City Council Agenda and Packet 2012 07 03

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City Council Meeting Minutes June 19, 2012 Page 9 of 20 Planning Director Russ stated Council unanimously approved the landmark application for 1131 Jefferson on September 21, 2010. A total of $15,539 in grant funds have been approved and distributed for this property. A structural assessment was also completed on this house in the amount of $1,900. The applicant, Janice Hoffman, is requesting approval of a Preservation and Restoration Grant to restructure the building's undersized roof. On February 7, 2011 the applicant submitted a grant request to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to perform site improvements and roof modifications. This application was based on the discovery by the contractor for the project that the roof was "slumping" in the middle which meant there were some structural issues with the roof. Prior to the passage of Resolution No. 2, Series 2012 which outlines the incentives for both residential and commercial historic properties and following the structural assessment, staff presented to the HPC on November 21, 2011 three (3) contractor bids amounting to approximately $50,000 to reinforce the undersized roof. The HPC concluded this amount was too high for a single grant request and requested staff work with architects from the HPC to find a more cost appropriate solution. Architects Peter Stewart and Steve Poppitz volunteered for the project. The two worked with the contractor, Clark Street Buildings, the applicant had chosen to use, and the team devised a new solution which eliminated the need to tie the new rafters to an improved foundation and eliminated the need for asbestos abatement. As a result, the cost for the project was significantly decreased. Subsequently, Clark Street Builders provided a revised cost estimate for the project decreasing the cost from $50,000 to $12,800. The HPC discussed the evidence of extraordinary circumstances. In this application staff and the HPC believe the "extraordinary circumstance" is demonstrated by the fact the span of the roof structure is wider than most houses found in downtown. It is true most roof structures were constructed under sized (with 2" X 4" rafters), but most structures do not have a roof span width of 16 feet. It is this additional span of this roof structure which makes the engineering costs greater than a house of a lesser span. The HPC acknowledged Resolution No. 2, Series 2012 matching requirement; but, they noted this grant request had been continued since 2011, prior to the approval of the resolution. The HPC felt the delay on this grant request was caused by the authorization and execution of a structural assessment. As a result, the HPC believed all items on the scope of work should be covered by the HPF without the applicant's 100% match requirement for grant monies exceeding the $21,900 guideline total for individual residential landmark. The HPC recommended approval of $12,800 plus a 20% contingency ($2,560) for a total grant amount of $15,360. The request was approved. 21