LOWRY HILL EAST POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Present: CM Lisa Bender, Doug Kress, John Smoley, Ben Somogyi, Matthew Crockett, Christina

Langsdorf, Ezra Gray, Russ Noyes, Joe Knable, Linda Welter, Dennis Tuthill, Meg Tuthill, Peter Kim, Bill

Kussler, Scott Snelling, Joel Dunning, John Katies, Kurt Kauberg, Anders Christensen, Saralyn

Romanishan, John Edwards, Chandra Lalla

Introduction by City Staff – The City received a federal grant to conduct four (4) streetcar related

historic designation studies. The Lowry Hill East Potential Residential Historic District is one of the best

examples of this development pattern in Minneapolis –50/53 properties within the district retain

integrity, and one additional property is locally designated and listed in the National Register of Historic

Places . CPED and CM Bender hosted the meeting for property owners and interested residents within

the potential historic district to learn about what it means for a property to be in an historic district and

to answer any questions before any nomination occurs. The district was first identified by a Lowry Hill

East Neighborhood Association (LHENA) reconnaissance study in 2005 and then subsequently expanded

by a City-funded reconnaissance study in 2008. The proposed district is a contiguous district

encompassing most of the 2400 blocks of Bryant Ave S and Colfax Ave S, and small portions of adjacent

blocks (potential district map handed out at meeting). Design guidelines are created as part of the

designation process, which would create protections, ensuring historic buildings are retained and new

development respects the historic character of the district. Studies have shown historic district

designation increases property values and pride in ownership, since the area is identified as important

to the entire community. The potential historic district has not been nominated – more community

engagement with property owners will need to occur. As soon as a nomination for any district occurs,

interim protections are put in the place while the study takes place to ensure significant properties

aren’t altered in ways that would damage their eligibility for historical designation. Once a study has

been concluded, it will be reviewed by the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC), City Planning

Commission (CPC), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the full City Council.

The following questions were asked:

1. Why is the initial scope of the proposed district the way it is?

o The LHNEA neighborhood organization first identified the potential historic district

through a context statement they funded with historical consultants Mean and Hunt in

2005. The City funded a more intensive investigation in 2008, and the same evaluators

closely examined Wedge properties and expanded the boundaries of the district to

encompass more eligible properties.

2. How would requirements for exteriors differ from interior requirements?

o The scope of this project and proposed designation is only looking at the exterior of

buildings. Interior designation is not part of this designation study and is not within the

scope of this project.

3. What are the options for contiguous groups of houses outside of the proposed district

boundaries?

o The proposed boundaries are from the Mead and Hunt study in 2008. For houses

outside the proposed area, owners may nominate their properties for designation by

submitting a nomination application, available online at

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/hpc/hpc_forms.

4. Can structures be nominated by individual property owners?

o Yes, this application is available on line at

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/hpc/hpc_forms

5. What are the restrictions of a historic district?

o Alterations to properties designated as landmarks or portions of historic districts by the

City of Minneapolis must be reviewed for compliance with the City’s Heritage

Preservation Regulations to ensure the properties retain their ability to communicate

their historical significance. Generally, these reviews occur concurrent with Building

Code and Zoning Code reviews. Minor alterations are reviewed by staff. Anything

beyond minor alterations (generally additions, new construction, and changes that do

not comply with adopted design guidelines) are reviewed by the Heritage Preservation

Commission in a public hearing. For additional information about historical designation

go to

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent

/wcms1p-123578.pdf

6. How could the streetcar grant study affect the proposed historic district?

o The Lowry Hill East Potential Residential Historic District was identified as a candidate

for this grant. The City wishes to use the grant to funds to nominate and complete the

designation study of the Lowry Hill East Potential Residential Historic District. This will

formally honor it and protect it from alterations that damage its ability to communicate

its historical significance.

7. How many property owners must give their consent for the proposed district?

o The city of Minneapolis has no owner consent requirement for the designation of

historic properties. However, staff are reaching out to owners to answer questions,

hear feedback and gain support for this effort.

8. How are historic building aspects weighed against the requirements of the current building

code?

o When classified as a historic building (a property contributing to the significance of this

historic district, should it be designated by the City of Minneapolis), a separate set of

building code requirements are enforced. The goal of this system is to recognize the

inherent safety features of traditional materials and assemblies and preserve our

architectural heritage while still providing an adequate level of safety in historic

buildings.

9. How long does it take to move through the designation process?

o Typically, designation studies take one year but, given the level of work already

accomplished by evaluators in 2008, staff anticipates much less time will be needed

once the district is nominated.

10. At what point would alterations need to go through the HPC instead of only administrative

review?

o This would occur once the district has been nominated and the Heritage Preservation

Commission formally directs the Planning Director to prepare a designation study.

11. How does a larger or smaller size of the district affect how guidelines are developed?

o It’s not the size of the district that matters, it’s the variety of property types that

typically increase the number of guidelines in a given district. Ideally, the vast majority

of district properties retain their ability to communicate their historical significance (i.e.,

their integrity) by not having been altered too much, and evoke a genuine sense of

history to passers-by as well as residents.

12. What kinds of tax credits are available to property owners in a historic district?

o Substantial rehabilitations of income-producing properties listed in the National Register

of Historic Places are eligible for a 20% state and 20% federal tax credit to defray the

cost of their work conducted in accordance with The Secretary of the Interior’s

Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. See

http://www.mnhs.org/shpo/grants/incentives.php for more information.

13. Is a historic district compatible with allowing for Auxiliary Dwelling Units (ADUs) under new

ordinance?

o Yes, if and when the new ordinance is adopted.

14. What are the details of the grant for the study?

o The City of Minneapolis has received a $15,000 Certified Local Government grant to

fund four designation studies of properties significant for their association with

Minneapolis’ historic streetcar system. All work must be completed between June 2014

and June 2015. Two draft studies are complete. One additional property has been

nominated. We are hopeful that the Lowry Hill East Potential Historic District will

comprise the fourth study.

Additional Comments:

A large number of meeting attendees expressed interest in including more properties in the

district, designating their own properties, or creating an additional district in the North wedge.

There was concern expressed about development in the neighborhood leading to crowding

One person asked how people were informed about the meeting

o Staff responded that letters were sent by mail to the property owners within the

potential historic district, that the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association (LHENA)

Board of Directors and the LHENA Coordinator were also informed of the meeting ahead

of time

One meeting attendee expressed concern that Queen Anne homes were not included that are

north of 24th Street, that the district only included Colonial Revival homes

One attendee who lives in the district said that he had spoken to a number of neighbors and he

and others had concerns about the restrictions and the process to create design guidelines. He

said there was fear with how restrictions might be placed on property owners.

o Staff responded that design guidelines do include restrictions and additional review

process but that the guidelines are written through engagement with the property

owners and community members

There was concern that buildings outside the district would be considered “not historic” if new

developments are proposed

There were several questions about the nomination process, including if there is a need for

consensus from property owners

o Staff responded that a specific percentage of property owners’ consent is not required to

nominate a historic district. CM Bender added that she is planning additional community

engagement with property owners within the potential district will occur before a

potential nomination occurs to make sure everyone has a chance to ask questions and

weigh in on the potential district.

There was a request that CPED make sure they have data from research that neighborhood

organization volunteers did to count the number of units in each building in the neighborhood

o CPED has documentation of the 18-month moratorium on multi-family development in

Lowry Hill East and the rezoning study conducted by LHENA and CPED staff in 2004

There was a request for the guidelines for similar districts

o Guidelines for the other historic districts in the City of Minneapolis can be found online at

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/hpc/landmarks/index.htm

An attendee asked about other historic districts. What was the last historic district created in

Minneapolis? What were the reactions from the residents? Were people happy? Did people

think this was an asset?

o The last historic district adopted by the City was the University of Minnesota Greek

Letter Chapter House Historic District. Guidelines can be found here

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent/

convert_257213.pdf

There were a number of questions and comments about the boundaries related to homes

immediately adjacent to the proposed district, including homes on the east side of Aldrich Ave S

o Staff clarified that the integrity of homes on the east side of Aldrich Avenue South to

have had significant alterations and lack the materials found in the district identified by

the consultants.