HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 07/25/2019MINUTES
LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI - City Hall Council Chambers
1201 Leopard Street
July 25, 2019
4:30 P.M.
COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS:
Jillian Becquet, Chair Ernest Bert Rucker
Craig Thompson, Vice-Chair Dr. Christine Robbins
Dr. Ira J. Freeman Randy J. Dees, Sr.
Dr. Bryan Stone Monica Rawlings
Kathleen de la Garza
STAFF:
Andrew Dimas, Project Manager;
Kristy Glick, Recording Secretary;
Nina Nixon-Mendez, Director of Development Services
I. Call to Order/Roll Call: 4:32PM
II. Roll Call:
• Members Present: Craig Thompson, Bryan Stone, Kathleen de la Garza, Ernest Bert Rucker, Ira J. Freeman,
Randy J. Dees
• Members Absent: Jillian Becquet, Christine Robbins, Monica Rawlings
III. Approval of Minutes: March 28, 2019 Meeting
• Motion to approve made by Bryan Stone; seconded by Bert Rucker. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Public Hearing – Discussion and possible action on Certificates of Appropriateness for Demolition
• COAD 0719-01, 8058 MKII, LLC.: 1301 North Water Street
a) Andrew Dimas gave the staff report. The property owners wish to demolish a small, accessory building,
dating back to the 1920s, on the same property as an apartment complex. The condition of the building
renders it unusable. The owners intend to replace the building with a two-story building with a laundromat
for the apartment residents on the first floor and an apartment for the owner when they are in town on the
second.
b) Public Comment: none
c) Vice-chair Craig Thompson expressed and interest that the new building’s design harmonizes with the
existing apartment building.
d) Motion to approve made by Randy Dees; seconded by Bert Rucker. Motion passed unanimously.
• COAD 0719-02, AAUM Properties, LLC.: 402, 408, 412 North Chaparral Street and 316 Lawrence Street
a) Andrew Dimas gave the staff report. The property in question encompasses the Centre Theater, Robert’s
Jewelers and Buttreys Clothing. The owners wish to build an apartment complex on the site after
demolition. An exterior wall of the Centre Theater touches an exterior wall of the Sea Gulf Villa apartment
building. It was noted that in a previous historical survey, it was recommended the Centre Theatre be
designated an historical landmark.
b) Commissioners expressed concern there was not enough information about the condition of the Centre
Theater building. There were also concerns about problems arising from building a high-rise apartment
building next to the Sea Gulf Villa building. Commissioners suggested the possibility of preserving the
façade of the Centre Theater and incorporating it into the new apartment building.
c) Public Comment:
1. Ron Alvarado with AG Associates Architects in San Antonio explained he did a walk-through of
the Centre Theater building and it appears to be in good condition. The other two buildings are
not in particularly good condition. All buildings require asbestos abatement.
2. Alyssa Barrera-Mason from the Downtown Management District explained the DMD has been in
contract with the owners and have not received any concrete plans or an application for
MINUTES
LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI - City Hall Council Chambers
1201 Leopard Street
July 25, 2019
4:30 P.M.
incentives. There is a new owner of Sea Gulf Villa and the DMD intends to reach out to them and
go over how the demolition process may affect their building. The DMD is looking forward to
assisting the developer when they come forward with concrete plans.
d) Commissioners discussed the possibility of denying the application to delay the possibility of demolition
for 120 days from receipt of application. It was established that the owners do not intend to demolish
during the 120 days. The Commission directed staff to prepare a memo regarding the condition of the
Centre Theater.
e) Motion to deny, in order to obtain more information about the condition of the Centre Theatre and to set
the time to demolition to the maximum of 120 days, made by Randy Dees; seconded by Ira Freeman.
Motion passed unanimously.
V. Discussion and Possible Action:
a) Update on Landmark Commission Committees: none
VI. Legislative Update
• Andrew Dimas gave the commissioners an overview of bills passed by the Texas State Legislature that affect
Development Services’ operations.
VII. Director’s Report
• Ms. Nixon-Mendez shared an invitation to CLG Training on Friday, August 16th in Seguin, Texas. THC
requires at least one staff member and one commissioner attend CLG training once a year to maintain CLG
status.
• Ms. Nixon-Mendez informed the commission of the proclamation by the mayor for Historical Preservation
month, and the video put together for the Landmark Commission Awards by the City’s Public Information
Office. She participated in a roundtable regarding historic preservation in Corpus Christi sponsored by the
Ritz Theatre.
VIII. Items to be scheduled on the next agenda
• Designation of Furman Avenue
• Condition of Centre Theater
IX. Public comment: none
X. Adjournment: 5:53pm
___________________________________________Jillian Becquet,
Chairperson
Landmark Commission