Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting

Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 7:00 PM

The meeting of the Historic Preservation Review Board was called to order by Acting Chair, Victoria Williams at 7:07 PM at Town Hall.

Acting Chair, Victoria Williams presided over roll call.

Board Members present: Acting Chair, Victoria Williams; Matt Shildneck and Elizabeth Anderson and Nyna Le Baron.

Also present: Sandy Strehlou, HPRB Coordinator; Peggy Sue McRae, Recording Secretary; and Theresa Nash Degraff, later joined by Priscilla Nash (at 7:30) representing the Friday Harbor Drug property.

Minutes

The minutes of the HPRB meeting of 11.09.11 were approved.

Welcome to New Board Member

The HPRB was pleased to welcome our newest member, Nyna Le Baron. Ms. Le Baron has a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. She served as president of the Art Deco Society in San Francisco. In Friday Harbor, Le Baron won an award for the renovation design for the Remax building. She is a licensed architect in Washington and California.

Design Review: Friday Harbor Drugs

HPRB Coordinator Sandy Strehlou introduced the design review by briefly recapping her research. The Drugstore, built in 1929 in the California Mission Revival style is unique to Friday Harbor. Strehlou commented that Albert Nash Sr. and Leon Little, the building’s owners at the time of construction, were very forward-thinking to choose a design quite possibly influenced by world exhibitions of the era, and architectural motifs popular in Los Angeles. Understanding this building’s origins helps to provide a context for the building’s style and significance.

The Drugstore design review is a non-binding review of a downtown commercial district property.

Theresa Degraff Nash addressed the board explaining the proposed project. The alteration proposes the replacement of the existing 83-year-old marquee-style canopy. The current marquee extends from the building flat, at a ninety-degree angle. Due to water damage the applicants have an interest in a new design that they believe will be more affective in moving water away from the building. They have proposed a new canopy that would be attached to the building at a higher placement, sloping down and away from the building. The new design would obscure transom windows currently visible above the marquee.

Design Review

Design Considerations (pg 37 – 39 HPRB manual)

All design review decisions listed below were by consensus unless otherwise indicated.

Waterfront - NA

Pedestrian Walkways and Alleys - NA

Streetscape – 1 yes , 3 no (Elizabeth Anderson voting yes)

Parking – NA

Public Space – NA

Roof Form – No

Color - Yes

General Guidelines for Rehabilitation (pg 40 – 41 HPRB manual)

Principals for Rehabilitation of Historic Structures

Distinguishing Original Qualities – No (Transoms obscured)

Historic Use – Yes

Adaptations retain features – NA

Additions – Yes

Building era recognizable (Mission Revival style)

Exterior alterations - No (replacing marquee SW style with NW style shed canopy roof)

Components of Architectural Style – NA

Alterations with no historic basis - NA

Preservation of Significant Original Features– No

Replacement of Original Features

Replacement of original elements – No

New Materials – No

Reconstruction – NA

Avoid combining features – NA

Existing Alterations and Additions to Historic Buildings - NA

New Additions to Historic Buildings - NA

Detailed Guidelines for Rehabilitation (pg 43 – 50 HPRB manual)

Siding – NA

Roofs (roof of marquee) (pg 44)

Preserve roof form – No

Pitch – No

Skylights – NA

False fronts – NA

Materials – No

Entryways and Exterior Doors (pg 45) – NA

Windows (pg 46) – NA

Storefronts (pg 47) – NA

Storefront Doors and Windows (pg 48) -

Storefront – NA (with Matt Shildneck dissenting due to transoms)

Transoms (pg 49)

Retaining original transoms - 2 yes/2 no

New design – NA

Upper-story windows – NA

Storefront trim and detail – NA

Utilities – NA

Board suggestions:

The board’s suggestions were aimed at retaining a clear view of the transom windows and maintaining the perpendicular marquee canopy. It was suggested that the applicant could retain the marquee while also addressing the potential for water damage by using a new material, called a "membrane" roof, used for flat roofs, and by leaving a small gap between the canopy and the exterior wall (a common strategy used on other buildings in town).

Strehlou also noted that once Friday Harbor achieves CLG (Certified Local Government) status, renovations to the Drugstore could be eligible for the Special Property Tax Valuation credit if the work meets Secretary of the Interior Standards. While Friday Harbor not yet a CLG, the program would be retroactive for up to two years and it is likely the Friday Harbor Drug building could qualify.

The board thanked Pricilla Nash and Theresa Nash Degraff after which they left.

Next HPRB Meeting

Due to the holidays the next HPRB meetings will be in January on the 11th and 25th. On the agenda will be the Scenic By-Ways project, ongoing ordinance updating.

The Rain Garden

An interpretive sign for the Rain Garden has been installed. Unfortunately the Rain Garden was a project that was not reviewed by the HPRB. On a positive note, Coordinator Strehlou pointed out that the plants, which take two years to get established, have survived the summer.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10

Peggy Sue McRae, Recording Secretary