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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 02/23/2023 MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING LANDMARK COMMISSION CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS -4:30 pm 1201 LEOPARD STREET FEBRUARY 23, 2023 COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: Armando Mendez-Chairman Dr. James Pruitt Wade Williams-Vice Chairman Albert Montez Dr. Jen Brown Elizabeth Riggle Michelle Wanzer Walter Mumme Matthew Forrester Vacancy Veronica Wilson STAFF: Nina Nixon-Mendez, Assistant Director& Historic Preservation Officer Ruth Bocchino, Agenda Coordinator Buck Brice, Assistant City Attorney I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: 4:31 pm. The meeting was called to order and a quorum was established with Commissioners Mendez and Riggle absent. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 26, 2023. A motion was made by Commissioner Brown to approve the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Forrester. The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF ABSENCES: Commissioner Montez. A motion was made by Commissioner Wanzer to approve the absence, seconded by Commissioner Wilson. The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING: Discussion and Consideration of Historic Zoning Designation. Zoning Case No. 0223-03, ButterKrust Storage LLC: (District 2) Ordinance rezoning property located at or near 2002 Ayers Street from the "CBD" Downtown Commercial District to the "CBD/H" Downtown Commercial District with a Historic Overlay, and located on the east side of Ayers Street, south of 17th Street, and west of Cole Street. (Staff recommends approval) Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez summarized the Ordinance and discussed the presentation reviewing the history of the project and stated this is a zoning to designate a historic landmark. It is the entire block of the former ButterKrust Bakery, now ButterKrust Storage. The purpose is to preserve areas of historical and cultural significance. Historic properties receive an "H" on the zoning map. In 1938 the company moved from the Power Street location to 2002 Ayers Street. The architectural style is art modern with stucco on masonry with parapet geometric motifs and curved corners. In 1953 the building was expanded and in 1982 the company celebrated its 100th Anniversary with 285 employees and a fleet of 120 vehicles. Flowers Industry acquired the property in 1994 and remained open until 1997; the building was vacant until 2018. In 2019 the building was purchased and renovated with the exterior retaining a good portion of its historic integrity and is now ButterKrust Storage, LLC, to honor the buildings history. Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez further stated to approve the Landmark Designation, there are 12 criteria in the Development Code to be considered and staff believes criteria 2, 5, 7, and 11 were met. A series of photographs was presented. As required by City Code and State Law, property owners within 200 feet were notified by mail and zero responses were received in favor or opposition. The significance of this is to ascertain public input into the rezoning, but on the Council level if there is 20% opposition, it would require a super majority vote of the Council. Staff does recommend approval of the rezoning.The applicant was unable to attend but does approve the rezoning. Commissioners discussed the aroma of the bakery, and would they be able to duplicate the aroma?This is the only building on that property. This would only affect that block and nothing outside that block. The Chairman opened the Public Hearing. Richard Garcia, 124 Glendale, spoke regarding their memories of ButterKrust, that the building has always been there, that they were afraid the building would be empty. He and his wife work at the HEB Bakery, and fondly remember the aroma. Mr. Garcia expressed his excitement of the rezoning. Commissioners discussed how cool it is to hear families' memories of the ButterKrust Company. Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez stated there will be another Public Hearing in front of Council and the Landmark Commission needs to provide their approval/denial of the rezoning. A motion was made by Commissioner Forrester to approve the rezoning, seconded by Commissioner Wanzer. The motion passed. VI. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Committee to discuss neighborhoods for Historic District designation. Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez stated there was a committee that had met in the fall and the committee had talked about strategies, informational meetings, and postcards to reach out to neighborhoods that really merit historic designation and do we want this committee to continue and schedule another meeting. Commissioners asked that Minutes from the workshop be distributed to the members. One of the suggestions was a training video for realtors' architects, and Commissioners.The committee first focused on Ocean Drive. If the property owners approved,there could be a National Register District which requires less reviews. Nominations would need to be developed. When this type of project is proposed, there are boundaries and staff time to consider. It would be interesting and a high- profile project which would spill over to preservation. Contributing structures could apply for a tax credit for rehabilitation. Incentives are tied to the designation. It is not a designated neighborhood, so property identification would need to be determined. Commissioners considered a Task Force Committee. Once the Historic Preservation Officer position is filled, we could reach out to the public during Preservation Month. Commissioners asked if postcards have been done before; Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez stated they had not. We have not done a Historic District yet. This could be a standing item for the Commission. The City is in the process of interviewing for the Historic Preservation Officer. Commissioners discussed the process, and the major portion is outreach and getting the public involved. Informational meetings are a good start. Commissioners like the idea of postcards to people that know their homes are historic and invite them to an informational meeting and do this process once we have the staffing in place. We could also invite the public to the Landmark Commission meetings to educate the public regarding Historical Districts. Commissioners discussed contacting the realtor population and their affiliates for outreach purposes. VII. HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER REPORT: Assistant Director Nina Nixon-Mendez. • Annual Preservation Awards Submissions: Due April 3, 2023 — Nominations to date: Nueces Lofts, 317 Peoples St., The Chamberlain, 807 N. Upper Broadway, Price's Chef, 1800 S. Alameda: -We have not received any new nominations. Social Media outreach has been solicited. Other properties have been mentioned by Landmark Commission. Please email Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez with suggestions. Commissioners discussed if Corpus Christi homes are in the era of becoming 100-year-old properties. The primary date for historic patterns is mid-century modern. We would need to determine a process to decide how to find the century old properties; possibly with media outreach. • Preservation Photo Contest: -Last year we did People's Choice with broad parameters; should the parameters be narrowed. The deadline is May 1 st,. We need to get our information out in March. Commissioners discussed that last year there were a lot of great photos but not necessarily historic. We do not have very many designated landmarks and we prefer photos of old properties; such as a before and after photos. Individual buildings or sites could be a possibility. Commissioners like the idea of people looking for historic places or possibly putting a theme together for the photos. We have 40 individually designated properties, including state, national, and local properties. Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez proposed the idea of letting citizens discover their history; but it may be too broad; or citizens recommending buildings that could be designated as historic; such as undiscovered history. Commissioners discussed that children have a great insight, and have we ever had a history fair. • American World War II Advisory Committee to meet monthly: -Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez stated the World War II Advisory Committee will meet monthly with the Chamber of Commerce and at the last meeting the CVB, Visit Corpus Christi,joined and are interested in creating a website regarding the project with some type of a heritage trail related to the historical sites. Representatives from Nueces County Historical Committee, Nueces Historical Society, Nueces County, Downtown Management District and Museum were also present. • Texas Historical Commission grant for historic resource survey of Upper Westside Neighborhoods: -Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez stated we did receive a grant from the Texas Historical Commission to continue our Historic Survey. The neighborhood proposed is the Upper Westside Neighborhoods. This will be taken to City Council for consideration to accept the grant; it is in the amount of$25,000 and a 1/1 match. We will utilize our Historic Research Survey tool. This area is underrepresented in the survey; and there had been a basic reconnaissance done related to the bridge construction; however, this area needs to be surveyed. We need a deeper dive in this area. We may be able to extend the area. We will continue to work with the Historical Commission. -We still have a vacancy on the Landmark Commission. Please send interested citizens to Nina, Ruth, or the City Secretary's office. -Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez attended the Texas Historical Commission Real Places Conference on behalf of the Landmark Commission along with Commissioner Wilson and Commissioner Pruitt and stated one of the breakout sessions that was applicable to our area is an economic study on a theater for multi- use and what the economic impact would be to that area and what it would generate for the city. Another session regarding the rehabilitation of a hotel and using the National Tax Credit, TIRZ, and other different funding layers including Texas PACE, a tool of the U.S. Department of Energy was exciting. A certain percentage of the project needs to be sustainable. This conference counts towards credits for the Texas Historic Commission and we will include in our reports. Commissioners discussed a breakout session that covered Gen Z and statistics on Gen Z and how in the future all businesses, cities, and entities will be able to communicate with Gen Z if they prepare themselves; as the way Gen Z communicates is different than millennials and us, everybody that came before, and we could put that to use. Commissioners discussed a hike/bike trail in the area by the American Bank Plaza near the cemetery. -Assistant Director Nixon-Mendez stated currently in the Downtown Area Development Plan, it does show a hike/bike trail, but it does not go by the cemetery. A Resolution was adopted, and we have asked to see if we can revisit that and include the route. The Planning Director said there was a good possibility we can amend the Development Plan and include that because the city is currently working on two park mitigation projects related to the bridge and the idea is to enhance the parks and recreation in the area. VIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Continuation of Standing Committee. IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 5:21 p.m.