PRESERVATION COMMISSION Tuesday July 13, 2021 7:00 P.M
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PRESERVATION COMMISSION Tuesday July 13, 2021 7:00 P.M. Via Virtual Meeting AGENDA As the result of an executive order issued by Governor J.B. Pritzker suspending in-person attendance requirements for public meetings, Preservation Commissioners and City staff will be participating in this meeting remotely. Due to public health concerns, residents will not be able to provide public comment in-person at this meeting. Those wishing to make public comments at the Preservation Commission meeting may submit written comments in advance or sign up to provide public comment by phone or video during the meeting by calling/texting 847-448-4311 or completing the Preservation Commissions online comment form available by clicking here. Community members may watch the Preservation Commission meeting online through the Zoom platform: Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94897380375?pwd=MmhzeW0vcFp3TnV6YlJoSnJ6eFl1UT09 Meeting ID: 948 9738 0375 Passcode: 245941 Dial by your location: (312)626-6799 1. CALL TO ORDER / DECLARATION OF QUORUM 2. OLD BUSINESS A. 2715 Hurd Avenue - Landmark Nomination - Public Hearing - 21PRES-0054 Andrew Nebel, resident, submits for nomination of the property commonly known as 2715 Hurd Avenue, for designation by ordinance as a Landmark. The applicant nominates the property under the following criterion: 2; 3; 4, and; 6. Continued from June 8, 2021. The public hearing was re-opened at the June 8, 2021 meeting to allow the property owner the opportunity to provide additional testimony and evidence. Agenda Items are subject to change. Direct questions to Cade W. Sterling, City Planner at [email protected] The City of Evanston is committed to making all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Any citizen needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact 847-448-4311 or 847-448-8064 (TYY) at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting so that accommodations can be made. La ciudad de Evanston está obligada a hacer accesibles todas las reuniones públicas a las personas minusválidas o las quines no hablan inglés. Si usted necesita ayuda, favor de ponerse en contacto con la Oficina de Administración del Centro a 847/866-2916 (voz) o 847/448-8052 (TDD). 3. NEW BUSINESS B. Resolution 21PRES-0073 – Recommendation that City Council Designate 2715 Hurd Avenue as an Evanston Landmark by Ordinance Requesting the City Manager Transmit the Evanston Preservation Commission’s Report and Recommendation that the Evanston City Council Designate the Lot of Record and Church Structure at 2715 Hurd Avenue as an Evanston Landmark by Ordinance. No action was taken at the June 8 meeting due to the Public Hearing for this matter being re- opened. 4. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES A. Meeting minutes of June 8, 2021 B. Meeting minutes of June 22, 2021 5. ADJOURNMENT The next meeting of the Preservation Commission is scheduled for August 10, 2021. Agenda Items are subject to change. Direct questions to Cade W. Sterling, City Planner at [email protected] The City of Evanston is committed to making all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Any citizen needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact 847-448-4311 or 847-448-8064 (TYY) at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting so that accommodations can be made. La ciudad de Evanston está obligada a hacer accesibles todas las reuniones públicas a las personas minusválidas o las quines no hablan inglés. Si usted necesita ayuda, favor de ponerse en contacto con la Oficina de Administración del Centro a 847/866-2916 (voz) o 847/448-8052 (TDD). 2715 Hurd Avenue Public Hearing – Landmark Nomination - 21PRES-0054 Andrew Nebel, resident, submits for nomination of the property commonly known as 2715 Hurd Avenue, for designation by ordinance as a Landmark. The applicant nominates the property under the following criterion: 2; 3; and, 4. Continued from June 8, 2021. The public hearing was re-opened at the June 8, 2021 meeting to allow the property owner the opportunity to provide additional testimony and evidence. MEMORANDUM To: Members of the Preservation Commission From: Cade W. Sterling, City Planner Subject: 2715 Hurd Avewnue – 21PRES-0054 Date: July 9, 2021 Recommendation Following any additional testimony or evidence from the public, nominator, or property owner staff recommends that the Commission make a motion to close the public hearing initiating proceedings under code section 2-8-5 (E) Additional Information Following the June 8 meeting and testimony supplied by the owner of the property questioning the role Larry Perkins had in the design of the project, City Staff has received a scanned document prepared by Larry Perkins wife in the late 1950s which lists all projects designed in Evanston either by Larry Perkins or by Phillip Will. This list includes the property at 2715 Hurd Avenue. Additionally, leadership at Perkins and Will in Chicago verifies that although it is common practice for any architectural firm to have multiple hands touch a project from conception through construction, Larry Perkins would have been the Partner-In-Charge for the project and in that role he would have had final say on all aspects of the design. This corroborates the evidence previously provided by the author of the nomination which indicates that Larry Perkins was the lead designer (attached). At the Commissions direction, City Staff attempted to retrieve copies of the documentation the property owner alleged to have in their possession -- documentation they seemed willing to provide during the hearing. Unfortunately the owner of the property has refused to supply this information. (attached) Opposition Letter The property owner has retained legal counsel to represent them at the July 13 meeting and have included a formal objection to the nomination. (attached) The objection contains four central points. 1. Disputing criterion 4, indicating there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that Larry Perkins designed the subject property. a. Staff believes the Commissions report adequately addresses why this criterion has been met. 2. Disputing criterion 3, indicating that the structure is common, vernacular, and without historic significance. a. Staff believes the Commissions report adequately addresses why this criterion has been met. 3. Disputing the ability for the property to be adaptively re-purposed and making claims of economic hardship which will ultimately lead to a proposal for demolition. a. Staff believes the Commission’s report adequately addresses the general potential for adaptive use and has been revised to address the confusion expressed by the owner and their representative. The report further acknowledges the codified process within the Preservation Ordinance affording the owner due process if Landmarked. The Preservation Ordinance allows the property owner to propose demolition and claim economic hardship while providing the Commission and City Council with actual evidence to support those claims. Consideration of economic hardship for the designation is outside of the Commissions purview. 4. Generally questioning that the Design and Project Review Committee (DAPR) did not object to the demolition of the structure during review of the proposed Planned Development for the site and made no reference to the structure being eligible as a Landmark or worthy of preservation. a. The Preservation Commissions findings for nominations for Landmark Designation shall be limited to the criteria for designation, and not the deliberations of other Boards, Committees, and Commissions, including DAPR, which does not provide recommendation to the Commission. The objection is a misunderstanding of the role of DAPR and the multiple roles Planning Staff is charged with undertaking. The body’s (DAPR’s) statement of purpose and single objective under code section 4-14-1 is “…a procedure for the review of proposed developments or redevelopments to ensure they are compatible with adjacent development by taking into account the relationship of the new development to its surroundings with review and discussion by members of City staff and community members from various disciplines.” DAPR is not charged with considering whether demolition of a structure is appropriate, nor is it charged with determining what structures meet the criteria for designation as Landmarks or if properties are worthy of being preserved, or providing any recommendation on proposed nominations -- it is tasked with reviewing the proposed new development on its own merits as it relates to its surroundings. The only specific reference to DAPR and preservation relates to already designated historic architectural resources such as existing Landmarks or properties within an established Historic District. DAPR, and City Staff cannot nominate a structure for Landmark designation as specified in code section 2-8-5, those proceedings were only initiated, and staffs expertise and professional opinions on preservation of the structure only afforded once those proceedings were initiated and forwarded to the appropriate public body charged with the aforementioned responsibilities related to identification and registration of historic resources -- the Preservation Commission. Public Comment Staff has received multiple comments in support of the project including from Landmarks Illinois, former Chair of the Commission Diane Williams, Perkins and Wills Chicago Office, and the Nominator, Andy Nebel. (attached) 7/8/2021 CITY OF EVANSTON Mail - Question - 2715 Hurd Avenue Cade Sterling <[email protected]> Question - 2715 Hurd Avenue Deborah Evans-Cantrell <[email protected]> Thu, Jul 8, 2021 at 9:21 AM To: Cade Sterling <[email protected]> Cade, Thank you for sharing the report! I’ve heard back on a document I wanted to share with you originally and have confirmed it and have received approval on sharing it with you. See attached. Hopefully I’ve gotten it to you in time for the Friday deadline. The attached is a list of Evanston buildings designed by Larry Perkins and Phil Will, compiled by Larry Perkins’ Wife in November 1958 (with a few other projects added by hand in pen at a later date).