Historic District Commission - Regular Meeting
Detroit Historic District CommissionOnline with Zoom software
Good Morning, Karen Dybis will be taking notes for the Historic Dist. meeting. I just added a live-tweeting role because of interest so please apply to that if you’d like to live-tweet. thanks!
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
The Towns at Scripps Park in Woodbridge
I will be live-tweeting the #Detroit Historic District Commission (HDC) meeting starting at about 530pm today on behalf of #DetroitDocumenters covering public meetings @CityofDetroit for @wdet @CitizenDetroit @Detour_Detroit @freep
04:10 PM Feb 10, 2021 CST
Information about this meeting, including the agenda and planned future meetings can be found on the @CityofDetroit website https://detroitmi.gov/events/regular-historic-district-commission-hdc-meeting-2102021
Members of the HDC include: Katie Miller-Johnson (Chair) @katiemmi, Tiffany Franklin, James Hamilton, Richard Hosey (also a member of the Detroit Land Bank Authority Board of Directors @BuildingDet), Alease Johnson, Dennis Miriani
Helpful info about the HDC can be found in the City of Detroit Historic District Commission What You Need To Know About Local Historic Districts Introduction and Permit Application Requirements: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2018-11/2018%20HDC%20Brochure.pdf
Public meetings held within this DHC meeting include discussions on the following properties:
93-109 Seward –New Center HD https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/bridging-neighborhoods-program/property-listings/93-109-seward
858 Edison –Boston Edison HD https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/bridging-neighborhoods-program/property-listings/858-edison
1201 Washington Boulevard –Washington Boulevard HD https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/bridging-neighborhoods-program/property-listings/1201-washington-boulevard
3664-3708 Trumbull and 3689-3915 Lincoln– #Woodbridge Farms HD https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/bridging-neighborhoods-program/property-listings/3664-3708-trumbull-3689-3915-lincoln
4133 Woodward and 67 W. Willis – Willis Selden HD #Midtown #CassCorridor https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/bridging-neighborhoods-program/property-listings/4133-woodward-and-67-w-willis
HDC board member James Hamilton opinion piece from 2016 in the @freep: https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/02/13/historic-districts-protect-property-rights/80312468/
HDC Chair Katie Johnson also serves on the board of the Detroit Chapter of the American Institute of Architects @AIADetroit https://aiadetroit.com/leadership/
HDC meeting is supposed to start at 530pm. Much discussion among admins seeking to set up zoom so the public can view and participate. Ahh, the joys of @zoom_us and #technology
#awkward @zoom_us #technology continues. HDC staff are expertly assisting on the fix https://t.co/Wii7tUMHBi
Agenda revision: add Vernor and 3rd Street to consent agenda. Reference these properties on the HDC website.
A vacancy on the HDC will be reported to @MayorMikeDuggan open seat available now.
Garrick Landsberg report: Staff has been on “workshare” since early 2020, reminder to HDC staff are paid to work 4 days but actually work 5. Improvement of staff reports has been a high priority.
Public comment has been added back to current and future HDC agendas.
4000-4060 Vernor, Edward Potas applicant. Consent agenda addition to accept staff recommendations. Potas thanks the commission for moving ahead. https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/bridging-neighborhoods-program/property-listings/4000-4060-w-vernor
3960 Third also added to consent agenda. Both applications are approved without objection. https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/bridging-neighborhoods-program/property-listings/3960-third-street
Motion to approve application with staff requirements passes without objection.
HDC board member Tiffany Franklin joins the meeting.
continued… Ms. Dye presenting. Referenced using historic Sanborn insurance maps to verify historic info: https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps
About the Sanborn maps at the @librarycongress : “The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Online Checklist provides a searchable database of the fire insurance maps published by the Sanborn Map Company housed in the collections of the Geography and Map Division.” https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection/
After extensive discussion on replacement windows, public comment is opened.
First speaker: Melanie Markowicz speaking on behalf of @PresDetroit. Notes updates are not consistent with current HDC standards. Concerns about massing, roof line on 3rd floor, & exterior changes.
Eleanor Oaks, lives behind the home. Looking forward to new neighbors. Reservations about design, homes along Longfellow and Edison have similar backs making a clear sight line to the park, most of the neighboring homes have varied multi-story dimensions rather than what planned
Tracy Stevenson, of Detroit: the HDC is here to preserve and maintain. Does not see a problem with replacing the windows if they are falling apart.
Public comments close.
Chair Johnson: several challenges with this application.
Miriani: tends to agree with staff recommendations. Interior changes are not a reason to change exterior features.
Johnson: not clear on the dormer.
Hamilton: dormer window update not clear.
Hamilton: side and back of new edition, should used platboard/horizontal siding to differentiate from original part of the house.
HDC approves proposed work with several conditions to be verified by staff. Motion carries without objection.
Staff Observations from the previous tweet provide a good case study of the research, and various city committees/boards that developments must navigate.
All portions of the application other than the demolition are deemed incomplete and per unanimous motion will not be considered in this meeting.
Public comment: Melanie Markowicz representing @PresDetroit concerned with demo of character defining features.
End public comment
Brian Rebain with Kramer Design Group and John Olszewski @JohnO_Bedrock VP Construction @BedrockDetroit speaking as applicants.
Olszewski: working on development process for over 3 years. 170 extended stay about 220 apartments. Scheduled to open in December 2022… https://t.co/dKhmNkarI0
… adding an alley would allow for back of the house access for the new restaurants, and extended stay. Parking is key here, with limited access to street parking. @RideDDOT concerns about blocking operational access with loading zone. No way to park on the street for offloading
Olszewski: alley approvals not intended to “get around anybody” (oversight) but to not detract from the facade, and to tie into coming programming (hospitality & services).
Provides an incredibly detailed discussion of the challenges working underground in #Detroit alleys
Miriani: would not allow demo 3 years ago. Today, a use other than a parking deck would be a win for the historic district. OK with losing the back 2 bays to activate Washington Blvd.
Johnson: open to demo 1 bay, but challenged with 2
Olszewski: look at what happened with the First National Building if 2 bays are not allowed for demo.
Rebain: limited turn radius for trucks if restricted to 1 bay. Consider the dead end at State St as a limitation, need sufficient clearance to come and go; will activate alley
Hamilton: would support 2 bay removal
Hosey: worried about trying to get to a minimum compromise (1 bay) versus reaching for a compelling interest (not clogging the streets)
Johnson: would submit 2 bay removal
Hosey: motion to grant notice to proceed… approved without objection. @Detour_Detroit: Washington Street will be getting a newly activated alley in 2022ish! https://t.co/Gi9KYjqnuy
continued… All of these materials can also be found on the HDC website. https://detroitmi.gov/events/regular-historic-district-commission-hdc-meeting-2102021 https://t.co/A6fcZXk98R
… continued.
John Biggar, Integrity Building group on behalf of the applicant. OK with following staff recommendations. Makes the project more challenging, but it is a good compromise. https://t.co/OFjYRPECb1
Public hearing, public comment.
Rhonda Adams: seeking clarity on how many of the contracts were from #Detroit developers. Is there a data source, or stipulations on Detroit developers getting these contracts.
Dir. Landsberg- comments should be restricted to the topic at hand.
Attachments
9 attachments
Agency Information
Detroit Historic District Commission
The purpose of the Historic District Commission is to ensure the preservation of historically and culturally significant areas of the City which are designated by the City Council as Historic Districts.