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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 11/16/2023 MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING LANDMARK COMMISSION CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI CITY HALL 6T" FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM -4:30 pm 1201 LEOPARD STREET THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023 COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: Armando Mendez-Chairman Albert Montez Wade Williams-Vice Chairman Jeff Mumme Matthew Forrester Dr. James Pruitt Gordon Landreth Elizabeth Riggle Cheryl McLaughlin Michelle Wanzer Veronica Wilson STAFF: Nina Nixon-Mendez, Assistant Director Robert Kurtz, Historic Preservation Officer Ruth Bocchino, Agenda Coordinator Buck Brice, Assistant City Attorney I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: 4:30 pm. The meeting was called to order and a quorum was established with Commissioners Williams and Forrester absent. PUBLIC COMMENT: Fred Garza, 7210 Windwillow Drive, stated that. he is very involved in Corpus Christi as a general contractor and developer. Mr. Garza spoke in favor of preserving the Hector Garcia building and its history and asked for a stay to buy or restore the building. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 26, 2023. A motion was made by Commissioner Wanzer to approve the minutes as presented by staff and seconded by Commissioner Wilson. The Vote: All Aye. The motion passed. iv. APPROVAL OF ABSENCES: October 26, 2023- Commissioners Williams, Montez, and Wanzer. A motion was made by Commissioner Riggle to approve the absences, seconded by Commissioner McLaughlin. The Vote: All Aye. The motion passed. v. PUBLIC HEARING, DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION: Robert Kurtz, Historic Preservation Officer 1) Case No. COAD 1016-01, AGCE CORP.: Certificate of Appropriateness for Demolition to allow for the demolition of a building on a tract of land addressed as 3001 Morgan Avenue, 1315 Bright Street, and 1323 Bright Street and described as Lots E/2 of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9, Block E, LA GLORIA Subdivision, located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Morgan Avenue and Bright Street, north of Reyna Street, and south of Morgan Avenue. Robert Kurtz, Historic Preservation Officer, presented the following.. • Application includes lots E/2 of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9. • Zoned "Light Industrial" w/"Historic Overlay." • Includes addresses 3001 Morgan, 1315 Bright, and 1323 Bright. • 1315 Bright was the address when building was in use. • Applicant also owns lot 10 (1325 Bright) that is NOT part of historic overlay. • Completed in 1965 • Built to expand needed space for pharmacy, clinic, and office. • In use from 1965 to 1996. • North section was pharmacy named "Central Pharmacy." • South section was clinic, office, and meeting space. Dr. Hector P. Garcia.- • WWII veteran • Medical physician, political and social activist for the Hispanic community in Corpus Christi • Founder of the American G. I. Forum • First Mexican American member of the Civil Rights Commission and to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. • Sought and succeeded greatly in the inclusion of Mexican Americans into mainstream America. COAD: Overview of Property. History of ownership: • After Hector passed in 1996, his wife Wanda had sole ownership. • Wanda sold it to the National Archives and Historical Foundation (NAHF) of the American G.I. Forum (AGIF) in 2000 hoping it would be restored. • NAHF donated the building to AGIF of Texas. • According to Cecilia Garcia Akers (Hector's daughter), numerous offers were made to purchase the building or assist in fundraising, and at one time plans were to make it a Veterans Service Center; however, Cecilia states that "offers were shunned away by the Archives." AGIF sold building to Anthony Gutierrez (AGCE CORP) in 2019. Zoning history: • In 2004, due to the building's association with Dr. Garcia, an amendment to the zoning ordinance was passed. • The Planning Commission recommended the change in November and the City Council approved it in December; placing a Historic Overlay on Lots E/2 of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9, BLK E, LA GLORIA Subdivision. • In 2019, AGCE CORP applied for a zone change from "IL" Light Commercial w/ "HU Historic- Cultural (Historic Overlay) to "IL" Light Commercial. In essence, to remove the Historic Overlay. • The request was recommended for denial by the Planning Commission and the Landmark Commission. • It was later denied by the City Council. During this process, AGCE CORP stated that they were going repurpose the building and the commission explained that a Certificate of Appropriateness is all that was required to do so. Structural Report: • A structural report was turned in with the application requesting demolition. • Based on the images in the structural analysis report that was submitted with the application, the City of Corpus Christi's Building Official determined that the concerns addressed in the report could lead to structural issues. Based on the images alone, the building official could not determine the structural integrity of the building; however, he determined that the issues brought up in the report could be repaired. Unified Development Code: §3.16.1. Applicability A certificate of appropriateness for demolition is required prior to the demolition or removal of a designated landmark or contributing structure within a Historic Overlay zoning district or permanent landscaping of the landmark or structure. §3.16.2. Review Process A. Staff Review The Assistant City Manager of Development Services shall review the application and, considering the review criteria in Subsection 3.16.4, make a recommendation to the Landmark Commission. B. Landmark Commission Final Action Following notice in accordance with Subsection 3.1.7, the Landmark Commission shall hold a public hearing and approve, approve with conditions, or deny the certificate of appropriateness for demolition. Any action taken by the Landmark Commission to demolish, change the exterior of or remove property on the preservation plan shall require a favorable vote of at least a majority of the Landmark Commission members. (Ordinance 029125, 07/12/11) The Landmark Commission shall hold a public hearing on a certificate of appropriateness for demolition within 60 days from the date the application is deemed complete. §3.16.3. Stay of Demolition A. The Building Official shall automatically impose a 60-day stay of demolition or removal at the time a permit is requested unless public health, safety and welfare are threatened. B. If the Landmark Commission denies the certificate of appropriateness for demolition, a maximum of 365-day stay of demolition from the initial date of the application shall be imposed by the Landmark Commission and any interested parties explore alternatives to demolition. During the stay of demolition period, no demolition or removal permit shall be granted. § Section 3.16.4 A. The uniqueness of the landmark or structure as a rdpresentative type of style of architecture, historic association, or other element of the original designation criteria applicable to such landmark or structure. B. The condition of the landmark or structure from the standpoint of structural integrity, landscaping, and the extent of work necessary to stabilize the structure. C. The economically viable alternatives available to the demolition applicant, including- Donation of a part of the value of the landmark or structure to a public or nonprofit agency, including the conveyance of development rights and facade easement; The possibility of sale of a part of all of the landmark or structure to a prospective purchaser capable of preserving the landmark or structure; The potential of such structure for renovation and its potential for continuing use, The potential of the site of the structure for rezoning in an effort to render the property more compatible with the physical potential of the structure; and The ability of the landmark or structure to produce a reasonable economic return on investment for its owner, provided however, that it is specifically intended that this factor shall not have exclusive control and effect, but shall be considered along with all other criteria contained in the Section. D. Status of the structure under Chapter 13, Code Enforcement, of the Municipal Code. Staff analysis and recommendation: Staff recommends denial of the certificate of appropriateness of demolition and imposing a 365 day stay of demolition due to the following criteria: • The buildings historic association with Dr. Hector P. Garcia and the work done there. • Based on the images in the structural analysis submitted by the applicant, The City of Corpus Christi's Building Official considers the building to be stable. • There is a possible interested party in purchasing the building. • The lot is fenced and secure. Chairman Mendez opened the public comment and discussion. Commissioners discussed the available options: -approve the COAD -approve the COAD with conditions -deny the COAD with a maximum stay of 365 days -table the item Chairman Mendez closed the public hearing. Commissioner Riggle made a motion for a 365 day stay on the property, seconded by Commissioner Landreth. The Roll Call Vote- Aye: Chairman Mendez, Commissioners Landreth, McLaughlin, Montez, Mumme, Pruitt, Riggle, Wanzer, and Wilson. Nay- None. The motion passed. vi. HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER REPORT: 1) High School Intern review regarding Historic Resource Surveys: gathering information on Morningside subdivision and the Steamboat/Ropes House. 2) American Planning Association, Texas Conference Mobile Workshop Tour-Downtown and Historic Preservation, November 8, 2.-00 pm.- interesting information and research being done with a focus on urban areas, transit, freeways, revitalizing historic downtown businesses and parking meter increase. The mobile workshop was a success with about 45 attendees. 3) Deadlines and Milestones for Upper Westside Survey: a rough draft of the research/design report is due December 31. The contractor will provide photo documentation and detailed maps and provide one bound hard copy and one electronic copy of the survey. The contractor will also conduct public meetings along with volunteers from the city. vu. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: No report. viii. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Ocean Drive and Lindale Surveys; recognition for Del Mar-, review preservation award process at the next meeting. The December meeting is cancelled. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to disc s, t e m eting s adjourned at 5:54 pm. 1f, 1 k 0 Ch Ji rWa" v I