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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Letter to Mayor and City Council from Historic Preservation Commission dated August 23, 2013 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Jason Dietzenbach, Vice Chair Historic Preservation Commission DATE: 23 August 2013 SUBJECT: The Proposed Kingland Campus Properties Development Project for the 2400 Block of Lincoln Way between Welch Avenue and Stanton Avenue. At the special meeting on August 19, the Ames Historic Preservation Commission voted to provide input in response to the Proposed Kingland Campus Properties Development Project. The HPC would like to note that there are two buildings of significance that are planned to be demolished as part of this project: • The Champlin Building, 2424 Lincoln Way, the first brick structure in Campustown • The Historical Theater, 2420 Lincoln Way, the current Kingland Office. Please see the end of this memo for the historical significance of these buildings per the HPC memo on July 26, 2010. If these two buildings are allowed to be demolished the HPC recommends the following options: • Buildings to be documented prior to demolition. • Plaques of these two buildings and their significance to the community to be included in the new project. • Utilize existing materials into the new project, as proposed by the design team. The HPC would also like to note that this project may impact future projects by: • Allowing taller building heights that may continue south along Welch, which will block the view of the campus's taller building structures. • Provide precedence for future improvement grant standards. We hope to remain involved and to continue to consult as necessary to see this important project through its next phases. Jason Dietzenbach, Assoc. AIA Vice Chairperson, Historic Preservation Commission CC: Kelly Diekmann, Director Bill Malone, HPC Jeff Benson, Planner Roberta Vann, HPC Ray Anderson, Planner Matt Donovan, HPC Lorrie Banks, Principal Clerk Kimberly Hanna, HPC Sharon Wirth, HPC Marie Miller, HPC The following references are taken from the HPC memo on July 26, 2010: HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE The buildings planned for demolition for this project comprise the South Campus area's first business district; this district has added national historical significance as a business district that developed on the Lincoln Highway, one of our nation's historic by-ways. The HPC recognizes that extensive reconstruction or demolition of existing historic structures may be required, and so this memo also offers suggestions on how new construction might best maintain the historic character of the area by incorporating, to the extent possible, the characteristics outlined by public historian William Page in section E, pages 210 and 211, of the historic resource survey Fourth Ward, Ames Iowa (Page 2007). These characteristics include • small-sized buildings (predominantly1-2 stories but no taller than 4 stories) • brick facades in mixed tones, mostly reds but ranging to cream • designs influenced by the Neo-Classical Revival and Commercial Styles popular from the early 1900s to the 1950s. THE HISTORIC NATURE OF CAMPUSTOWN Since the completion of the historic resource survey of West Ames, Fourth Ward, Ames, Iowa (Page, 2007), the HPC has been aware of the potential to create a Campustown Historic District, an area comprised of approximately 50 buildings, most of which are of a character, age, and historical significance to be admitted onto the National Register. This potential Campustown Historic District, an area platted in the early part of the 20n,century that encompasses the buildings bounded by Hayward on the west, Stanton on the east, Lincoln Way on the north, and Chamberlain on the south, also constitutes the heart of the Campustown Redevelopment area. Understandably, the HPC, as the governmental body charged with surveying and protecting the historic resources of Ames, believes that its input into this project is crucial if the city wishes to mitigate possible damage to the area's historic importance. The HPC also realizes that creating an historic district in Campustown may not be possible because of the failing structural integrity of some of the building stock, the potential lack of support for such a listing among property owners, and the need to move quickly to stop the continuing degradation of the area. The HPC, following the goals and objectives of the Ames Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan, remains committed to pursuing such a National Register District. The hesitancy of the City Council to approve funding for an intensive historic resource survey of Campustown has made such a listing less of a priority for the HPC. The Commission believes that, for now, it must simply make known its concerns and provide consultation to the City and Lane4 Group as this project progresses.