen as a museum house. The Commission did not recommend it as being eligible for landmark designation, because the idea of landmark designation is to protect representative examples of historic structures. The maximum capacity oflandmark designations is 50. The ordinance does not cover the interior of homes. Making everything that is old a landmark is not the purpose. Historic preservation is not about age. Mr. Vogel will compile a report and forward a copy to Ms. Dooley and the City. b) Update on Akin House The Akin House was designated as a Heritage Landmark at the May 3, 2004 Council Meeting. It is now being used as a bed and breakfast. c) 2004 Goals and Objectives 1. Celebrate Preservation Week May 3-9,2004 2. Dew Days Trolley Tour This year the tour will include a stop at the Church of the Advent. There will be two tours/hour on Saturday, June 26, from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. 3. The HPC would like to do a project with the Farmington Area Historical Society and devote one meeting with them. Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes May 6, 2004 Page 2 The Commission discussed doing historical markers with F AHS. An example would be a marker for the Great Fire. They could be placed in sidewalks or boulevards. Administrative Services Director Shadick will do an invitation letter to Mr. Dave Schreier. Another topic to discuss with them would be to do more activities during Preservation Week. 4. Designate two properties as Heritage Landmarks. d) Rural Historic Resources Survey Update Mr. Vogel is ready to write the report. A copy will be provided at the July meeting. He noted there is one farmstead with all the buildings still in place on Flagstaff. The old pipeline is also still in place. 7. NEW BUSINESS a) Facades for LongBranch and Gossips Mr. Ken LaBeau, owner, has contacted the City regarding redoing the facades of these two businesses. Staffhas forwarded information to him on restoring buildings. They should not try to duplicate anything, but make them fit in with the downtown architecture. Staffwill talk with Community Development Director Carroll on the status of the project. Mr. Vogel suggested the HRA set up a revolving fund to be used for facades. This could be used as loans for architects, etc. In five years, the impact would be noticed. It would be a good investment for public entities and provides an anchor for downtown. The Commission requested Planning create a map ofthe downtown showing building footprints and dates when built. b) HPC Training Sessions The National Park Service Website is NPS.gov. People can obtain information and "how to" ideas. Mr. Vogel brought several pieces of reading material for the HPC members. Historic preservation is a form of zoning administered by the HPC rather than the Planning Commission. There are 3000 cities with historic preservation programs. These commissions should exercise a wise use of resources and not try to preserve everything that is old. As far as landmark designations, the property owners make the final decision. This designation allows the HPC to regulate demolition, or renovations such as building over the current structure. It creates an environment to protect historic sites. Designation cannot be made without the owner's consent. The key to development is to be involved at the beginning of the process, not at the end. There is one property downtown which has been determined to be eligible for landmark designation that has not been designated, and that is the Lyric Theatre building. The owner opposed the designation, which puts this historic building at risk. All properties designated are in good shape. The Commission felt the Spruce Street Corridor development could bring more traffic, increase the value of the downtown properties, and revitalize the downtown as an economic hub. Properties eligible for landmark designation that have not been designated could be at risk. The State training will be held in St. Cloud September 23 & 24, 2004. Member Preece attended the conference last year in New VIm and found it very informative. Mr. Vogel suggested HPC members visit Commissions in surrounding cities such as Hastings and Northfield to see how they operate. Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes May 6, 2004 Page 3 8. MISCELLANEOUS Regarding the new City Hall, the HPC would like to be notified regarding the outside design. The Commission wants to be involved at the beginning of the process. Administrative Services Director Shadick will notify Wold Architects of the HPC's interest. Member Garofalo will be running for State Representative. He will continue to promote historic preservation at the state level. Member Robertson has a conflict with meetings on the third Thursday of the month. Also Member Burke would prefer to start meetings at 7:00 p.m. due to his work schedule. MOTION by Burke, second by Robertson to change the meeting time to 7:00 p.m. beginning with the July meeting and to the first Thursday of the month beginning in September. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. If the McVicker lot moves forward, the HPC may need to call a special meeting to review the plans. The RFP's are due May 14,2004. Mr. Vogel stressed the HPC should not become involved in preserving the mural. It has no historical significance. Member Preece shared with the Commission some photos of the landscaping at the Middle Creek Historic Cemetery. This project was done by the HPC last fall. She also brought a copy of the 1972 Farmington Independent which contained articles and pictures of Farmington's Centennial. The next meeting will be held July 15,2004, at 7:00 p.m. 9. ADJOURN MOTION by Fortney, second by Preece to adjourn at 7:19 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ~~~ Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant MEMORANDUM 6 July 2004 TO: Heritage Preservation Commission FR: Robert Vogel, Preservation Planning Consultant RE: McVicker Property I have reviewed the proposal submitted to the HRA for redevelopment of the McVicker property on Third Street. The proposal calls for demolition of several downtown buildings (including Gossips, the Long Branch Saloon, Subway and the municipal liquor store) and construction of a four-story, ll,OOO-square foot block of independent senior housing with street-level commercial space. The proposed development will not result in the demolition of any building or structure that has been designated or determined eligible for designation as a Farmington Heritage Landmark. The two historic commercial buildings slated for removal have been evaluated and found not historically significant because of their extensive facade alterations. It should be kept in mind, however, that the "remuddled" facades could be reclaimed through rehabilitation, restoring the properties' historical integrity; these resources should not be discarded lightly. The proposal includes a site plan and concept drawing of the new building at Third and Elm. As shown, the new four-story building would dominate the downtown streetscape, including the viewsheds of the Farmington State Bank, Masonic Temple, Fletcher Block and Exchange Bank, which are designated Heritage Landmarks. In my opinion, the new building shown in the proposal would be architecturally incompatible with the size, scale, mass, color, and materials of the historic buildings. While new construction (including buildings with contemporary designs) is appropriate in the downtown district, the proposed four-story building would alter the distinguishing character of downtown Farmington by destroying the relationship between the historic buildings and their environment, and by introducing a style of architecture that is not appropriate to this setting. By ordinance, the HPC is required to review and comment on all development projects that may have an effect on significant historic resources. In my professional opinion, the proposed McVicker property redevelopment scheme will have an adverse effect on adjacent properties that have been designated Farmington Heritage Landmarks. The adverse effect is the result of the design of the proposed new construction, which is inappropriate because of its size, scale, mass, and detailing, which are incompatible with the historic character of the downtown area. It may be possible to mitigate some of the adverse visual effects of a large new building at Third and Elm Street through design. The proportions, color, and materials of the building's Third Street facade, for example, could be made compatible with historic building facades by employing a traditional pattern of fenestration, cornice configuration, and vertical organization. Reducing wall height to less than three stories would also go a long way toward making the new construction less objectionable. Finally, be advised that if the HRA accepts the proposal and the redevelopment project goes forward, the HPC will still be responsible for reviewing and commenting on the building permit applications. By ordinance, a Certificate of Appropriateness would be required for any new construction because of the project's potential to alter the viewsheds or detract from the historic character and integrity of adjacent Heritage Landmark properties. DOCUMENTATION SUPPORTING HERITAGE LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF THE LYRIC THEATER BUILDING 314 OAK STREET By Robert C. Vogel Preservation Planning Consultant July 31, 2000 INTRODUCTION This report documents the historical and architectural significance of the Lyric Theater Building, 314 Oak Street. The report makes the case for the property's eligibility for designation as a Farmington Heritage Landmark pursuant to g2-11-4 of the Farmington City Code. Farmington Heritage Landmarks are the buildings, sites, and districts so designated by the City Council in recognition of their historical, architectural, archeological, and cultural significance. Properties are nominated by Heritage Landmark designation by the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) following a public hearing. Under state law, the Minnesota Historical Society reviews each nomination. Once a property has been designated a Farmington Heritage Landmark, this report becomes part of the official designation and is used to guide planning for the preservation, protection, and use ofthe historic property. The Heritage Landmark Planning Report is based on the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. For more information about registration standards and guidelines for preparing the report, please refer to the National Park Service publication, How to Complete the National Register Registration Form; and the Historic Preservation chapter of the City of Farmington Comprehensive Plan. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA Name of Property: The historic name of the property nominated for Heritage Landmark designation is the Lyric Theater Building. Location: 314 Oak Street. HPC Determination of Eligibility: The Farmington HPC evaluated the Lyric Theater Building and found that it meets the Heritage Landmark eligibility criteria. A finding of significance was issued by the Commission on April 20, 2000, and this finding was approved by the City Council on May 15, 2000. State Historic Preservation Office Review: In accordance with Minn. Stat. ~471.193, the Minnesota Historical Society will be sent a copy of this report for review and comment before the nomination is heard by the Farmington City Council. Classification: For preservation planning purposes, the Lyric Theater IS considered a historic building. Historic and Current Function/Use: Historically, the building was used as a motion picture theater. It most recently functioned as retail space but is now vacant. DESCRIPTION Architectural Classification: The Lyric Theater building reflects the early twentieth century vernacular mode in commercial architecture and shows the influence of the Art Deco style. Boundaries: The boundaries of the heritage landmark are those of the parcel historically associated with the building. Narrative Description: The Lyric Theater Building is a two-story brick and tile block commercial building located on the eastern edge of Farmington's historic downtown. The building was constructed as a movie house and exhibited films until the 1970's. Afterwards it was used as retail space, most recently by Dandy Sports. The building is currently vacant and was recently purchased by Premier Bank. The Oak Street fayade of the Lyric Theater exhibits wire-brushed choco1ate- brown brick veneer walls with red brick quoins and belt courses, a shaped parapet, and a large metal marquee that projects over the sidewalk. "G. Warweg 1931" is inscribed on the capstone above the marquee. The building rests upon a poured concrete foundation and the load-bearing walls are tile block. The second-floor windows are double-hung sash fitted with non-historic aluminum storm windows. The building is rectangular in shape, measuring about 36 feet wide and 92 feet deep. The two-story plan encloses a second-floor balcony, office, and storage space. The building is structurally sound but the fayade has been altered somewhat from its historic appearance. EVALUATION Applicable Heritage Landmark Criteria: The Lyric Theater Building is eligible for Heritage Landmark designation because of its historical association with local social history, popular culture, and recreation. In addition, it is a notable example of the American movie house building form and reflects the influence of the Art Deco Style. 2 Local Historic Context: The property was evaluated within the local historic context, "Downtown Farmington," as delineated in the 1995 historic context study. Area of Significance: The significance of the property is the product of both its historical and architectural associations. Period of Significance: The Lyric Theater attained the significance qualifying it for Heritage Landmark designation from the time it opened in 1931 to the date of the last picture show. Narrative Statement of Significance: The Lyric Theater, built by local entrepreneur G. Warweg in 1931, is a product of the vernacular mode in twentieth century American architecture and reflects the influence of the Art Deco style. Contextually, it also relates to the growth of downtown Farmington as a center of recreation and leisure activities and to the cultural impact of motion pictures on Farmington social history. The building meets the heritage landmark eligibility criteria on the basis of its associative values as well its distinctive design and materials. The Lyric Theater is the second movie house to occupy this site, succeeding the Gem Theater, which was destroyed by fire early in 1931. Previously, the site was occupied by the Nixon department store, which was itself destroyed by fire in ca. 1911. The 300-seat Lyric opened at the height of the Great Depression, a time of high unemployment and currency deflation. However, a striking aspect of the depression years was the extraordinary boom in the motion picture industry. Motion pictures were invented in 1889 and nickelodeons proliferated across the country, appearing in Farmington before 1900. Following the 1903 release of The Great Train Robbery, the first feature-length film produced in North America, movies quickly became the most popular form of mass entertainment in the country. By 1926, movies were drawing weekly audiences of one hundred million, roughly the equivalent of the population of the United States; by the mid-1930s, industry figures show that more than six out of ten Americans were going to the "pictures" at least once a week. The first motion pictures were exhibited in Farmington around the turn of the century, using gas-light illumination in various public halls. As noted above, the first commercial movie house, the Gem Theater, opened in ca. 1911 - there is no theater shown on the November, 1910, Sanborn fire insurance map, but the June, 1917, Sanborn map shows "Motion Pictures" and "Billiards" housed side-by-side in the same commercial building (a common practice until the 1920s). The Lyric Theater was tied into a sprawling Hollywood motion picture industry that churned out a record number of feature films, film shorts, and newsreels. Though it opened after the introduction of "talkies" in 1927, the Lyric continued to exhibit silent films accompanied by piano music for a few years, but it also showed such classics as Frankenstein, Dracula, The Public Enemy, Little Caesar, and Monkey Business (all released in 1931). The first color movies were shown in the mid-1930s and shortly after the war the Lyric was air-conditioned. 3 As with most mid-twentieth century movie theaters in Midwestern small towns, the Lyric's design focuses only on the street fac;ade. The brick wall decoration accents the fac;ade's vertical lines, but the most dramatic design element is the marquee, which counters the vertical elements and helps develop a strong architectural impression on the streetscape. Although it was by no means a motion picture "palace," the Lyric was based on a popular architectural form and represents an established and familiar visual landmark of downtown Farmington. BIBLIOGRAPHY Centennial Booklet, Farmington, Minnesota 1872-1972. Farmington Centennial Executive Committee, 1972. Dakota County Tribune. Golden Anniversary Edition 1884-1934. March 9, 1934. Dakota County Tribune. Farmington Centennial section. June 22, 1972. Sanborn Map Company. Farmington, Dakota Co., Minnesota. March, 1936. Vogel, Robert C. Farmington Historic Context Document: Final Report of the Historic Context Study, 1994-1995. City of Farmington, Heritage Preservation Commission, July, 1995. . Historic Resources Survey of the Downtown Historic Preservation Planning Area, Farmington, Minnesota. City of Farmington, Heritage Preservation Commission, June, 1997. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION 1. Map showing the location of the Lyric Theater Building. 2. Fac;ade of the Lyric Theater Building (camera facing south). 4 > - - ~ iff D....I.'..'... s. a . .. ... · 1 s: · l~ ~ ..~ J. .. = ~1 .s .. "'...." - i ~ c. . .. er Sl~fICl ~: r.f1 ~ ~ .. e ::c .... e 9. ~ .... <! "=' I ;. ~. .... I:~~z ~T trl ~ ~ rJj ~ .~ ~ .. -. ~~ ~~ .a;...=- O~ = = ~fIIIt>. oo~ ....... ~ = ~= _. .... ~ _. == (JQ 2. Fayade ofthe Lyric Theater Building (camera facing south). HERrr/$,GIE k~.ND!t%1{&tRbtS I Lyric Theater was built in early 19305 along Oak Street in Farmington Nickel and dime were enough to gain admission to Lyric Theater By MARTINA RANDALL Staff writer Back in 1931, if a farmer could manage to get his cows in the barn early on a Friday night, he could finish the milking and get cleaned up in time to make "Sweepstakes" playing at 9:30 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre. A nickel and a dime were enough to gain admission to Farmington's movie house that year. Every night for about 40 years, the two story, brick and' tile block commercial building located in historic downtown was the place to go in Farmington for Hollywood-style entertainment. On the screen in the 300-seat building, Farmingtonites could see 'images of. famous actors like Greta Garbo and Elvis Presley. A movie hasn't been shown in the Lyric Theater building since the 70s, and today it stands vacant. It served as a retail space for many years, most recently. for Dandy Sports. The building was recently purchased by Premier Bank, which is locat- ed next door to the theater building. Premier Bank presi- dent Thomas Mork said the building was purchased to secure space for possible expan~ sion by the bank in the future. No specific plans have been made at this point. "Without it, we have no possi- bility of expansion," he said. Although it is unlikely that the Lyric Theater building will ever again function as a movie house, it is currently being con- sidered for designation as a PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY THE DAKOTA CITY HERITAGE VILLAGE This photograph was taken in the late 1930s, looking west along Oak Street. On the ,left is the Lyric Theater. onl of eight possible historic landmark sites within Farmington. Farmington Heritage Landmark. The building's his- . torical association with local social history, popular culture and recreation make it a notable site. According to an article that appeared in the Sept. 25, 1931, edition of the Dakota County Tribune, the grand opening of the Lyric Theatre building took place Monday, Sept. 28, 1931. The article also states that George Warweg had the theater built on the site of the old Star Theatre, which was destroyed by fire about two years earlier. The building is a notable exam- ple of the American. movie house building form and reflects the influence of the Art Deco style. The building's qualities were noted in the Dakota County Tribune: "Farmington can be justly proud of its new theatre. It is probably the best movie theatre, for the size of the town, as will be found anywhere in the state. The community extends con- gratulations to Mr. Warweg, 2 home boy, for his public spiri1 and his decision to invest in hi, home town.". Some confusion appears tc exist about which theater th! Lyric replaced. According to th! draft document supporting th( Heritage Landmarl Designation of the Lyric The"atn building prepared by Rober Vogel, preservation planninl 'Honeymoon Lane! was first movie at Lyric theater consultant, the Lyric Theater was built on the site previously occupied by the Gem Theater, which was destroyed by fire early in 1931. ' , When it still functioned as a theater, Jerry Ristow sold tick- ets, made popcorn and ran the projector at the Lyric Theatre. He remembers running a lot of Elvis Presley movies through the projector. Back when the theater first opened, though, movies were still called "talkies." The Oct. 2, 1931, edition of the Dakota County Tribune reported on the theater's opening night: "A full house greeted the opening of George Warweg's . new Lyric theatre here Monday night of this week. Several the- atre . parties attended the first night's showing. "Despite the fact that the pro- jectors and Electrofone were brand-new, the entire show was run off without a hitch. According to comments from local people who attended the first night, the talkie is as good as any they. have heard in the 1\vin Cities. The pho- tography shows up as well as any in the large cities. "'Honeymoon Lane: the feature pic- ture Monday and Thesday, was enjoyed by . everyone, accord- ing to reports." Although Premier Bank now owns. the Lyric Theater build- ing, Jim Gerster remembers when the lot currently occu- pied by Premier Bank was vacant. In the mornings after the movies, Gerster would run down to the lot to buy bags of old maids from "Pop MARTINA RANDALlflndepel Henry" at his conces- sions stand. The cost? 'the lyric Theater was most recently Dandy Sports. The property is now owne One penny. Premier Bank. which could use the site for possible expansion in the future.