Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 08/26/2021 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING LANDMARK COMMISSION CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 4:30 pm 1201 LEOPARD STREET August 26, 2021 STAFF: Nina Nixon-Mendez, Assistant Director & Historic Preservation Officer Catherine Garza, Agenda Coordinator Craig Garrison, City Planner. I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Robbins called the meeting to order, and a quorum was established with no absences. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 22, 2021 A motion was made by Vice Chairman Dees to approve the minutes listed above and it was seconded by Commissioner Wilson. The motion passed. III. APPROVAL OF ABSENCES FROM JULY 22, 2021: Chair Robbins A motion was made by Vice Chairman Dees to approve the absence listed above and it was seconded by Commissioner Fontenot. The motion passed. IV. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. V. OLD BAYVIEW CEMETERY REPORT Karen Howden, Nueces County Historical Commission/President of Friends of Old Bayview Cemetery Association, gave a history report on the cemetery and information on the Voices of South Texas events. The next Voices of South Texas event will be November 6, 2021. In October 2020 the cemetery was designated on the National Register of Historic Places through the efforts of Friends of Old Bayview Association. She stated that the cemetery needs a Master Plan; she asked if the City could upgrade the signage at the cemetery (currently a wooden sign). After her presentation, she took comments/questions from the Commission. VI. PUBLIC HEARING: Discussion and Consideration of an Ordinance A. HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION 1. Ordinance rezoning property located at or near 810 19th Street from the “CI” Intensive Commercial District and “RM-3” Multifamily 3 District to the “CI-H” Intensive Commercial District with a Historic Overlay and “RM- 3-H” Multifamily 3 District with a Historic Overlay. Craig Garrison, City Planner, presented item “1” as listed above for the record. For location purposed, he presented an aerial view of the property and proceeded to give a brief history of the business. Mexico City Bakery was founded by Antonio and Juanita Gomez on Ayers Street, Corpus Christi in the 20th century. City Bakery was later founded by the owner’s daughter Emma and her husband Santiago M. Rivera at 521 South 19th Street (1958 – 1961). After gaining success the site moved to its current location at 810 South 19th Street in 1962. City Bakery was an important family business in the neighborhood that developed around St. Joseph’s Church. The original Hispanic settlement in Corpus Christi was in an area called “The Hill” south of Leopard St. and west of the bluff. As the Hispanic population grew in the early 20th century, neighborhoods extended west and southwest. From the 1960s to 1990s, City Bakery hosted a variety of customers because it was the hub of the neighborhood; thus, establishing itself as COMMISSIONERS: Dr. Christine Riser-Robbins- Chair Randy J. Dees, Sr. – Vice-Chair Dr. Ira Freeman Madeleine Fontenot Kathleen de la Garza COMMISSIONERS: Roslyn Michelle Wanzer Dr. Jen Brown Armando Mendez Veronica Wilson a culturally and socially important place, serving breakfast, hosting celebrations, and even holding League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) meetings there. The bakery building at 810 S 19th St. is a one-story building, mid-20th century commercial block style, constructed circa 1962 of cement block with a masonry brick façade. It has a flat roof, with a slight parapet. A mansard style shingle canopy was added on the storefront. The entrance on 19th St. has a double door which is flanked by metal frame glass windows. The storefront also has a secondary single door entrance. A cement block addition is on the east side of the main building. Mr. Garrison informed the Commission that of the 34 public notices that were mailed, zero notices were returned in favor and five (one individual owner – ERF Real Estate, Inc.) were returned in opposition. Staff recommends approval of the local landmark designation and approval of the change of zoning request. After Staff’s presentation, the public hearing was opened. Representing City Bakery, Elias Castillo, III, great grandson of Santiago Rivera, Sr. (fifth generation), addressed the Commission in support of the designation and rezoning request. He expressed his appreciation to Staff and the Commission for the recognition/consideration. He said it is very important to his family legacy. He said the recognition solidifies the history of the business and without this recognition it ceases to exist. With no one else coming forward the public hearing was closed. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Dees to approve the local landmark designation and change of zoning request. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams; the motion passed. VII. HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER’S REPORT Nina Nixon-Mendez informed the Commission that the draft Historic Preservation Plan was presented to the Planning Commission (as amended by Landmark Commission) on August 4, 2021, and they recommended approval. The Plan is scheduled for City Council consideration on September 14, 2021. VIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: None. IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.