2016-08-11 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SUMMARY MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
August 11, 2016
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Scott called the meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 5:30 p.m. in the 3rd Floor
Conference Room of City Hall, 121 — 5d' Avenue North.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Emily Scott, Chair
Larry Vogel, Vice Chair
Sandra Allbery
Chris Deiner-Karr
Eric Livingston
Tim Raetzloff
Steve Waite
Dave Teitzel, City Council Member
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
STAFF PRESENT
Rob Chave, Planning Manager
Diane Cunningham, Administrative Assistant
COMMISSIONER ALLBERY MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVE THE DRAFT MINUTES OF MAY
12, 2016 AND JUNE 9, 2016 AS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER DEINER-KARR SECONDED THE MOTION,
WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
AGENDA ADDITIONS AND CHANGES
Chair Scott invited Council Member Teitzel to provide an update of the email chain relative to historic signage. The
remainder of the agenda was accepted as presented.
REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There was no one in the audience.
NEW BUSINESS
Discussion on Gerdon House (209 Caspers Street) for Inclusion on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places
The Commission reviewed a brief history of the house, which was constructed in 1921 for Ira Gerdon, who lived there with
his family until 1948. It was purchased by the Mueller family in the 1940s and by the Campbell Family in 2015. The house
is a Montgomery Ward Kit Home and is a largely intact example of the Dutch Colonial Revival Style. It sits far back from
Caspers Street on a large lot that is accessed by a circular driveway. The Campbell family has done some updates, but they
are committed to maintaining the historic appearance of the home. They have also expressed some support for listing the
home on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places. Exterior Updates include:
• Unattached garage. Because the garage would be detached from the home, it could be excluded from the register.
• Windows. The windows were replaced with wood -framed, double pane glass windows. The new windows are
similar to the original windows, but not precisely the same. No new windows were added, and the window size
remains the same.
• Landscaping. Some landscaping was removed, and new landscaping will be installed using native plants near Shell
Creek as required by the City. The intent is to replicate the original landscaping as much as possible.
Vice Chair Vogel reminded the Board that the home's previous owner was Betty Mueller, a prominent Edmonds Citizen for
whom the new fire station on 96th Street was named after. He spoke with Betty's daughter, and she reminisced about
growing up in the house.
Based on the property's history and location, the Commission agreed to pursue it for inclusion on the Register. The
concurred that the property has great potential and further research is warranted. The following assignments were made:
• Commissioner Deiner-Karr will visit the Snohomish County Accessor's Office to obtain the original assessment of
the home. She will scan the documents and forward them to the Commissioners.
• Vice Chair Vogel will email the Commissioners a link to an article he wrote about the history of the property, which
includes links to original documents. He also agreed to take pictures of the front of the house to compare the
existing windows with the original windows.
• Commissioner Allbery will search for historic photographs of the home. The intent is to use the photographs to
track and document changes that have been made to the structure over time. Vice Chair Vogel agreed to forward
other photographs of the home that he already has on file to Commissioner Allbery.
• Chair Scott will send out information on the original kit house model that was used to construct the home.
• Council Member Teitzel will contact the current owners with a request that at least one or two Commissioners be
allowed to visit the inside of the home to take pictures of the numbers that are still on the beams to indicate how the
home should be put together. This might allow them to track down the original plans.
• Commissioner Raetzloff will research newspaper articles about events in which the home may have been mentioned.
• Commissioner Livingston will review the listing criteria and begin to formulate the Commission's argument for why
the home should be listed on the Register. Chair Scott agreed to provide links to sites that will help in this effort.
Chair Scott agreed to email a reminder of the assignments that were made. She asked that the new information be generated
by the next meeting. Commissioners were encouraged to visit the site in preparation for their continued discussion.
Historic SiEnaEe
Council Member Teitzel recalled that last year he suggested the City provide historical signage to recognize the old growth
cedar stumps in Yost Park and the waterfront mills, which are a significant part of the City's heritage. He said he and
Commissioners Allbery and Vogel met with a representative from the museum to locate appropriate photographs. This was
followed by a meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director to discuss the concept further. They have
agreed to refine the two draft signs. If the project moves forward as planned, a sign will be installed at the waterfront on
Sunset Avenue to provide a visual and text to illustrate what the City looked like at the turn of the century. Another sign will
be installed along the walking path at Yost Park near an old growth cedar stump. He expects the signs will be installed in
2017.
Vice Chair Vogel suggested that the sign design could be similar to those at the Museum plaza. Council Member Teitzel said
the detailed designs have not been done yet, but one idea is to make the waterfront sign consistent with the sign at Marina
Beach Park that provides a visual of the Olympic Mountains. Once the draft designs have been finalized, they will be
presented to the Commission.
Update on Preservationist
Chair Scott advised that she has been focusing her efforts on the calendar project, and no progress was made on an updated
Preservationist.
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August 11, 2016 Page 2
Update on 2017 Historic Calendars
Chair Scott reviewed that she previously provided information on the events that are currently listed for inclusion on the
calendar. She also invited Commissioners to identify additional event and/or historic dates by the first week of October. The
draft needs to be ready by the end of October so the calendar can be published and distributed in November. She said she
would email reminders to the Commissioners on a regular basis. She also said she would provide printouts of the draft
calendar pages for the Commission's review at their next meeting.
Plaque on the Cooper House
Ms. Cunningham reminded the Commissioners that the owners of the Cooper House have not returned the plaque that was
placed on their property when it was listed on the Register. They will be fined the cost of the plaque if it is not returned soon.
Chair Scott agreed to email the owners to request that the plaque be returned.
Civic Field Update
Chair Scott advised that the next meeting of the Civic Field Master Plan Advisory Committee will take place in September.
Another public open house is scheduled for September, as well. The Commissioners were invited to participate in an on-line
survey, and a kiosk is on site for public comments. She agreed to provide contact information again for how Commissioners
can submit comments. She emphasized that there is no design or plan in place at this time. She agreed to forward a link to
an article written by Mayor Earling relative to the Civic Field Master Plan process and some of the ideas that are being
considered. The Commissioners briefly shared their thoughts on how the park should be designed to serve the long-term
needs of the community on an everyday basis.
ACTION ITEMS
Chair Scott said she would send out a list of assignments for the Gerdon House Nomination. She also reminded the
Commissioners to provide additional dates for community and/or historical events.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CHAIR COMMENTS
Chair Scott thanked the Commissioners for volunteering their time and providing their input regarding historic preservation
in the City.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Deiner-Karr provided an update on a historic house on Sunset Avenue that was demolished to accommodate a
very large home. She agreed to email information about the proposed redevelopment.
Vice Chair Vogel reported that he presented half of his Edmonds History Show to the Edmonds Rotary, and he was invited
back in October to finish the presentation.
Vice Chair Vogel said he has agreed to prepare an article of memories of former Mayor Hary Harrison that will published
just prior to his memorial service on Saturday, August 13t' from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Beck's Funeral Home.
Council Member Teitzel reported that he attended the "Walk Back in Time" event at the Edmonds Cemetery where Vice
Chair Vogel was one of the featured guests (a Civil War veteran). He noted that there are 20 Civil War veterans buried in the
cemetery, and one was likely present when Lee surrendered at the court house. Vice Chair Vogel briefly shared information
about the veteran he portrayed at the event.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
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