Joliet Historic Preservation Commission

150 West Jefferson Street City of Joliet Joliet, IL 60432 Joliet Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final Commission Members Quinn Adamowski Mary Beth Gannon Bill Habiger Kevin Heinemann Candace Johnson Kailee Lowry Sharon Merwin Greg Peerbolte Christine Policandriotes Sara Stovall Wednesday, September 23, 2020 7:00 PM City Hall, Council Chambers The Governor’s Office and the Illinois Department of Public Health activated the mitigation plan for Region 7, effective August 26, 2020. Region 7 includes Will and Kankakee counties. The new Region 7 mitigation plan limits in-person meetings to 25 people or 25% of overall room capacity (whichever is less). Council Chambers allows for 13 members of the public while adhering to social distancing guidelines. During meetings, any member of the public physically present in the Council Chambers in excess of the limit will be asked to wait in another room with live feed to the meeting until the Citizens To Be Heard on Agenda Items section or Public Comments section of the meeting has commenced. Speakers will be rotated into Council Chambers to allow everyone an opportunity to speak. Pursuant to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Guidelines, it is recommended that any individual appearing in-person wear a face-covering to cover their nose and mouth. Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can email comments in advance of the meeting to publiccomment@joliet.gov. CALL TO ORDER Present Quinn Adamowski, Mary Beth Gannon, Bill Habiger, Kevin Heinemann, Candace Johnson, Kailee Lowry, Sharon Merwin, Christine Policandriotes, and Sara Stovall Absent Greg Peerbolte DECLARATION OF QUORUM CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS Page 1 of 4 Joliet Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final September 23, 2020 NOTE: There is a new temporary procedure for public speaking. Details can be found on the Joliet.gov “Public Comments” web page. A. This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding items listed on the agenda . Anyone speaking on an agenda item is entitled to speak for a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff and the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission do not generally respond to public comments. Please note speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak. APPROVAL OF MINUTES TMP-0447 Attachments: 08262020 DRAFT A motion was made by Candace Johnson, seconded by Bill Habiger, to approve . The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Adamowski, Beth Gannon, Habiger, Heinemann, Johnson, Lowry, Merwin, Policandriotes, and Stovall STAFF REPORTS Ms. Bernhard announced that she does not have updates on the St. John's survey. The consultant has not finished. Ms. Bernhard also announced the Downtown National Historic Register survey project has not started. Ms. Bernhard announced work on the Railroad C.L.G. Project has been halted, the project has been extended to September of 2021. Ms. Bernhard is expecting a Certificate of Appropriateness submittal for solar panels at the Hiram B. Scutt Mansion located at 206 N. Broadway Street. NEW BUSINESS TMP-0446 Attachments: L-2-2020_Staff Report_575 East Jackson Street DRAFT Landmark Nomination for 575 E. Jackson Street Ms. Bernhard read the staff report into the record. Ms. Sandy Vasko, Executive Director of the Will County Historical Society, submitted a local landmark application for the building at 575 East Jackson Street. The Will County Historical Society, which owns the building, is supportive of landmark designation for this building. The purpose of this preliminary review is to understand the petitioner’s request and to identify any additional information that the applicant or staff could reasonably produce for further JHPC review at a future public hearing. The George W. and Delilah Casseday house is being nominated for its architectural style and historical significance. There are few two-story, limestone Greek Revival style houses remaining in the City of Joliet and surrounding area. George Casseday was a wealthy and prominent businessman in Joliet and was also one of the area’s largest landowners in the mid-19th century. The period of significance is associated with the date that the George W. Casseday family arrived in Joliet from Danville, Illinois which Page 2 of 4 Joliet Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final September 23, 2020 was in 1851. The one-story wing may have been the first structure built at the site, with the two-story main block of the house built soon thereafter, but this timing has not been confirmed. The proposed local historic landmark meets five of the seven the designation standards set forth in Section 8-606 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance as follows: a) Significant value as part of the historical, cultural, aesthetic, artistic, social, ethnic, or other heritage of the nation, state, or community. The building is of significant value as a rare surviving example of a circa-1851, Greek Revival-style farmhouse. The structure is constructed of native (Sugar Run Dolomite) limestone with limestone window sills and lintels, quarried in Joliet. b) Association with an important person or event in national, state, or local history. This house is associated with George W. Casseday, a businessman from Danville, Illinois, who moved his family to Joliet to engage in real estate speculation. He became one of the city’s largest landowners in the mid 19th century. The subdivision of his lands led to the continued development of the City. c) Representative of the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type inherently valuable for the study of a period, style, craftsmanship, method or construction or use of indigenous materials. This house is a rare, surviving example of a limestone, side-gabled, Greek Revival style home. The house has a two-story main block and a one-story wing constructed from ashlar-cut blocks of Joliet limestone. d) Notable work of a master builder, designer, architect, or artist whose individual genius has influenced an era. At this time, this building has not been identified as a notable work of a master builder. e) Identifiable as an established and familiar visual feature in the community owing to its unique location or physical characteristics. Prior to its relocation, the building was an established, visual feature owing to its corner location, setback from the street, and building style and material. f) Owner preferences. The current owners of the building, the Will County Historical Society, approve of the proposed landmark designation of this property. g) Economic and functional potentials. This building has economic and functional potential for a use other than residential. The Will County Historical Society intends to use the building for a museum. In conclusion, The JHPC shall make a recommendation on the petition to designate the property at 575 E. Jackson Street as a local historic landmark and such recommendation shall be accompanied by a statement of findings providing the reasons for recommendation of approval or denial. Said statement of findings shall be included in the motion considered by the Commission for Page 3 of 4 Joliet Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final September 23, 2020 recommendation of approval or denial. Should the Commission desire to recommend approval of this landmark nomination petition, staff recommends including the following components in its statement of findings: • An identification of the primary and secondary significant architectural features as well as non-contributing or excluded features. • A determination of the landmark designation standards met by the proposed historic landmark. The Commissioners discussed the new location next to Spring Creek and whether or not (e) designation standard still applies. Barb Newberg, 1713 Nelson Road, New Lenox, IL, Board Member of the Will County Historical Society, showed up in support of the nomination. No one showed in opposition of the nomination. A motion was made by Candace Johnson, seconded by Sara Stovall, to approve Landmark Nomination for 575 East Jackson Street (L-2-2020). The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Adamowski, Beth Gannon, Habiger, Heinemann, Johnson, Lowry, Merwin, and Stovall OLD BUSINESS COMMISSIONER COMMENTS The Commissioners discussed creating a new possible point system for residential building permits on historic properties. They asked Jayne to arrange a meeting with the Building Department. PUBLIC COMMENT NOTE: There is a new temporary procedure for public speaking. Details can be found on the Joliet.gov “Public Comments” web page. This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding non-agenda items and are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff and the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission do not generally respond to public comments. Please note, speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Candace Johnson, seconded by Sharon Merwin, to adjourn the meeting. This was approved. Page 4 of 4