ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
 
 
August 7, 2013
 
 
Community Development/Engineering Services Building – 51 Winburn Way – Siskiyou Room
 
CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING, 6:05 pm
 
Historic Commissioners Present:  Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Ally Phelps, Allison Renwick, Sam Whitford, Victoria Law
Commission Members Absent: Terry Skibby, Tom Giordano, Kerry Kencairn
Council Liaison: Greg Lemhouse - absent
High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Staff Liaison: Amy Gunter
 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  The minutes need to be edited to show that Keith Swink made the motion and Allison Renwick seconded the motion.

Dale Shostrom made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 3, 2013 meeting, Keith Swink seconded the motion. Victoria Law and Sam Whitford abstained. The minutes were approved by Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Allison Renwick and Ally Phelps.

 
PUBLIC FORUM:  none
 
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT:  Greg Lemhouse-absent
 
PRE-APP REVIEW:
David Wilkerson, ORW Architecture, 2950 E. Barnett Road, Medford and Jason Stranberg from Adroit Construction, 185 Mistletoe Rd., Ashland, representatives for the project presented their proposed modifications to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) Rehearsal Building at 30 N First Street. The building was constructed in the 1920s at the same time as hotel. They are still looking for additional historic photos. At some point in the 1980s, the barrel gable that was on the roof was removed and OSF inserted the pre-fabricated metal building into the structure.
 
The new building is proposed to bring all of the existing scattered rehearsal spaces into one building and create a one large rehearsal space with two medium sized rehearsal spaces, voice recording areas and provide the ability to bring all of the parts (actors, directors, visiting actors, etc. together in one space).
 
The largest aspect of this project is a major interior remodel. The exterior modifications are to change out the existing metal windows which perform very poorly with a new metal clad window with pairs of 4 X 5 gridded windows. The outside will have a metal mutton bar the inside will be wood. The Historic Commission thought the proposal was compatible and will make the building façade more consistent.
 
OLD BUSINESS
Brochures Subcommittee Report
The brochures look great graphics wise. There are some text edits and modifications that need to be made.
The commission asked for some graphic modifications which will be forwarded to the designer.
 
The commission determined the title for the small brochure would be “Preserving Historic Ashland”.
 
Historic Markers Plan
Amy and Allison Renwick worked on a Oregon Community Foundation Grant that closed July 1. We are not confident but we are hopeful. The grant review process takes 14 weeks.  
 
NEW ITEMS
Election of New Historic Commission Officers
Chair: Terry Skibby
Vice Chair: Dale Shostrom
Secretary: Ally Phelps
 
Review Board Schedule
August – 15; Dale, Kerry, Tom; August – 22; Sam, Ally; Allison: August – 29; Dale, Victoria, Tom: Sept. 5 – Keith, Kerry
 
Project Assignments for Planning Actions – Review Update
No reports or assignments
 
 
DISCUSSION
Pioneer Hall plaza brick project
The Public Works Department has been tasked with repairing the broken and heaving bricks. The Public Works Dept. has proposed a few alternatives. The Commission stated that stamped concrete would be worse, it is too subject to breaking and heaving. The Commission would prefer that the subsurface and drainage issues be addressed and that brick be reinstalled.
 
Lithia Park restroom replacement
The Park Department is replacing some dilapidated restrooms with pre-fabricated facilities. Of the options shown, Commission prefers the barn wood finish in a dark earthtone paint color such as brown or dark green.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS & INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Dangerous building declaration at 135 Nutley Street
The Commission feels that the home is salvageable and that the owner should not remove but should rehabilitate. The costs of the removal and new construction would be similar in cost as rehabilitating the new structure. A new house that looks the same is not comparable to the loss of a historic home. The removal of the tree would be a better alternative than the loss of a 108 year old structure.
 
Hidden house on Tolman – Commissioner Victoria Law mentioned the future sale of the half of the old Railroad Depot building that was transported to a lot on Tolman ½ of the 1883 built, old RR depot was transported there in the 1960s  and had a barn structure constructed around it. The grandchildren brought Victoria Law some photos and she said it is remarkable how preserved the structure is inside. It looks just like it did originally.