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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 1986historicpreservation commission of south bend and st. joseph county Is ROOM 1123 COUNTY CITY BUILDING south bend, indiana 46601 (219) 284-9798 M I N U T E S Regular Meeting Third Floor Conference Room June 15, 1986 Room 323 County/City Building 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:39 p.m. 2. Roll Cal) MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. John Oxian; Mrs. Martha Choitz; Mr. Odell Newburn; Mr. F. Jay Nimtz; Mrs. Gina DeLaruelle; Mrs. Janeanne Petrass; Ms. Karen Kiemnec, Director; and Mr. Brian Poland, Administrative Assistant. MEMBERS ABSENT: Mrs. Joann Sporleder, Mr. Michael Beatty, and Mr. Charles Hayes. ALSO PRESENT: David Chapleau, Deputy City Attorney; Brian and Ruth Crumlish, residents of the Riverside Drive Historic District; and Jeanne Derbeck, South Bend Tribune Reporter. 3. Approval of Minutes Mr. Nimtz made a motion that the May 19, 1.986 minutes be approved; Mrs. Choitz seconded; motion passed. 4. Treasurer's Report Mr. Nimtz made a motion to approve the treasurer's report as given; Mrs. Petrass seconded; motion passed. 5. Correspondence a. Brochure from German pillage of Columbus, OH regarding The First National Symposium of Historic Communities to be held July 31 - August 2, 1986. b. Zoo's News Newsletter of the Potawatomi Zoological Society, May -June 1986. C. 19$5 Annual Report from the Housing Allowance Office, Inc., St. • Joseph County. d. 1985 Annual Report for Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. e. PANA NEWSLETTER Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, Inc., Vol. 14 No. 4, Ma y 19 86 . • f. Y -Line Newsletter from the YWCA of St. Joseph County, May 1986. g. Information sheets on Apple Education Dealer Program from Apple Computer, Inc. h. Brochure from the National Trust for Historic Preservation regarding their Voyage to New England and Canada, September 20-27, 1986. i. Information sheet regarding membership in the South Bend Area Genealogical Society. j. Preservation News dated June 1986 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation K. Survey from the National Trust for Historic Preservation assessing their programs. 1. Information from the Secretary of State and Mrs. Shultz regarding contributions towards the Diplomatic Reception Rooms program. M. Southhold Newsletter Vol. XVI, No.2, June 1986. n. Old -House Journal, June 1986. • 6. Committee Reports a. Budget & Finance Ms. Kiemnec stated that the Budget & Finance Committee should meet to discuss the County budget and Community Development budget for 1987. b. Historic Districts 1) Report on Riverside Dedication Ms. Kiemnec noted that the Dedication ceremony was well -attended, received favorable publicity, and was an overall success. Mr. Crumlish extended an invitation to Mr. Oxian to attend the July 17 Riverside Historic District Liaison Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m., regarding streetlights. Mr. Crumlish announced that there will be a general membership meeting in September. Also, he cautioned that the historic districts should appoint liaison committee members to staggered terms. Mrs. Choitz recommended that the matter regarding staggered terms be referred to the historic district committee. 2) East Wayne Street Mrs. Choitz, Chairperson of the Historic District Committee, indicated that the district steering committee has had five meetings. At the last meeting, discussions on the district standards had begun. • c. Historic Landmarks No Report d. Legal No report e. Public Relations & Community Education No Report f. Environmental Impact Statement 1) 1035 Riverside Drive Ms. Kiemnec reported that she had approved a C. of A. for new porch columns, a fireplace in the rear, and the closing of a window in the rear. 2) 705 Lincolnway East Ms. Kiemnec reported to the Commission that the May 29, 1986 Code Enforcement hearing had to be rescheduled to June 19, 1986 due to a mistake made by Code Enforcement. Ms. Kiemnec stated that she will report to the Commission at its next • meeting regarding the progress of this issue. g. Staff Report 1) 1986/87 Grants Ms. Kiemnec confirmed that the Commission has received its grants for 1987 as indicated at last month's meeting. 2) Preservation Consultant Project Ms. Kiemnec indicated that the project is working well. To date, there have been a total of 24 requests. 3) County Brochure Ms. Kiemnec reported that she will review with Mr. Oxian the draft county brochure that is being done by Crumlish/Sporleder & Associates, Inc. 4) Secretary Position Ms. Kiemnec reported that June Hoffman, the Commission secretary, had quit as of June 13, 1986. Applications are now • being accepted for her replacement. 7. Old Business a. Fredrickson House 233 N. Lafayette • Mrs. Petrass questioned the status of the repairs. Ms. Kiemnec reported that the repairs were acceptable, but an inferior quality of wood was used. The front newel posts were not replicated exactly and the medallions were not replaced. Damage to the overhang on the alley side of the Candy Store was reported. Ms. Kiemnec indicated that an inspection will be done by David Gibney to determine the extent of the repairs needed on the entire house. b. 647 River Avenue Mrs. DeLaruelle expressed concern about the height, spacing, and placement of the picket fence erected at this property. David Chapleau, Deputy City Attorney, indicated that the C. of A. did not specify the height or the spacing and that placement of the fence was as agreed. C. 619 Edgewater Mrs. DeLaruelle indicated that Mr. Kevin Smith has not installed the protective fence along the river. Ms. Kiemnec indicated that she would check the C. of A. d. 815 Arch Mrs. Petrass reported that the protective wall is falling into the river where the area was back filled. Ms. Kiemnec indicated that • a C. of A. had been approved by the Commission pending approval of the project by the Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Chapleau stated that he would review the project to see what could be done. 8. New Business a. Aurora Preservation Conference Mr. Poland passed out a summary report from the Sixth Annual Illinois Preservation Conference in Aurora, IL attended by Ms. Kiemnec and Mr. Poland. Mr. Poland highlighted several points for the Commission members. The report is attached as Appendix A. b. Attendance at meetings. Ms. Kiemnec reminded the Commission of the ordinance provision pertaining to a member missing four consecutive Commission meetings. In such cases, the Commission may determine the position vacant. Commission member Michael Beatty has missed four consecutive meetings. Mr. Oxian suggested that a letter be sent to Mr. Beatty inquiring as to his intent to remain on the Commission. c Trees (correction as per r1r. Oxian's motion, July 21, 1986 Commission Fleeting.) Mr. Oxian commented on the destruction of vegetation that occurs when there is new development. Mr. Oxian asked whether the Commission wanted to take action such as sending a letter to the Area Plan Commission, Common Council, and County Council recommending that the vegetation be preserved. • 9. Hearing of Visitors No Report 14. Announcements & Miscellaneous Matters Mrs. Petrass indicated her pleasure that Walkerton has been included in the National Trust's Main Street Program. Ms. Kiemnec reminded the Commission that South Bend is also involved in the Main Street Program. Mr. Nimtz made a motion to adjourn; Mrs. DeLaruelle seconded; the meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m. 0 i ih�s�oroc preservation commsson of south bend and st. joseph county ROOM 1123 COUNTY CITY BUILDING south bend, indiana 46601 (219) 284-9798 AGENDA OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Third Floor Conference Room June 16, 1986 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes - May 19s 1986 4. Treasurer's Report Room 323 County/City Building 5. Correspondence Committee Reports ax Budget & Finance 1) 1987 - Budget & Finance L. Historic Districts 1) Report on Riverside Dedication 2) Wayne Street C. Historic Landmarks d. Legal e. Public Relations & Community Education f. Environmental Impact Statement 1) 1035 Riverside Drive - report 2) 705 Lincolnway East g. Staff Report 1) 1986/87 Grants 2) Preservation Consultant Project 3) County Brochure 7. Old Business S. New Business a. Aurora Preservation Conference 9. Hearing of Visitors 10. Announcements &- Miscellaneous Matters 0 APPENDIX "A" 6/86 REPORT The Sixth Annual Illinois Preservation Conference 6 June 1956 •� Aurora University Aurora, Illinois The conference was sponsored by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois with the Aurora Preservation Commission acting as the host organization. UPCOMING CONFERENCES The 40th National Preservation Conference sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation will be held in Kansas City, MO on October 15-19, 1986. One of the conference tracks will include a look at the rural conservation issue. The Seventh Annual Illinois Preservation Conference will be held in Quincy, Illinois. This conference is scheduled for the first weekend in June, 1987. NATIONAL TRUST The National Trust has set up a new organization entitled the National Center for Preservation Policy Studies. It will research and analyze preservation policy and coordinate lobbying efforts. ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONS The IAHPC is initiating a study on the effects of historic district designation to property values. Bloomington and Aurora, Illinoi-s will be the model towns, but a methodology will be set up for other communities to use the procedure. Note: Aurora was one of the top three ordinances recommended by Richard Roddewig when he was here. INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT The current status of the investment tax credits (ITC) was reviewed. The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to reduce the tax credits as a result of the income tax simplification process. The 25X credit for certified historic rehab has been reduced to 20X and the 20% and 15% credits for non -historic rehab have been reduced to a single 10% level. Rules for the transition period have been set. The most serious threat to the ITC is the passive loss limitations. Attached is a sheet explaining the current transition and passive loss rules. The Senate Finance Committee began deliberations on its version on June 2. Conferees were advised of the immediacy of the situation and 40 were urged to wrIte their Senators as soon as possible to encourage the protection of the tax credits. A sample letter is attached. 0 '1- 106 REVIEW PROCESS The State of Illinois is currently looking at legislation to create a review process for properties owned by not-for-profit organizations and all state and local governmental entities. HISTORIC STREETLIGHTS Quincy, Illinois had a program in their downtown whereby business owners each donated one reproduction streetlight. A plaque was put up in downtown recognizing all who donated. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS WORKSHOP Case studies of various education and public awareness programs were presented by various preservation organizations in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Various educational programs were discussed. One introduced school children to architectural styles, the relationship of architecture to history, and the functions of a downtown. The children were encouraged to draw historic buildings. /4lsuv AnmeMarohn of the Frank Lloyd Wright Hone and Studio Foundation, Oak Park, discussed their educational program in which school -aged children were trained to give � tours of the Home and Studio to their peers. Conferees were instructed that if they are aware of any architectural books of national interest that are currently out-of-pript to contact the two publishing firms that were identified. These two firms were Dover Publications and American Life. The firms are always looking for historic materials to republish. There was a slide prosentation of the various types of signs used in Elgin to promote preservation and their historic districts. Signs of note include one type attached to utility poles 'as well as a free standing type which acted as an entry way sign delineating the boundaries of the districts. The entry way signs also had the added feature of a walking tour of the historic district on the reverse side. RURAL PRESERVATION WORKSHOP Steve Aradas of the McHenry County Planning Commission gave a presentation on the Land Assessment and Site Evaluation system (LESA). This is an objective assessment system designed to protect farmland from suburban development. Point values are assigned to the responses of questions* 'that look at the land use, zoning, compatib|lity* and _` existing infrastructures. This system, in conjunction with the McHenry County Comprehensive F*lany has been effective in protecting farmland from development pressures occurring in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. The relationship between archaeology and rural preservation was discussed. Historic landscapes can be used as integral parts of a National Register nomination for rural sites. An example of this was the historic archaeological sites and landscapes found at Fort de Chartres in southern Illinois. The applicability of the existing National Register criteria to rural landscapes was discussed. The integrity criteria of the landscape would be the most difficult to assess. It must be recognized that landscapes inherently change and that the time period when the site achieved significance would be over an extended period of years. It was recognized that more surveys of rural areas need to be conducted in order to have more accurate information. Several , criteria were discussed to help identify rural sites. These criter i a include: land use, circulation system, natural boundary demarcations, cluster arrangements of structures, vegetation, and views. The workshop was followed by a rural bus tour which included a stop at the Garfield Farm and Tavern Museum, a living farm museum. EVALUTING BUILDINGS FOR HISTORIC DISTRICTS In districts, the grouping of the buildings is what makes them significant. Two factos are important: 1. the sense of time --that is, the history of the area and whether or not the history is still evident; 2. the sense of /lace--*vhat it |s that sets the area apart from its surroundings. Also, it is important to be aware of the number of changes to the buildings or demolitions that have occurred in the district. The current thinking of the National Register is not to include buffer zones in historic districts but to limit the boundaries to the area of significance. Also, National Register policy for owner consent is one vote per persmmv not per property. , 1r iM ACTION NEEDED ON REHABILITATION INVESTMENT TAX CREDITS • Our continuing battle to save the rehabilitation investment tax credits has recently suffered a setback with the Tax Reform Proposal reported out of the Senate Finance Committee. Though the two-tiered 20% and 10% credits are preserved from the House -passed version, the new provision subjecting the credits to passive loss limitations would render them virtually useless. Gen- erally, under this provision, an individual's losses or credits from businesses in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, (i.e. limited partnerships) and from all rental activities, could only be used to offset income from such activities. This would substantially reduce the field of investors, and those investors who could use the tax credits would only do so with difficulty. Generally, estimates are that most of the rehab ITC activity will cease. Preservation Action and the Committee for Future Investment in America's Past (CFIAP) have been closely following the Senate activity and preparing remedial measures. There are presently three potential avenues for an amendment to exempt the rehab ITC from the passive loss rule. The first would be a Finance Committee sponsored amendment which would be brought up at the beginning of Senate considerations; the second would be a floor amendment presented during consideration by one of several possible senators; and third would be resolution during House -Senate Conference Committee. The three measures will be attempted in the order mentioned above. Since any amendments presented must be revenue neutral, CFIAP is now attempting to reconcile that issue. They have contracted with an outside revenue estimator to more closely determine the revenue loss that would result. In addition, a source of non -controversial revenue to compensate the loss must be found, which will probably be something like a tax compliance issue. • Urgent lobbying of our Senators is needed NOW. On June 2 the Senate began consideration of the proposal, and as we have learned From past experience, they may move quickly. lease call and write our Senators immediately and urge their support of any proposed amendment that will preserve the incentives. I am attaching a sample letter which you can easily tailor to your specific situation and send on as soon as possible. While the passive loss limitation is considered to be the most pressing issue with regard to the ITC, our lobbying group will also continue to work on more advantageous transition rules. Following is a brief summary of the provisions: Senate `Finance Committee Tax Reform Bill Changes for Property Placed In Service After 1/1/87: Two-tiered credit - 20% for certified historic rehab. 10% for non -historic buildings built prior to 1936. Full adjustment to basis for all historic rehab. Depreciation set at 31.5 years for commercial buildings; 27.5 for residential. 75% wall test eliminated for certified historic rehab; alternative test for non -historic rehab: Transition Rule: Property Qualifies for Transition Relief If: Placed in service before 1/1/94 and Rehabbed pursuant to binding contract on 3/1/86 or; Purchased or under binding contract to purchase by 3/1/86, and Rehabbed pursuant to written contract binding on 3/1/86 or, Parts 1 and 2 filed before 3/1/86 or, Lesser of $1 million or 5% of rehab costs incurred before 3/1/86 (or required to be incurred pursuant to written contract binding on • 3/1/86). Upon qualification for Transition, the following apply: Reduced credit:5 to 0%; 20% to 13%; 15% to 10% Full adjustment to basis "Implied" 19 -year depreciation. Passive Loss Rule: Generally rehab ITCs cannot be used to offset income from salary, portfolio or other businesses. historicpreservation commission of south bend and st. joseph county ROOM 1123 COUNTY CITY BUILDING south bend, indiana 46601 (219) 284-9798 June 13, 1986 The Honorable Richard G. Lugar SH 306 Senate Office Building Washington, D. C. 20510 The Honorable Dan Quayle SH 524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D. C. 20510 Dear Senator I am extremely concerned about the threat to the investment tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic structures posed by the Tax Reform proposal as reported out of the Senate Finance Committee, which would render them virtually unusable. With these credits subject to the passive loss limitations, only individuals with sufficient passive income would be able to take advantage • of the incentive, and even then with some difficulty. This is contrary to the intent of Congress to create a tax law fair to all income levels. In fact, at present 64% of residential projects are under $150,000 and 78% of commercial projects are under $1,000,000. Under the proposed Tax Reform Bill this activity will cease. As you know, the rehab investment tax credits have been successfully used in Indiana both to save historically significant buildings and to revitalize com- munities. These developments have been shown to generate many times their worth in job salaries, state, local and federal income taxes, and property and sales tax. This has been one of the most successful public/private partnerships in the history of such programs. Because many of the certified rehabs are marginal economically, however, developers report that 70% of them would not have happened without the investment tax credit. I urge you to support the amendment to exempt the rehab ITC from passive loss limitations when it is presented on the Senate floor. Please express your support to your colleagues and urge them to retain this vital incentive to our nation's fabric and economy. Thank you, r� File: TREAS REP JUNE Page 1 June 30, 1986• LINE ITEM BUDGET FOR 1986 CURRENT BILLS YEAR TO DATE QUIETUS BALANCE POSTAGE (212) $150.00 $0.00 $134.39 $0.00 $15.61 TRAVEL (213) $200.00 $68.25 $68.25 $0.00 $131.75 MILEAGE (214) $200.00 $0.00 $204.28 $0.00 ($4.28) BOOKS (215) $100.00 $0.00 $36.00 $0.00 $64.00 CONFERENCE EXP (220) $200.00 $133.01 $195.22 $0.00 $4.78 PRINTING (241) $30.00 $3.30 $28.55 $0.00 $1.45 LANDMARK ADMIN (242) $300.00 $38.89 $224.51 $0.00 $81.49 PHOTOGRAPHY (243) $250.00 $0.00 $64.84 $0.00 $185.16 EQUIPMENT (252) $70.00 $0.00 $67.1.5 $0.00 $2.85 LEGAL SERVICES (261) $900.00 $0.00 $72.00 $0.00 $828.00 TECHNICAL ASST (263) $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 LEGAL NOTICES (265) $50.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $50.00 OFFICE SUPPLIES (360) $450.00 $14.52 $244.49 $0.00 $205.51 DUES (570) $50.00 $0.00 $25.00 $0.00 $25.00 SUBSCRIPTIONS (571) $50.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 150.00 TOTAL $3,500.00 $257.Q7 $1,364.68 $0.00$2,141.32 HISTORIC PRES FUND $20,600.00 $2,018.15 $7,775.97 $0.00 $12,824.0:3 CLG FUND $16,850.00 $507.38 $9,903.64 $0.00 $6,946.36 TOTAL $37,450.00 $2,525.53 $175679.61 $0.00 $19,770.39 GRAND TOTAL $40,950.00 $2,783.50 $19,044.29 $0.00 $21,911.71 SMALL TOWN SURVEY $10.00 $0.00 $362.06 $103.88 $871.1;