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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 04/28/2022 MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING LANDMARK COMMISSION CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 4:30 pm 1201 LEOPARD STREET APRIL 28, 2022 STAFF: Nina Nixon-Mendez, Assistant Director & Historic Preservation Officer Catherine Garza, Agenda Coordinator Buck Brice, Assistant City Attorney I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order and a quorum was established with Vice Chairman Freeman absent. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 24, 2022 A motion was made by Commissioner Brown to approve the minutes listed above and it was seconded by Commissioner Fontenot. The motion passed. III. APPROVAL OF ABSENCES: Commissioner Williams. A motion was made by Commissioner De La Garza to approve the absence listed above and it was seconded by Commissioner Brown. The motion passed. IV. PUBLIC COMMENT - None. V. PUBLIC HEARING - DISCUSSION & CONSIDERATION FOR HISTORIC OVERLAY ZONING DESIGNATIONS 1. Zoning Case No. 0322-05, Robert H. Budd Jr. and Sylvia G. Budd: (District 1) Ordinance rezoning property located at or near 805 Park Avenue from the “RM-1” Multifamily District to the “RM-1/H” Multifamily District with a Historic Overlay. Nina Nixon-Mendez, Assistant Director, presented item “1” for the record. Ms. Nixon-Mendez proceeded to give the historic profile/architectural style information for the property (previously presented at the 3/24/2022 Commission meeting) along with photographs. She also cited the criteria from Unified Development Code, Section 3.4.3.A, in which the Commission may approve, approve with conditions, or deny the historic overlay or landmark designation. She informed the Commission that of the 21 public notices mailed, zero notices were returned in favor or in opposition. Staff recommends approval of the historic overlay zoning designation. After Staff’s presentation, the public hearing was opened. Owner of the subject property, Sylvia Budd, addressed the Commission in support of the historic overlay zoning designation. With no one else coming forward, the public hearing was closed. A motion was made by Chairman Mendez to recommend approval for item “1” and it was seconded by Commissioner Fontenot. A roll call vote took place and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Zoning Case No. 0322-06, Bacon & Beef LLC: (District 1) Ordinance rezoning property located at or near 817 S. Staples Street from the “CI” Intensive Commercial District to the “CI/H” Intensive Commercial District with a Historic Overlay. Ms. Nixon-Mendez presented item “2” for the record. Nixon-Mendez proceeded to give the historic profile/ architectural style information for the property (previously presented at the 3/24/2022 Commission meeting) along with photographs. She also cited the criteria from Unified Development Code, Section 3.4.3.A, in which the Commission may approve, approve with conditions, or deny the historic overlay or landmark designation. She informed the Commission that of the 22 public notices mailed, zero notices were returned in favor or in COMMISSIONERS: Armando Mendez - Chairman Madeleine Fontenot Kathleen de la Garza Wade Williams Matthew Forrester COMMISSIONERS: Roslyn Michelle Wanzer Veronica Wilson Dr. Jen Brown Dr. James Pruitt Albert Montez opposition. Staff recommends approval of the historic overlay zoning designation; the owner consents to the designation. After Staff’s presentation, the public hearing was opened. With no one else coming forward, the public hearing was closed. Discussion took place regarding public notification processes. Commissioner Wilson asked how this historic designation could indirectly affect adjacent properties. A motion was made by Chairman Mendez to recommend approval for item “2” and it was seconded by Commissioner Wanzer. A roll call vote took place and the motion passed with Commissioner Veronica Wilson voting “no”. VI. DISCUSSION & CONSIDERATION REGARDING NOMINEES FOR THE 2022 ANNUAL PRESERVATION AWARDS Ms. Nixon-Mendez presented item “VI” for the record. She proceeded to give background information for each nomination; the rationale that makes each nomination a good candidate (Project or Organization) for an award. Photographs of each nomination were also provided. She gave information for the Butter Krust Self Storage at 2002 Ayers Street. This building was renovated, and the exterior of the building retained a good portion of its integrity; great example of adaptive reuse; building was repurposed and given another life. She gave information for the Boarri Craft Butchery at 817 South Staples Street. The building was constructed in 1931 and was purchased by Boarri in 2020. Renovation began on March 20, 2021; restored included window opening and tile. The nomination is a great example of adaptive reuse and keeping with the history and design elements of the space. She gave information for The Gold Fish at 724 North Mesquite Street. The building was constructed between 1914 and 1919 and is a good example of service station design. The current owner, Robert Cooper, developed the concept of a bar around the architecture of the building, resulting in a patio; a mural was added in 2020. This nomination is also an example of adaptive reuse. She gave information on the Hoffman Building at 317 North Chaparral Street which was constructed in 1925 (neoclassical style) and is an example of adaptive reuse. The following nominations are for Organizations. Ms. Nixon-Mendez gave information for The Port of Corpus Christi which have been good stewards of historic buildings, including 100-year-old dock structures turned into the Congress Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. The Center is 60,000 square feet cruise ship terminal and conference center, located at the mouth of the inner harbor of the Port. It is an adaptive reuse of a 1920’s cargo warehouse, a project designed to celebrate the maritime heritage of the site. It opened in 2000 and renovations of the Ortiz Center are currently underway being designed by Fresch Architects. She gave information on the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi which manage the largest quantity of historic buildings in the region. Many of the buildings constructed during the war years still stand and are being used to train today’s Naval Aviators. Others are undergoing demolition. Districts & properties eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places: • Seaplane Hangars/Ramps Historic District • Landplane Hangars Historic District • Warehouse/Industrial Historic District • Administrative/Academic Historic District • Lexington Blvd Historic District • Kings Drive Historic District • The Navy Brig, Facility 252 She described additional buildings that have been rehabilitated/remodeled. The Protestant Chapel which opened December 6, 1941, is still used; the gymnasium building is still on site. For the Ed Rachal Foundation nominee, they have made improvements to Tower 2 at 539 Carancahua Street (built in 1987) and the 802 North Carancahua Building (built in 1982). These two locations are significant landmarks and contribute to the downtown skyline; have undergone a very thorough whole-building, exterior envelope repair. The Ed Rachal Foundation have also repurposed the Sam and Ada Wilson Home (3745 Ocean D.) and the H.E. Butts home (3700 Ocean Drive) as event venues. The last nomination, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, purchased the building at 223 North Chaparral Street in 2019 and plan renovation; the University also own WWII era buildings on their main campus. After Staff’s presentation, the floor was opened for Commissioner comments/questions. For the Project category, Chairman Mendez suggested that Gold Fish building receive an award. Commissioner Veronica Wilson suggested Butter Krust building. A motion was made by Chairman Mendez to award Gold Fish and Butter Krust for the Project category and it was seconded by Commissioner Pruitt. A roll call vote took place and the motion passed unanimously. For the Organization category, a motion was made by Commissioner Brown to award Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and it was seconded by Commissioner De La Garza. A roll call vote took place and the motion passed unanimously. For the Organization category, Commissioner Pruitt made a motion to award Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and it was seconded by Commissioner Wade Wilson. A roll call vote took place and the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Brown amended her previous motion to also award the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. A roll call vote took place and the motion passed unanimously. VII. DISCUSSION & CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES TO THE 2023 ANNUAL PRESERVATION AWARDS: The History Book Award & Education Award The Book Award will be awarded to a historical monograph (past or present) that communicates the history of Corpus Christi; and The Education Award will be awarded to individuals or organizations that seek to promote preservation by educating the public on the history of Corpus Christi, the preservation of its community resources, and/or the need for historic preservation in general. The award is not limited to traditional education methods in the classroom but may also include other ways of educating the public through tours, historical reenactment and interpretation, videos, public forums, and blogs and discussion forums across a broad multimedia spectrum. A motion was made by Chairman Mendez to approve the resolution and it was seconded by Commissioner Brown. A roll call vote took place and the motion passed unanimously. VIII. DISCUSSION & CONSIDERATION OF A SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW OCEAN DRIVE PROPERTIES The following Commissioners volunteered for the subcommittee: James Pruitt, Wade Williams, Matthew Forrester, Veronica Wilson and Ira Freeman (Michele Wanzer – Alternate). IX. HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER’S REPORT: Nina Nixon-Mendez • Historic Preservation Plan Update She informed the Commission of the April 1, 2022 City Council Workshop in which the Plan was discussed. Staff has provided additional information to Council members; Staff will be visiting with each Council member before it is scheduled for a Council meeting in late May. • National Preservation Month – May 2022 She informed the Commission that a proclamation for National Preservation Month is scheduled for the May 10, 2022 City Council meeting. She asked that Landmark Commissioners, if available, attend this meeting and arrive at 10:45 a.m. for the event. She gave further information on the activities for National Preservation Month including the photo contest. • American World War II Heritage City – Deadline May 1, 2022; joint submission with Nueces/Kleberg County for designation of a region (The Coastal Bend area). She gave information on the public town hall meeting which occurred on April 8, 2022. She is currently working on the City’s submission in hopes to be chosen. X. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: None. XI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.