The City of Auburn
Historic Resources Review Board
c/o Office of Planning and Economic Development
Memorial City Hall - 24 South Street
Auburn, New York 13021
(315) 255-4115 Fax 253-0282
Meeting Minutes
June 12, 2007
1. Meeting was opened in the Council Chambers. In attendance: Betty Lewis, Judith Bryant, Jill Fudo, Christina Selvek, Jim Hutchinson, and Mike Deming, Chair. Staff: Stephen Selvek
2. Request for Public Comment
Nomination of the Auburn Button Works / Logan Silk Mills located at 9-11 Logan Street to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
S. Selvek – Provided a brief overview of the Board’s role as it pertains to the review of the Nomination, reminded the Board of the review criteria for the National Register, and highlighted key points of the Nomination
C. Selvek – Nomination is well done, the structures at 9-11 Logan St. meet the criteria, and supports the Nomination
M. Deming – Asks for public comment
R. Guinn – He and his wife own and are restoring 54 South Street. 54 South Street is a neighboring property. Supports nominating the buildings to the National Register and is looking forward to seeing the building rehabilitated.
M. Deming – Asks Board for additional comments.
B. Lewis – Would like to see building listed.
M. Deming – Supports the Nomination and asks for a motion.
J. Fudo – Makes a motion. The main buildings located at 9-11 Logan Street, commonly known as “The Wegman Piano Factory,” do meet the criteria for nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places based on the documentation in the draft Nomination. Motion Seconded by C. Selvek. All vote in favor. Motion Carried.
3. Certificate of Appropriateness:
34 Grover Street – Frederick Osborne – Request to remove a side (street facing) door and replace with matching siding.
S. Selvek – As the applicant is unable to attend the meet, he presents the application to the Board.
J. Fudo – The siding and addition does not appear to be original to the house. It may have been a porch that was enclosed at some point.
J. Hutchinson – The door looks like it was added; not likely original.
S. Selvek – Appears to be aluminum siding. The application states that the replacement siding is to be similar to the adjoining siding.
J. Fudo – That type of siding isn’t available today. Questions how the applicant will be able to match the width, profile, and color.
C. Selvek – Matching the width and color would be necessary.
J. Fudo – Applicant needs to match the existing siding’s profile, texture, width, and color. In addition, the foundation that is covered by the existing steps should match the adjacent foundation.
M. Deming – Asks for a motion.
J. Hutchinson – Makes a motion to approve the application with the following conditions: replacement siding must match the profile, texture, width, and color of the existing siding and the foundation should match the existing foundation. Motion Seconded by C. Selvek. All vote in favor. Motion Carried.
54 South Street – Randall and Linda Guinn – Request to remove deteriorated slate roof and replace with “slate-like” architectural shingle. Repair dormers, chimneys, and replace gutters.
R. Guinn – Presents application. Shows the replacement roof material and two options for the replacement gutters.
J. Fudo – Questions the restoration of the dormers.
R. Guinn – We will make every effort to salvage and preserve as much of the wood as possible using wood epoxy; then paint. The finished dormers will look as close to possible as the existing.
J. Hutchinson – How will the roofs of the dormers be treated?
R. Guinn – The roofs are metal; in good shape. They will be scraped and painted.
J. Fudo – Questions the aesthesis of the gutter when mounted at a slope.
R. Guinn – The gutters will be mounted so that they look as appropriate as possible while maintaining the necessary drainage. 4 inch round down spouts will be used.
C. Selvek – There are four individual requests on the application. Should the Board look at them one at a time?
S. Selvek – In the past the Board has look at each item, reached a consensus, and then voted on a motion.
J. Hutchinson – How will the chimneys be restored?
R. Guinn – The chimneys will be repaired, if possible, and then re-stuccoed. If repair is not possible, they will be taken down to the roof and rebuilt and stuccoed.
C. Selvek – The info with the application mentioned re-sizing the chimneys?
R. Guinn – The size of the chimneys will not change.
J. Fudo – The applicant appear to have the best intentions for restoring the house. The board should look at the application as a whole and not in pieces.
S. Selvek – Some items in the application have multiple options for the Board consideration; the Board should indicate if any of those options are inappropriate.
J. Hutchinson – The Board should be considering what is listed on the front of the application; the request for the dormers and chimneys should be to restore, which implies in-kind. Which shingles? And what color?
R. Guinn – The CertainTeed Centennial Slate in a color that most closely matches the existing.
M. Deming – Asks for a motion.
J. Fudo – Asks that photo documentation be included in the motion.
J. Hutchinson – Makes a motion to approve the application with the following changes: the replacement shingles be CertainTeed Centennial Slate, repair 9 dormers and 2 chimneys be changed to restore, and Before / After photos be submitted to the Board. Motion Seconded by J. Fudo. All vote in favor. Motion Carried.
111 South Street – Robert and Ellen Cotter – Request to remove wood picket fence and replace with chain link fence.
S. Selvek – The applicant submitted two applications; the first was for the in-kind repair of existing of the steps, which was approved by staff.
R. Cotter – Presents application. The board granted approval last year to extend the 6’ tall change link fence and install a 4’ tall gate, but a permit wasn’t pulled before the CoA expired. Also would like to replace wood picket fence with chain link on south side. The wood has rotted in 10 or so years because of the damp and shady location.
C. Selvek – The white picket fence provides continuity to the yard. Changing one side and introducing another material doesn’t seam appropriate.
M. Deming – The 4’ tall chain link fence should not extend all the way to the sidewalk. The fencing should match all the way around the front. Will not approve chain link along the sidewalk when that portion of the fence needs to be replaced.
R. Cotter – Points out a number of other properties in the district that have chain link fence installed.
J. Fudo – What other options are available?
R. Cotter – There is also the woven metal fabric.
C. Selvek – Neither option seams appropriate along the front.
J. Hutchinson – The Board should table this portion of the request and the applicant should explore other options, which may include building a fence from pressure treated lumber.
C. Selvek – Makes a motion to table the current application and to re-approve the application for the 6’ tall fence that was presented last year. Motion Seconded by J. Fudo. All vote in favor. Motion Carried.
39 Grover Street – Christina and Stephen Selvek – Request to repair rear porch, in-kind.
S. Selvek (As Applicant) – Presents the in-kind repairs to the rear porch.
J. Fudo – Photo Documentation of before and after should be submitted.
M. Deming – Asks for a motion.
J. Fudo – Makes a motion approved the current application including the submission of before/after photos. Motion Seconded by J. Hutchinson. C. Selvek abstains and all others vote in favor. Motion Carried.
4. Other Business:
Satellite Dishes
J. Fudo – What is being done about the satellite dishes?
S. Selvek – 80 South Street has removed the dishes from the front of the home. Codes has sent a letter to 35 Grover Street following a complaint. A list of other properties needs to be compiled.
C. Selvek – Should the Board run an article in the paper informing Historic District property owners about the issues with satellite dish?
M. Deming – Agrees that might be a good idea.
88 South Street
J. Fudo – What is being done about the railing and the refrigerator on the porch at 88 South St? The orange fence is down, but there are pressure treated timbers for rails on the steps.
S. Selvek – Agrees to check with codes.
5. Adjournment: Next meeting scheduled for July 10, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Motion to adjourn made by J. Hutchinson, seconded by C. Selvek. All members vote approval. Meeting adjourned.
Minutes prepared by Stephen Selvek (June 19, 2007).
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