SARPA Express

SARPA's Position on Solar Technology

2012-01-17T22:42:00.000-06:00

SARPA Whitepaper on Solar Energy Modifications
As adopted by the SARPA board on 16 January, 2012

SARPA (the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association) is dedicated to the preservation of the historic, residential, and urban park character of Summit Avenue. SARPA was commissioned in 1986 by Mayor George Latimer and the St. Paul City Council to preserve the residential quality of Summit Avenue for future generations.

A recent focus of SARPA has been to promote and encourage the fact that SARPA, while being an important historic resource, is also a street of unusual diversity. Many different kinds of people live along the street, from young to old, families to single residents, owners to renters. It’s also a street with myriad uses, from single family homes to multiple units, churches, synagogues, schools, reception houses, the Governor’s Mansion, a historic house museum, and several parks and open spaces. As such, SARPA is mainly concerned with the quality of life for all who live on — and who use — the street, and this concern is generally prioritized over individual situations.

With its interest in the diversity of historic resources, SARPA has been especially interested in the confluence of historic preservation and “green building,” particularly recent National Trust endeavors (please see source list at the end of this document). We support the Trust’s assertion that “the greenest building is the one that is already built” in that historic preservation is the “original” green building by retaining existing resources. We also support the combination of historic preservation and energy efficiency tax credits.

While energy conservation methods such as passive solar methods and geothermal wells are more or less invisible post-construction, private solar panels cause a different set of problems, enough so that they are specifically addressed in 2011 amendments to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. These amendments are as follows:

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (2011)
Solar Technology
Recommended:
• Considering on-site, solar technology only after implementing all appropriate treatments to improve energy efficiency of the building, which often have greater life-cycle cost benefit than on-site renewable energy.
• Analyzing whether solar technology can be used successfully and will benefit a historic building without compromising its character or the character of the site or the surrounding historic district.
• Installing a solar device in a compatible location on the site or on a non-historic building or addition where it will have minimal impact on the historic building and its site.
• Installing a solar device on the historic building only after other locations have been investigated and determined infeasible.
• Installing a low-profile solar device on the historic building so that it is not visible or only minimally visible from the public right of way: for example, on a flat roof and set back to take advantage of a parapet or other roof feature to screen solar panels from view; or on a secondary slope of a roof, out of view from the public right of way.
• Installing a solar device on the historic building in a manner that does not damage historic roofing material or negatively impact the building’s historic character and is reversible.
• Installing solar roof panels horizontally – flat or parallel to the roof – to reduce visibility.

Not Recommended:
• Installing on-site, solar technology without first implementing all appropriate treatments to the building to improve its energy efficiency.
• Installing a solar device without first analyzing its potential benefit or whether it will negatively impact the character of the historic building or site or the surrounding historic district.
• Placing a solar device in a highly-visible location where it will negatively impact the historic building and its site.
• Installing a solar device on the historic building without first considering other locations.
• Installing a solar device in a prominent location on the building where it will negatively impact its historic character.
• Installing a solar device on the historic building in a manner that damages historic roofing material or replaces it with an incompatible material and is not reversible.
• Removing historic roof features to install solar panels.
• Altering a historic, character-defining roof slope to install solar panels.
• Installing solar devices that are not reversible.
• Placing solar roof panels vertically where they are highly visible and will negatively impact the historic character of the building.

SARPA’s policies have aligned with the Secretary’s Standards in the past, and our position on solar technology is no different. In general, and in keeping with its position of prioritizing the character of the district as a whole over individual instances, SARPA shall not support solar technology alterations that do not conform to these standards.

In general, that means that solar technology use on Summit shall be implemented only after other methods have been exhausted, and that such alterations shall be unobtrusive and reversible. SARPA encourages Summit Avenue homeowners to investigate a wide spectrum of energy conservation options to best preserve the quality and character of their home and of the street in general.

Sources:
- Historic Preservation and Green Building: A Lasting Relationship (http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/sustainability/additional-resources/HPandGreenBuildingArticle.pdf)
- Sustainable Stewardship (http://berkeleyheritage.com/speeches/richard_moe.html)
- Historic Preservation and Sustainable Architecture: Friend or Foes? (http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/05/historic-preservation-and-green-architecture-friends-of-foes-.html)

Crashed Ice

2012-01-09T22:21:00.004-06:00

Have you been wondering what on earth is happening at the eastern end of Summit next to the Cathedral? It's not church construction, or light rail, or Winter Carnival prep — it's the first-of-its-kind Red Bull Crashed Ice event!

Red Bull provides this description:

The extreme sport of ice cross downhill heads into a new season in 2012. The world championship battle will take place this year, as in 2010 for the first time, in both Europe and North America.

Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship 2012 calendar:
Saint Paul (USA) –January 12-14
Valkenburg (NED) – February 2-4
Are (SWE) – February 16-18
Quebec City (CAN) – March 15-17

The combination of speedskating, boardercross and downhill skiing has only been around for 10 years but ice cross downhill has already overtaken many other established sports.

There are participants from 30 nations – 15,000 athletes packed into the pre-qualifying in Canada alone last year – and venues around the world that are bursting at the seams with spectators.

The rules are simple: four athletes line up at the start and the first across the finish line wins. Speed, agility, perserverance, toughness and courage at speeds of up to 60kph are the ingredients needed for success.

But I think we all know it will be even wilder and crazier than that!

The City of Saint Paul has a new website just for the event:
www.stpaul.gov/crashedice

Solar Panels?

2011-12-12T21:27:00.003-06:00

The Union Park District Council has invited interested community members to their joint Parks and Rec/Land Use meeting on Tuesday, December 13 regarding a proposal by Summit Avenue homeowners to install solar panels at their home at 2279 Summit, extending on to Mississippi River Boulevard right-of-way parkland (the parkland had, until recently, been thought to be part of the Summit parcel and had been maintained by the homeowners).

There are six panels, each ten feet tall and four feet wide.

The homeowners applied for a diversion of the parkland, which the St. Paul Parks Commission denied on November 9, 2011 due to precedent and visual impact on the parkway. The homeowners are appealing, citing the history of maintaining the land and concerns that the panels, if built entirely on their property, would have to be 10-12 feet taller to maintain efficiency.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level conference room at the Merriam Park Community Center (at 2000 St. Anthony).

SARPA just learned of the issue tonight and has not taken a board position.

Holiday Lights Contest!

2011-12-12T21:14:00.000-06:00

Announcing - The Summit Holiday Lights Contest!

Please put your nominations for your favorite holiday lights on Summit in comments below or on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Summit-Avenue-Residential-Preservation-Association-SARPA).

The sooner the better, we'll be judging just before Christmas!

Win fabulous prizes, fame, or something!

Holiday Greens

2011-11-30T20:36:00.003-06:00

Big Thanks to Emerald Acres Tree Farm for again donating cheery holiday boughs to fill the planters over Ayd Mill Road!

And even more thanks to SARPA board members (and board emeriti) Carolyn Will, Mary Lynch, Alison Enestvedt and Mary Michels for placing the boughs on a cold winter afternoon!

Member Event at the German House!

2011-11-14T22:34:00.001-06:00

Join us for "Kaffeestube" — a traditional German breakfast for just $6! This Saturday, November 16, at 10am at the German Haus, 301 Summit. Look for the SARPA table!

Remembering Judy

2011-11-08T09:19:00.002-06:00

On September 5, 2011, Ramsey Hill lost a founding mother. Judy McLaughlin, one of the great heroes of Ramsey Hill, passed on to party once again with other notable neighborhood pioneers and activists—Mike Hoffman, MaryAnn O’Brien, Pam Gru, Rick Raiter, Jim Czarniecki, Tom Segar, , and her husband, Mike and son, William.

Judy and Mike McLaughlin, with toddler, David, purchased the derelict mansion at 275 Summit Avenue for a vision and a song in the early seventies. Long active in politics on the state and federal level, the McLaughlins recognized the need for hospitality venue that could host political events, especially those with DFL ties, as well as young couples celebrating their wedding day. This was a bold move. Summit Avenue was tarnished—the old families were fleeing to suburban split-levels, the once stately homes were deteriorating into boarding houses, pleasure seeking johns were cruising the side streets in search of cheap thrills, and gun shots in the night were not uncommon as buyers argued with dealers.

Fortunately Ramsey Hill homes had good bones and young, urban pioneers (yuppies as they became known across the nation), had the chutzpah, if not the cash to recognize real value in behind the crumbling brick and flaking paint. It was a time when it was easy to meet the neighbors—everyone had to take a break from the plaster dust and toxic fumes. You didn’t have to walk far to find neighbors working at the same pace you were. Judy was a walker, for several years behind a stroller, and a talker and she knew who the real housewives of Ramsey Hill were long before there was reality TV.

Not incidentally, those strolls and informal sidewalk get-togethers also prompted the formation of the Ramsey Hill Association (RHA) -- and more formal way to promote the unparalleled qualities of owning a distinctive address. The house tour was originally conceived to encourage prospective homebuyers to consider the possibilities inherent in historic properties. The Progressive Dinner was an opportunity to meet new neighbors after a long Minnesota winter indoors and to share renovation horror stories and advice on where to find the best wood stripper, historic wallpaper, and cheap labor.

Swapping tales about the fate of neighborhood properties—which ones had enthusiastic new owners and which ones the city had slated for demolition and suburban style redevelopment probably prompted Judy’s passionate efforts to establish the Historic Hill District through the state legislative process. Was it fortuitous that Judy was an insider at the capital—Speaker Fred Norton’s Chief of Staff?

From this early start, Judy became an active force in the neighborhood, in leadership positions on the RHA Board, as well as behind the scenes. She first manned walkie-talkies as part of the two person crime watch teams patrolling the neighborhood in the early years searching out evil-doers and activity at the after-hours joints and then built on those skills by supervising the House Tour Sanitation Coordinating Committee. Judy was always ready to step up and volunteer for anything that would make her neighborhood a better place.

By the nineties, Ramsey Hill had turned around and the painted ladies on the streets were now homes—not working girls. Former yuppies would exclaim that there was no way they could afford to buy a home in Ramsey Hill today—it had been completely transformed into one of the premier residential locations in the Twin Cities. BUT, there was still just one more eyesore that needed attention—that awful patch of dirt and straw at the top of Ramsey Hill. Judy vowed that she’d see that piece of city-owned property renewed if it was the last thing she’d ever do.

Despite numerous capital improvement proposals, STAR grant requests, golf tournaments (the upscale equivalent of bake sales) and just about anything else to generate interest in park improvements, it was to no avail. There never was a plan that RHA, the U Club, neighbors and the city could agree on and “those people” thought that Ramsey Hill was wealthy and didn’t warrant public help, and besides, it was good enough for the croquet squad!

About the turn of this new century, 100 years after the city had purchased and sat on the property, the Ramsey Hill Association agreed to assume leadership for renovating the park in a manner worthy of placement of the historic St. Gaudens New York Life Eagle.
Judy was involved in all aspects of the transformation—from design detail to construction management to assuring that the inscriptions on the hundreds of pavers were spelled correctly. Ultimately, though, it was Judy’s long and wide range of political friendships and her well-honed persuasion skills that brought the cash to complete the job on the project that never seems to end. With her passing, one last brick will be added to the paver carpet.

In recent weeks, too many people to mention have shared Judy stories. The constant theme has been, “She encouraged me to get involved!” And she did. Whether participation in neighborhood activities, through traditional political action, or simply by voicing thoughtful concern, Judy’s influence has been vast and truly memorable.

At the Oakland Cemetery graveside service, Mayor Chris Coleman, state it best when he noted that Judy McLaughlin was taking her rightful place among the City’s movers and shakers—Alexander Ramsey, Henry Sibley, Amherst Wilder and Harriet Bishop. There was little in Saint Paul’s recent history that wasn’t touched by Judy’s hand. We’ll miss her!

(guest posy by Denise Beigbeder)

September 2011 Minutes

2011-10-30T11:28:00.001-05:00

Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association
September MEETING MINUTES
Board Meeting: Sept. 17, 2011 7:11 p.m.
Meeting Location: Bethany Gladhill’s home at 1348 Summit Avenue
Recorded by: Carolyn Will, Secretary
Present: Bethany Gladhill, Kit Natz, Carolyn Will, Elizabeth Paper, Harry Walsh, Mary Lynch, Ed Boher and the other new member Brian Millberg.
Absent: KD Athow

1. Called to order at 7:14 p.m. President called the meeting to order.
2. Approval of July Minutes.
3. President’s Report:
Old Business:
A. Ayd Mill Planters:
• Mary Lynch has volunteered to clear out the Ayd Mill planters & plant mums. The members questioned whether we could organize volunteer effort to water.
• Request was made for Emerald Acres to donate a variety of evergreen boughs for the winter foliage. Secretary Will agreed to make arrangements.
B. House of Hope Garden fence:
• Elizabeth Paper raised the issue of a house near Dale Ave. which has a chain link fence. Bethany said it was grandfathered in before Summit Ave. became a historic district.
• House of Hope Fence: E. Paper said she personally does mind the fence and does not like how the letter from SARPA to the Amy Spong’s office has reflected on SARPA in the media.
• Question: Has Councilor Melvin Carter offered to pay a portion? Secretary Will offered to ask M.Carter if he is going to pay a portion. President Gladhill said she was in communication with Councilor Carter’s office and would follow-up.
• Ed Bohr has suggested SARPA offer to pay a portion of putting up an appropriate surround fence the fence.
• Member Bohr motions that we approach House of Hope and the City Council to offer to raise the funds to share in the cost of installing a portion of a historically suitable surround fence. Member Lynch seconded. Five: Yea. Two: Nay. One Abstained.
C. Olson House Architectural tour: October 9th from 2-5 pm.
David Heide Architecture firm will host and cover cost of appetizers.
SARPA is selling tickets for $10 on Brown Paper tickets. Cash or check at the door.
Paper Booties: Kit Nantz will ask Ramsey Hill for their leftover paper booties.
Beer: Summit liquor has denied
Bethany suggests we serve nonalcoholic beverages – sparking water, lemonade & coffee. Mary Lynch offered her large coffee urn & serving dishes.
Mary Lynch has offered to approach Skinner’s pizza, or Golden Fig to serve 200 guests. Purchasing supplies at Target or Cosco will be the back-up.
Volunteers: We need board members to work the event.
• Members Will, Nantz, Walsh, Gladhill & Lynch will do set up. Bill Lynch will take photos.
• Pres. Gladhill suggests if this goes well that SARPA select a house each year to hold a tour as a fundraiser.
4. New Business:
• Pres. Gladhill suggested that we encourage a SARPA membership gathering at one of the November German Haus breakfast. Board members agreed that this would be a nice event.
• Member Lynch household offered to host the Christmas gathering for SARPA. Winners will be selected by SARPA members. Bethany suggests we post photos of holiday lights along Summit Avenue on FB page and encourage public to vote. On the night of the SARPA party, take a ride along Summit Ave to look at lights and vote on best display.

• Idea of potential award introduced: Solicit entries in Summit longevity – either family ownership or individual ownership.

• Member Walsh moves that SARPA offer an honorary membership to SARPA for David & Amber McLaughlin in memory of their mother, Judy, and all her good efforts to establish Summit Avenue as a Historic Preservation District. Motion seconded and passed unanimously.
• Suggestion was made to give Bill Lynch photo assignments of events along Summit Ave. when events are scheduled – Heide house tour, UST homecoming, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, etc. Board members agreed this would be a good way to highlight Summit’s community aspects.

5. Membership report:
a. Member Natz asked everyone on the board to renew their membership. He mentioned that several board members need to make payments which were taken care of at this point.
b. Pres. Gladhill asked if members would distribute membership flyers, SARPA registration forms and envelopes for up two blocks. Bethany will distribute current membership list so we don’t duplicate.

6. WSNAC: Congratulations to Rachel Westermeyer. Housing moratorium passed at the city council. Liquor license is next issue.
7. Next Board Meeting: Monday, October 17 at 7 pm
8. Treasurer’s report. Submitted. Ending August 30th, was $12,217.25
9. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.

Marathon 2011

2011-10-17T22:40:00.003-05:00

Some great photos that remind us why the Twin Cities Marathon is considered one of the most beautiful in the country, and why it ends on Summit!

(photo credit Patrick Rhone)

Cathedral Heritage Foundation Lecture: Architectural features tell stories of medieval life

2011-10-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

The Cathedral Heritage Foundation invites the public to a lecture which takes apart features of cathedrals in the Middle Ages to illustrate the impact of Christian philosophy on Western culture. William Cook, Ph.D., Cornell University, will present “Like Dante, Like Thomas Aquinas: The Cathedral as synthesis of western culture,” Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m.

The lecture will begin in Hayden Hall, located on the lower level of the Cathedral, at the corner of Summit Avenue and John Ireland Boulevard. Free parking is available in the parking lot on the south side of the Cathedral as well as ample street parking.

Professor Cook will primarily highlight examples of our European cathedrals which have helped shape western culture. He will also take those in attendance on a walking tour of our more “modern” Cathedral to point out features. “Gazing toward the dome of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, we find mosaics of the four cardinal virtues--prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude. Since these virtues are first grouped together by Plato and we find them in a cathedral, Saint Paul's continues the tradition of synthesis that I will illuminate as I take those present on a 'tour' of some of the salient features of medieval cathedrals,” writes Cook.

For more information, visit www.cathedralsaintpaul.org or call the Welcome Center at 651-228-1766. To view photos of the Cathedral of Saint Paul’s interior and exterior go to http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/album

SARPA Fundraiser at 977 Summit

2011-09-25T21:31:00.002-05:00

“Sneak Peek” at Newly Renovated 977 Summit —
An Exclusive SARPA Fundraiser
Sunday, October 9 • 2-5pm

The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association (SARPA) invites you to a “Sneak Peek” of Summit Avenue’s most talked-about recent renovations!

Come explore the transformation of this gracious Summit Avenue Mediterranean villa built in 1924. After years of neglect and deterioration, new owners have undertaken a complete renovation of the interior, exterior, and site. Take a peek behind the scenes at this nearly completed project before the owners move in. The project deftly balances a respect for the historic integrity of the house with updates for modern living and luxe conveniences. The two units stylistically are very different—one is strikingly modern while the other is more traditional. The contrasting designs reflect the multi-generational owners’ tastes and illustrate approaches to living in an old house. In addition to the extensive renovation, which includes three new kitchens and seven new bathrooms, feel free to explore other features such as a new tennis court, swimming pool, and four-car carriage house. The project also boasts state of the art geothermal systems and other energy efficiency measures. It is designed for LEED® Gold Certification.

This exclusive “Sneak Peek” opens the home to SARPA guests just before the owners finally move into the home after over two years of continuous renovations. The project has faced extensive challenges, including a massive rebuild of the base structure and stucco work after early demolition found that the internal gutter system had failed, and that the wood framing had rotted. As many original elements of the home were kept as possible, while others items, such as roof tiles and leaded glass windows, were painstakingly replicated.

The event is a fundraiser for SARPA’s educational outreach — including the winter free lecture series. Tickets are just $10, and available online via http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/197104, through the 24/7 Ticket Hotline at 1-800-838-3006, or cash or check at the door, if any remain. Light refreshments will be served.

Very special thanks to the event sponsors, David Heide Design, and to the two generations of Olson families moving in!

Renewal Time!

2011-08-26T16:41:00.002-05:00

It’s time to renew your annual membership! It’s been a great year for the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association, with a lot of new initiatives that we could not have taken on without the support of people like you.

We’ve continued our ongoing work with historic preservation and land use along Summit, including serving a key role on the West Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee regarding the steady expansion of the University of St. Thomas. We’ve also advised in land use issues, trying to find the right balance between historic preservation and a changing community.

Most of all, though, we’ve listened to what you want. You told us you wanted:

• Better communication — so we beefed up the blog, added a Facebook page, and re-instated a periodic print newsletter. We’re looking at a listserv, a brochure, and other mechanisms.
• Education — so we started a popular lecture series, which we’ll bring back this winter. We also held a traffic forum, and will continue to work on that issue, We’re also thinking about book groups and publications!
• Gardens — so we’ve continued keeping up the Ayd Mill planters and the Monument gardens, as well as holding our popular Garden Stroll.
• Social Activities — so we held a members’ event, the Annual Meeting, and a garage sale. There are even more events lined up for this next year!

We’ve got even more ideas for next year, but as a volunteer organization that relies on its membership, we can’t do it without you! Please renew your membership today by sending your $30 household dues to:

SARPA
PO Box 40351
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Looking forward to seeing you at SARPA events this fall,

Bethany Gladhill
President

Great Summit Garage Sale

2011-08-17T21:29:00.002-05:00

We've been kind of flying under the radar with the Great Summit Garage Sale, but we hope you can participate!

This Saturday, August 20, sell off some stuff you don't need anymore! Garage sale, porch sale, lemonade stand, whatever you like.

We're getting some ads, and it's the same day as the Macalester-Groveland sale, so hopefully there will be a lot of people attending!

Dittenhofer House Fire

2011-07-20T19:52:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures of the fire at 705 Summit, courtesy of the St. Paul Fire Department. Looks like restoration work is beginning already!

SARPA's Position on the House of Hope Church Garden

2011-07-20T09:38:00.003-05:00

Many local residents have contacted us with regards to the front yard garden at the House of Hope Church — and particularly its fencing. Please note that, since the church chose not to contact SARPA directly regarding their plans, we were not able to be directly involved with the process, which might have saved everyone a lot of headaches. Regardless, here is the SARPA board's official position, as taken in June 2011, which is in favor of the garden but not the fence:

13 July, 2011

Amy Spong
Heritage Preservation Specialist
City of Saint Paul
25 Fourth Street West, Suite 1400
Saint Paul, MN 55102

Dear Amy,

I am writing this letter to clarify SARPA’s position on the new front-yard garden at House of Hope Church, located at 797 Summit Avenue.

House of Hope never formally or informally solicited SARPA’s position on the garden. However, one of our members brought it to our attention following an article on the garden in the Pioneer Press. SARPA never took a formal position on the garden, but in an exchange of emails regarding the plan, board members were generally personally in favor of the garden. Reasons cited were its innovative use, its addition to the diverse gardens of Summit, and most of all, the fact that it was reversible and non-invasive. Some members contacted the church directly to indicate their support, and the garden was part of the year’s Garden Stroll.

Board members, however, were completely unaware of the corral-style fence, which took us by surprise. We feel that no one knew that the fence was part of the plan, and find it extremely historically inappropriate.

At our June board meeting, the SARPA board unanimously passed the following:

That:
• Although we are in favor of the front-yard garden located at House of Hope,
• We are unanimously opposed to the corral-style fence surrounding the garden. We believe it historically inappropriate, and strongly doubt that it would be allowed in any other (private or public) front yard along Summit Avenue.
• We request that the HPC reverse its approval of the fence, and that its is immediately removed.
• We request that any fence put in its place undergoes thorough HPC design review, and that it is historically appropriate. Suggestions include wrought iron (or similar), or appropriate wood pickets, perhaps with plant screenings.
• If, for whatever reason, an approved historic fence is not possible, we request that the garden is either unfenced or relocated.

We appreciate the working relationship that SARPA has with the city’s HPC, and hope that this relationship and communication only improves!

Sincerely,

Bethany Gladhill
SARPA President

SARPA on the news

2011-06-26T07:21:00.003-05:00

The Garden Guy on Channel 9 news talks about SARPA's Stroll:

Stroll coverage

Tickets are available the day of the stroll--that's today!--so if you were waiting to see what the weather was going to do, you can buy your tickets now.

Stroll & Tea today 1 PM to 5 PM.

Quick Updates

2011-06-20T21:06:00.002-05:00

Great Annual Meeting tonight! Welcome to the board, Ed Bohrer and Brian Millberg, and we were thrilled to re-elect Elisabeth Paper!

Please come to the Garden Stroll on Sunday — the weather is supposed to be great, the gardens are magnificent, and the tea looks delicious! Follow us on Facebook for sneak peeks!

Garden Countdown

2011-06-15T22:54:00.002-05:00

Did you know that the Summit Garden Stroll is Sunday, June 26? We're doing a countdown to the Stroll over on our Facebook page, where you can get a daily sneak preview of the gardens on this year's tour. "Like" is and they'll show up in your news feed daily!

Meanwhile, here's the menu for the tea, just to get your mouth watering:

Catered by the Golden Fig
Tickets to the Stroll $10 and the Tea $12

Menu:

Tomato Basil Tea Sandwich (Made with local hydroponically grown tomatoes and Dehn Garden Basil)

Cucumber Dill Tea Sandwich with Lemon Dill Butter (made with local hydroponic cucumbers and Dehn's Garden Dill)

Endive with seasonal salad on each leaf (either asparagus with an herbed vinaigrette, or spring peas and radishes depending on what’s seasonal at the time.)

Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with selection of toppers-Devonshire cream, local strawberry preserves and local honey.

Espresso Chocolate Chip and Lemon Shortbread cookies

Macaroons with a dollop of fresh lemon curd in the center

Baby Brownies

Milk and Dark foil wrapped chocolates from local chocolatiers

Tea inspired trail mix- Almonds, Door County dried cherries, pistachios and rose petals Skewered Blackberries with fresh lemon zest and Lavender Lemon Syrup

Fresh Lavender Lemonade

A selection of tea in bags and iced tea from local tea blender Mindy Kelley.

There will also be a selection of fresh citrus wedges, sugar cubes and local honey to serve with the tea.

Tickets available at SARPA.org or at Johnson & Sons Florist at 1738 Grand Ave.; Kowalski's Markets at all eight locations including Grand Ave., Woodbury and White Bear Lake; and Frattallone's Ace Hardware Stores at two locations: 650 & 1676 Grand Ave.

Volunteer with SARPA for Summer Gardening!

2011-06-01T12:04:00.004-05:00

One of SARPA's main projects is the public gardens on Summit, specifically the planters on the Ayd Mill Road overpass and the Monument garden at the river. Can you help us take care of them?

We'll be planting the Ayd Mill planters on Thursday, June 2, starting between 9/9:30 am. Master gardener Marge Hols will again be coordinating the plantings, so not only will you help us out, but you'll learn a lot. Many hands make light work; just show up if you would like to help.

We also need people to help water the planters this summer (it costs us close to $2,000 if we want the city to do it). There are 7 planters, and each needs 2 gallons twice a week. Can you sign up for one week this summer?

We'll likely need help with the Monument Garden as well, but that's not set yet.

Email us at hello@SARPA.org if you can help out, or just leave a comment below and we'll get in touch with you!

Annual Meeting Set for Monday, June 20

2011-05-27T15:26:00.001-05:00

Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association
ANNUAL MEETING

Monday, June 20 • 7:00pm
At the home of Mary and Chip Michels
1731 Summit Avenue

• Come hear about SARPA activities: historic preservation and land use, lectures, Summit parks and public gardens, the Garden Stroll and Tea, gift card fundraiser, traffic issues, upcoming Garage Sale Day, and more!

• Enjoy delicious desserts!

• Meet and socialize your neighbors!

• Renew your SARPA membership, or join for the new fiscal year. Just $30 per household, good through June, 2012.

No need to RSVP. Questions? Call SARPA President Bethany Gladhill at 651.227.1839, or email us at hello@sarpa.org.

Our Friends at Laura Jeffreys Academy

2011-05-13T22:47:00.001-05:00

You have one more day (tomorrow, Saturday May 14) to check out their plant sale and spring fundraiser!

Then come back on Monday night for the SARPA traffic meeting in their gymnasium; they are donating the space for this important community meeting.

1850 Summit, just east of Snelling on the south side of the street.

Garden Stroll Coming!

2011-05-05T14:36:00.002-05:00

Here's the press release on the Garden Stroll:

Contact: Carolyn Will 612-414-9661
Email: carolyn.will@comcast.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2011

(St. Paul, Minn) The Summit Avenue Garden Stroll is back and better than ever. Sunday, June 26th from 1-5 p.m., ticketholders are invited to enjoy one of our country’s most magnificent stretches of urban green spaces as well as walk into the back yards of select Summit Avenue mansions to see their magnificent gardens.

Ten homeowners along Saint Paul’s historical Summit Avenue will open their gardens for the public to enjoy. Tickets costs $10 for the Summit Avenue Garden Stroll, plus an additional $10 for the informal Garden Stroll Tea open throughout the afternoon, from 1-5 p.m. on the rose garden terrace of Mount Zion Temple, 1300 Summit Avenue. A master gardener will be at the tea to answer questions.

Tickets may be purchased at the following places of business:
Johnson & Sons Florist, 1738 Grand Ave.
Kowalski’s Markets at all eight locations including Grand Ave., Woodbury and White Bear Lake
Frattallone’s Ace Hardware Stores at two locations: 650 & 1676 Grand Av.

SARPA will donate ten percent of its proceeds from this event to Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Summit Avenue Garden Stroll & Tea will be held rain or shine. More details will be available at www.sarpa.org. The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association sponsors the Stroll and Tea and is proud to announce that Summit Avenue has been recognized in 2008 as the “Nation’s Best Intact Street from Victorian Era,” by the American Planning Association.

We still need gardens, and volunteers! Let us know if you are willing to help!

Summit Traffic Meeting

2011-05-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

Summit Avenue Traffic Public Hearing

(Saint Paul, MN) May 3, 2011 - The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association (SARPA) will hold a public hearing on traffic issues on Summit Avenue Monday, May 16th from 6:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m., in the gymnasium at the Laura Jeffries Academy, 1550 Summit Avenue, at the corner of Snelling and Summit.

“We all like to get outside and walk Summit Avenue in the warm season, but our beautiful Victorian Boulevard has become a speedway for everyone it seems from beer trucks to taxis and motorcycles,” said Bethany Gladhill, SARPA President. “We’d like to hear from area residents if this issue is concerning to them and what ideas they might have for resolving the problem.”

Local city councilors and law enforcement officers have also been invited to listen in at the public hearing.

Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association's mission is to preserve the historic, residential, and urban park character of Summit Avenue through advocacy, communication, and education.

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T12:18:00.003-05:00

Did you know that SARPA is involved with many of the public gardens on Summit, including planting the urns over Ayd Mill Road, planting the Memorial by the river, and donating funds to Lookout Park? Our bi-annual Garden Stroll, this year on June 26, is our big fundraiser that provides money for these efforts.

Why not do a little sprucing up of the street on your own today and pick up some trash, or even plant some early spring pansies on your boulevard?

House Hunting

2011-04-19T22:24:00.003-05:00

Looking for a place on Summit? There's a lot on the market right now in all styles and price ranges:

235 Summit Avenue - 699,900
251 Summit Avenue - $847,000
302 Summit Avenue #F - $269,900
302 Summit Avenue - $269,900
322 Summit Avenue - $1,339,000
324 Summit Avenue #1 - $1,099,000
324 Summit Avenue #2 - $1,049,000
332 Summit Avenue - $1,589,900
415 Summit Avenue #2 - $385,000
456 Summit Avenue #202- $169,900
476 Summit Avenue - $1,290,000
490 Summit Avenue - $1,250,000
505 Summit Avenue - $1,250,000
516 Summit Avenue - $1,595,000
579 Summit Avenue #104 - $116,980
604 Summit Avenue #604- $179,000
665 Summit Avenue - $650,000
670 Summit Avenue - $899,900
676 Summit Avenue #201 - $420,000
701 Summit Avenue - $679,000
834 Summit Avenue #3 - $399,900
965 Summit Avenue - $1,950,000
976 Summit Avenue - $1,695,000
1082 Summit Avenue - $925,000
1307 Summit Avenue - $1,150,000
1896 Summit Avenue - $845,000

March Meeting Minutes

2011-04-18T10:19:00.000-05:00

Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association
MEETING MINUTES
Board Meeting: March 28, 2011 7:08 p.m.
Meeting Location: Rachel Westmeyer’s home at 1935 Summit Avenue
Recorded by: Carolyn Will, Secretary
Present: Bethany Gladhill, K.D. Athow, Mary Lynch, Carolyn Will, Rachel Westmeyer, Harry Walsh, Francis Luikart, Elizabeth Paper
Absent: Jim Groskopf, Alison Enestvedt, Mary Michaels, Kit Natz

1. Called to order at 7:10 p.m. President called the meeting to order.
2. Minutes approved: KD moves and Mary seconds. Passes unanimously.
3. Treasurer’s report.
a. Deposited a few more membership dues.
b. With the news that M&I has been sold, the account will remain at Associated Bank until a new Treasurer assumes the position and does additional research.
c. Bethany showed a device called a “square,” which can be used to swipe credit cards when it’s connected to a iphone or ipad. This could be used for events such as the Garden Stroll.
d. Web hosting costs approx. $35/month and Mary said she would investigate less expensive options.

4. WSNAC:
a. Rachel W. said the community dinners have been well-received.
• WASNAC meeting Tuesday, March 8th at 6:30 p.m. Mpls attorney Louis Smith presented his final thoughts on ways to rebuild community around UST. We are over the tipping point on rental. The records show 51% of the residents are renters in Union Park neighborhood.
• UST Geography Department engaged a student to research the nonhomesteading numbers and mark the change over the past several years. The research showed that in 2002, the surrounding neighborhood had 10.6% non-homesteaded. In 2009 to the number doubled to 21% nonhomesteaders.
• According to Louis, the nonhomesteading tipping point is 31%... that’s when the neighborhood starts to go into decline.
• Findings: UST is committed to addressing student behavior, and working on relationship with the neighborhood.
• Conclusion: UST does not see the nonhomesteading issue as a crisis, but it does a pose a problem for their relationship with the neighborhood.
• UST looking for grants to help bring more UST professors back into the neighborhood. Suggestion: Offer down payment assistance, ie. $7,500 for UST employees, $5,000 for others. Goal: Give 80 grants in 10 years.
• Audacious Goals: Get back below the tipping point in Merriam Park where it is has been 50% rental for the past 7 or 8 years. Mr. Louis suggested that it get below 30%. “re-convert’ 100 parcels to homestead in ten years. Organize landlords and offer training to students on behavior! Promote student rental training.

5. President’s Report: Membership committee.
a. Sunday, April 17 Renewing and New Membership Meeting 4-6 pm social meeting to follow at 6 p.m. Call out for members to bring a new potential new member.
b. Discussion on reasons to join SARPA will be highlighted in the upcoming newsletter.

6. Garden Stroll & Tea: Scheduled for Sunday, June 26 , 1-5 p.m.
a. Vendor options:
Chow Girls from NE Mpls: Menu submitted. $586 per 100.
Would need refrigeration.
B. Location for Tea: Temple of Aaron, Look Out Park, Macalester Alumni House.
A. Governor’s Mansion: Requested a FACT Sheet detailing what it involves for them.
Bethany would like to see gardens that have a unique feature.
Gardens that are on our working list:
573 Summit (neighbor to Kit Natz)
955 Summit (formal garden front and back) Sherry Wilsey
1941 Summit: Rain Garden
1490 Summit: Backyard poultry & front yard landscaped with all native plants,
B. Sonja Mason said Cass Gilbert Society would like to participate this year. Bethany will request that the CG group identify a CG home on Summit which could be featured on the stroll. As well as supply us with a few volunteers.
C. Mary will ask her neighbors who did organic gardening…
D. Check out the house across the Meltzer’s…
E. Tickets $10/ $10
F. Expert: YES Jeff Gillman, U of M Professor of Horticulture could be considered.
G. KD moves that we name Second Harvest as our charity, donating 10% of our proceeds and the motion passed unanimously.
H. Set date for Garden committee meeting: Monday,April 4 , 7 p.m. @ 1583 Summit Ave.

New Business
b. Traffic meeting: Amy Spong, city’s STAR preservation officer, said the city will be replacing the guard rail over Ayd Mill Road, adding wrought iron and lanterns.
c. Vehicular traffic at William Mitchell.
I. The city has proposed bumpouts. SARPA board members sighted the many hazards associated with bumpouts. See white paper attached.
II. Mary Lynch suggests we ask the city to put a police officer at the intersection to monitor and ticket those motorists not yielding to pedestrians.
III. KD raised the issued of the parking along Summit and making it difficult to see around the cars when attempting to pull out from a side street. She suggested more “no parking” signs, reminding motorists of law that no parking allowed within 15 feet of intersection and 30 feet from stop sign.
IV. Elizabeth would like the SARPA position to reflect that we are concerned about many intersections along Summit Ave. Dale & Snelling are both extremely hazardous intersections.
V. Bethany moved that her white paper be submitted to the city on behalf of SARPA’s position on the proposed bumpouts as solution to the William Mitchell student safety issue.

7. Garage Sale: Mary Lynch will explore setting up a Summit Ave. Garage Sale.
8. Donations: Elizabeth would like to see SARPA donate money to help Ramsey Hill organization pay for the lighting of Nathan Hale Park on the holiday/winter lighting.
KD Moves and Mary seconds that SARPA donate $300 to Ramsey Hill Association for holiday lighting for 2011-12. The motion carried unanimously.
9. Annual Meeting: June 20th
10. KD volunteered to be Treasurer following Alison’s term ends.
11. Old Business.
a. New book coming out told from Coco Irvine, sister to Olivia Irvine Dodge, who grew up at 1006 Summit, which is now used as the Governor’s Mansion.
b. 100 birthday cards went out to homeowners.

12. Next board meet will be Sunday, April 17 from 4-6 Social. SARPA will provide beverages/wine and Meeting to follow at 6 p.m. Kit’s home: 591 Summit Avenue

13. Meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.

Member Event this Sunday!

2011-04-13T15:16:00.002-05:00

Come to a casual social event to meet other SARPA members, and stay for the board meeting if you like!

(if you're not a member yet, come anyway, you can join at the meeting!)

MEMBER'S RECEPTION
This Sunday, April 17 • 4-6pm

at the home of Kit and Marilyn Natz
591 Summit Avenue

RSVP: to Kit at 651-503-9870 or Darylnatz@aol.com

SARPA's Position on Summit Avenue Infrastructure Changes

2011-04-06T10:49:00.000-05:00

SARPA Whitepaper on Proposed Street Infrastructure Changes Along Summit
Approved by the board on 28 March, 2011

SARPA (the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association) is dedicated to the preservation of the historic, residential, and urban park character of Summit Avenue. SARPA was commissioned in 1986 by Mayor George Latimer and the St. Paul City Council to preserve the residential quality of Summit Avenue for future generations. As such, our main concerns are: 1) the preservation of the historic nature of Summit Avenue, and 2) the needs of the street’s residents. Our views towards proposed infrastructure changes are generally seen through those lenses. We also realize that Summit Avenue is part of four different community council districts, with SARPA as the only organization that focuses on Summit itself. Thus:

1) SARPA in general tends to oppose any changes to the configuration of Summit Avenue. The current layout generally demonstrates the historic patterns of development of the street and contributes to the urban park character of the Avenue.
2) Any changes proposed should be consistently addressed along Summit, and not confined to one area, unless reasonable cause can be demonstrated for the restriction (for example, any issues concerned with the medians would not be applicable for the parts of Summit that have no median).
3) Any changes proposed should address, as part of their rationale, a discussion of the impact on and relationship to Summit’s preservation. For example, the center medians on Summit are part of its historic character, and a traditional means of “traffic calming.” Other methods, such as speed humps, diagonal parking, and bump-outs, do not have a historic precedent in this area.
4) Any changes proposed should clearly state the problem or issue (safety, parking, etc.), and give demonstrable evidence of how the issue will be resolved through the measure.
5) Any changes proposed should first and foremost benefit the residents and other stakeholders of the street, should not put an undue burden (financial, access, etc.) on them, and should not result in any detriments to them (eg: loss of parking, etc.)
6) The Summit Avenue roadway is shared by a variety of vehicles, including cars but also including bicycles and runners/walkers when the street is closed for events. Certain traffic calming methods would make the street much more dangerous for these users; for example, bump-outs would push the bicycle lane farther into the main traffic flow, which would be dangerous.
7) In general, traffic calming methods such as bump-outs, chicanes, diverters, traffic circles, etc., are designed only to be effective on low-volume, local streets. While we would all appreciate slower auto speeds and more walkability on Summit, we remain unconvinced that it is an appropriate street for new traffic calming initiatives.

If residents or neighborhood groups are interested in effecting infrastructure changes along Summit Avenue, we encourage them to discuss these issues in advance with SARPA. We are also concerned with traffic and safety on Summit, and want the street to be better for all of us.

February Meeting Minutes

2011-04-03T20:53:00.003-05:00

Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association
MEETING MINUTES
Board Meeting: February 28, 2011 7:15 p.m.
Meeting Location: Rachel Westmeyer’s home at 1935 Summit Avenue
Recorded by: Carolyn Will, Secretary
Present: Bethany Gladhill, Harry Walsh, Carolyn Will, , Francis Luikart,, Rachel Westmeyer, Kit Natz
Absent: Jim Groskopf, ,Elizabeth Paper , Alison Enestvedt, Mary Michaels, K.D. Athow

1. Called to order at 7:17 p.m. President called the meeting to order.
2. Minutes approved: Kit moves and Rachel and Francis second
3. Treasurer’s report. None submitted.
4. President’s Report: Membership committee.
a. Kit Natz submitted SARPA Resident list. This includes the ability to track membership dues. Membership runs June to June.
b. Homeowners application w. mailing addresses Bethany used this the last newsletter mailing. Will be made available to Christian.
c. A “Call Out” for new members will be posted in the Summit Newsletter and Ramsey Hill publication and the summer issue of “The Illuminator. “
d. Christian will host April membership gathering at his house. SARPA will pay for wine and members are asked to bring appetizers.
e. Sunday, April 17 Renewing and New Membership Meeting 4-6 pm social meeting to follow at 6 p.m. Call out for members to bring a new potential new member.
f. Discussion on reasons to join SARPA: receive bi-monthly newsletters, Garden Stroll, Member Social activities, Community works/beautification projects, education/advocacy, and lecture series.
g. Current members said they would like to see more land-use permits along Summit.

5. February Newsletter: Will be moved to a March Newsletter
6. WSNAC:
a. Rachel W. said the community dinners have been well-received.
• Liquor use permit: WASNAC voted to accept the enabling legislation for the Private College Council, not just UST. Now we wait to see if it passes through the legislature.
• Doug Hennes reviewed the events and catering services they do have on campus. Liquor is done under the catering services.
• UST Doug Hennes and Rachel hosted the third community-building dinner. The event was held on Chinese New Year. Those in attendance included two landlords, students, and residents. Discussion included forming a landlord association to help get all landlords to be more compliant.
• Next WASNAC meeting Tuesday, March 8th at 6:30 p.m. in Murray-Herrick Hall, next to the library. Mpls attorney Louis Smith will present his final thoughts on ways to rebuild community around UST. We are over the tipping point on rental. The records show 51% of the residents are renters in Union Park neighborhood.
Old Business.
7. Garden Stroll. Scheduled for Sunday, June 26
A. Governor’s Mansion: needs description of the event before they can approve their participation.
B. College Club: Booked for another event. Need to schedule 1-2 years in advance.
C. Other suggestions for tea locations: Look Out Park, Temple of Aaron.
D. Call out to Garden Stroll volunteers – Bethany will send database w. email list.
E. Rachel’s neighbor has put in rain garden.
F. Bethany would like to see gardens that a unique feature. We will attempt to have a committee meeting in late March.
New Business
a. Harry moved that SARPA moves to invite Governor Mark Dayton to become an honorary member of SARPA.
b. SARPA will also invite presidents of UST and Macalester to become members.
c. Natural Playscape. Macalester-Groveland was looking for an open area and liked the idea of putting in next to Laura Jeffries School and Mac International House. The land is currently owned by Macalester.
I. Ideas that would be included- community garden, natural playscape, community composting site.
d. William Mitchell proposed bump-outs between Victoria and Milton.
I. Members raised issues of losing more parking spaces at both ends of the block. Students have been having a difficult time crossing safely.
II. Historic Preservation Commissioner Amy Spong has declined the request.
e. Traffic issues: Bethany proposed pulling together a neighborhood meeting to discuss traffic along Summit. Suggestion was made to put the meeting at Laura Jeffries School gymnasium. Carolyn will follow up on this. Bethany will make a call out for traffic meeting in the next newsletter.
8. Next board meet will be Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Meeting location at Mary’s home: 1731 Summit Ave.

January Meeting Minutes

2011-03-09T15:07:00.007-06:00

Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association

MEETING MINUTES

Board Meeting: January 24, 2011 7:08 p.m.

Meeting Location: Mary Michael's home

Recorded by Carolyn Will, Secretary

Present: Alison Enestvedt, Bethany Gladhill, Harry Walsh, Carolyn Will, Mary Michael, Francis Luikart, K.D. Athow. Rachel Westmeyer, Kit Natz

Absent: Jim Groskopf, Elizabeth Paper

1. Called to order at 7:11 p.m. President called the meeting to order.

2. Rachel moves and Bethany seconds minutes as distributed. Approved.

3. Treasurer’s report. Submitted by Alison.

a. Ancor. Web site hosting $140.00

b. Bethany makes motion to move account from Associated Bank to M&I Highland Office. KD seconds. Carries unanimously.

c. Mary Michaels suggests we foster a relationship with M&I to get a community sponsorship.

d. Francis Luikart volunteers to be the second signature for bank deposits over $500.

e. SARPA Membership dues deposited $520.00.

f. Money Market $12,696 .

g. Total assets: $15,899.03

4. President’s Report: Membership committee.

a. Kit Natz volunteered to Chair Membership committee. This includes tracking membership dues. Membership runs Fall to Fall.

b. Christian will create electronic database & send out thank you cards to members who renewed.

c. Homeowners application w. mailing addresses Bethany used this the last newsletter mailing. Will be made available to Christian.

d. We would like to include new members in the February newsletter.

e. Christian offered to host a membership gathering at his house.

5. February Newsletter: items to include

Talking House: Suggestion that SARPA feature the Governor’s Mansion.

Mary M. will visit Helen Murphy to gather best features.

Garden Stroll. Calling for gardeners to feature.

Summary of the lectures.

Call for membership & list of new members.

House Birthdays. 100 years: 370, 996, 1079, 1106, 1209, 1490, 1504, 1683, 1825, 1912, 1950.

**Colormation was recommended as a vendor.

6. WSNAC:

a. Rachel W. said the community dinners have been well-received.

· UST/WSNAC have hosted two to date, Oct. 14^th & Dec. 2^nd.

· Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m. is the next scheduled community dinner. UST hosts dinner. UST invites 5 and WSNAC invites 5. Neighbors & faculty have a chance to ask questions of Doug Hennes and two landlords, who will be the host speakers.

b. UST proposed tennis courts have not been decided. Two spaces are still up for consideration: an area near Selby & Cleveland, and the green space near River Bvd.

c. A community consultant hired and paid for by WSNAC, Louis Smith, an attorney, to rebuild a neighborhood between the residents and UST community. Summary of his report is on the WSNAC website. Rachel W. will forward to the SARPA board.

d. Rachel W. had recommended a book to Doug Hennes used by George Washington University to rebuild community around their campus.

e. Major concerns are building in anticipation of the Student Center opening and the summer receptions that will likely be scheduled in the third floor reception hall.

f. SARPA needs one more representative on WSNAC. The board is accepting volunteers. The meetings are normally the second Tuesday of the month.

g. WSNAC Liquor License information for UST, Feb. 1^st at 6:30 p.m. in 155 Murray-Herrick Hall.

h. Bethany made a motion that SARPA votes against granting UST a liquor license for the first year with the suggestion that we re-visit the permit issue in one year.

7. Old Business.

a. House Birthday cards: Tom Blank

b. Florence Judge Memorial Tabled to next meeting.

8. Garden Stroll. Scheduled for Sunday, June 26

a. Tea locations: Make it known that the tea is “come as you are.”

b. Kit Natz neighbor at 573may want to participate.

c. Christian suggested we look at Bloomin’ St. Paul for category suggestions.

d. 10 gardens will be selected in clusters of 2 to 3.

e. Sell water & bottled lemonade.

f. Establish a HUB. Recommendations: College Club (first choice), Temple (second) University Club (third)

g. Price: $10 gardens, $10 tea

h. KD and Carolyn co-chair.

i. A SARPA representative will contacting the following businesses with a request to sell garden stroll tickets: Frattalones. Johnsons & Sons Florists. Kowalski’s. Café Amore, Brown Paper tickets on SARPA site.

j. Set Garden Stroll committee meeting.

k. Photographers suggested for hire to take event photos: Ken Olson, Anne Brandrud.

9. Next board meet will be Monday, February 28 at 7 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

Meeting location at Rachel’s home: 1935 Summit Ave. Park on Howell or back of house.

Vote!

2011-02-15T21:45:00.001-06:00

Summit Avenue has helped land Saint Paul a nomination as one of the National Trust's Dozen Distinctive Destinations! Help us win by creating an account and voting every day!

Cathedral of Saint Paul Receives Preservation Grant!

2011-02-10T13:44:00.000-06:00

Without a concerted effort, our state’s historic and cultural treasures are in danger of being lost to time. The Minnesota Historical Society awarded a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant in the amount of $4,341 to the Cathedral Heritage Foundation. The Cathedral Heritage Foundation is a community-based charitable organization dedicated to the preservation of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the fostering of its cultural programs. Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Minnesota Legislature from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund created with passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution in November 2008. The grants are awarded to support projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation across the state.

“Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future” is a project of enduring value because it will renovate, restore and develop the archives of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The project includes bringing the archive’s equipment up to required archival standards with the purchase of a new computer, archival software, supplies and equipment. As work has begun, Cathedral archivists have re-discovered interesting artifacts. A sampling of these will be on display during Cathedral Family & Community Day, Sunday, March 6th from 1-4:30 p.m.

Moon Glow Pedestrian Parade

2011-01-26T18:46:00.002-06:00

A new event with the Saint Paul Winter Carnival this year is the Moon Glow Pedestrian Parade. Starting at Summit Park (at the very east end of Summit, just past the Cathedral), this illuminated procession will continue to the State Capital. The organizers claim there will be tethered hot air balloons, plus free hot chocolate, and it's a great way to view the beautiful eastern end of Summit.

Friday, January 28, 2011
starting at 5:30pm

Welcome, New Resident!

2011-01-16T16:09:00.002-06:00

It's great to see so much activity at 1006 Summit! When are you going to join SARPA, Governor Dayton?

Tree Lighting in Nathan Hale Park

2010-12-06T12:01:00.002-06:00

Not to be outdone in the holiday decorations department, the Ramsey Hill Association sponsors the winter lights in the parks in their area, with Lookout park and Nathan Hale Park being the most Summit-related.

This year they held a tree lighting ceremony on November 28 for the beautiful lights at Nathan Hale Park.

Thank you, RHA!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T12:20:00.003-06:00

We were so pleased this year to have Emerald Acres Tree Farm donate the boughs for the planters over Ayd Mill Road! The planters are more full and varied than they have been in a long time, and we hope you enjoy them over the holiday season.

Final Fall Lecture - Monday, November 22

2010-11-21T14:23:00.001-06:00

The theme is "Enhancements" — basically, what can you and can't you do to your Summit Avenue home? The speakers will be Amy Spong from the City of St. Paul, and Thomas Zahn, a local preservation consultant.

7pm, at the University Club.

Thanks to Historic Saint Paul and the University Club, our co-sponsors!

Give to the Max!

2010-11-09T16:32:00.002-06:00

Next Tuesday is Give to the Max Day, a day focused on getting Minnesotans to give to the favorite charities and make it fun, convenient, and easy. Last year, over 38,000 donors gave over 14 million dollars to over 3,400 charities in one day on "Give to the Max Day."

This year, SARPA is included in the effort! We need your help on preservation efforts on Summit, including:
- Planting and maintaining the planters on the Ayd Mill Bridge and the flower beds at Monument Park. We have also contributed to the work at Lookout Park, and are considering contributing to the new plantings at Summit and Lexington.
- Conducting the bi-annual Summit Garden Stroll. The 2009 Garden Stroll was the most successful such event in our history, hosting over 1,100 people in our diverse and beautiful gardens. Our next Garden Stroll will be coming up in June, 2011, and we are already looking for gardens; let us know if you would like to participate!
- Representing Summit Avenue Residents on WSNAC, the West Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee, which collaborates with the University of St. Thomas on issues in the area. Please see the article on WSNAC in this newsletter; we also need another Summit Avenue representative on the committee, so let us know if you would be interested in serving.
- Upcoming public art projects.
- Advising the City of Saint Paul on preservation and land use issues with Summit Avenue properties.
- Communicating to our constituents via our website, blog, Facebook page, and periodic newsletters like this.
- Holding educational and social events. We are excited to work with Historic Saint Paul on a lecture series this fall, co-sponsored by the University Club — please see the article later ion the newsletter.

Plus, it's easy! Historic Saint Paul is our fiscal agent, and they have an easy to use giving module. Simply:
1) Go to the Historic Saint Paul page on GiveMN.org.
2) At the next screen, check the "Add a Designation" box and designate SARPA.
3) Fill out the rest of the information! GiveMN will send you a contribution receipt, and your gift will go straight to SARPA to help us with our efforts.

Thanks in advance!

Summit Architecture

2010-10-27T21:04:00.001-05:00

Thanks so much to Tom Blanck and Sonja Mason for the great lecture on Summit architecture on Monday night! We'll post some of the information here soon, but in the meantime, head over to our Facebook page where we've started a game of "What's this style?"

Next SARPA Lecture - The Architecture of Summit

2010-10-19T16:30:00.001-05:00

SARPA and Historic Saint Paul FREE Lecture Series

Next Lecture Coming Up Next Week!

The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association and Historic Saint Paul are excited to continue their free lecture series on the history, architecture, and preservation of Summit Avenue, widely considered the nation's best-preserved example of the Victorian monumental residential boulevard.

This series is designed to be educational — discussing the history of Summit Avenue — but also inspirational, promoting ideas for future private (and public) development. It’s also a great chance to meet and socialize with other Summit Avenue homeowners and area residents. The lectures are free, and you don’t have to be a member or Summit Avenue resident to attend.

All lectures are held at the University Club of St. Paul (a co-sponsor of the series), located at 420 Summit Avenue. Lectures begin at 7:00pm and run about an hour, with some time for socializing (cash bar) afterwards.

The first in the series, on Summit Avenue’s role in Saint Paul, was presented by Ted Lentz and was very well-received. The remaining lectures are:

Monday, October 25 – Stewardship

Summit Avenue’s architectural styles and the development of the historic districts

- Presented by architects Tom Blanck and Sonja Mason

Monday, November 22 – Enhancement

Design guidelines, appropriate work and changes, and resources, as well as planning for the future

- Presented by Amy Spong (City of St. Paul HPC) and preservation consultant Thomas R. Zahn

Marathon Sunday

2010-10-05T08:37:00.003-05:00

What a beautiful day for the Twin Cities Marathon last Sunday!

In Case You Missed It...

2010-10-03T21:31:00.003-05:00

Here is the text from the handout from the first in our lecture series, as presented by Ted Lentz:

Summit Avenue – A History of the Street
Discovering St. Paul’s Summit Avenue
Ted Lentz, AIA
27 Sept 2010

Can you imagine finding an American street that since the 1890s has been one of the nation’s major monumental residential streets? While in the 1880s and 1890s, 5th Avenue in New York, Euclid Avenue in Cleveland and Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Woodward Avenue in Detroit and Park Avenue in Minneapolis were recognized as their city’s “millionaire’s row” only one of those distinctly American streets not only remains intact but continues to thrive with renovation of the old and addition of new compatible structures?

Wouldn’t it be great to find an American street that provided a proud resource to all of the residents a metropolitan region of 3 million people speak of this street with pride using such phrases as “a neat street of beautiful old mansions”, “the place I always take my family and friends when they visit”, “I love that street”, “The street that F. Scott Fitzgerald used as a setting for his short stories”?

We would be delighted to find an American street established after the Civil War and largely complete by the end of World War I that had a Civil War monument one end and a World War I monument at its terminus

What if this remarkable American street were 4.7 miles long with over 400 building: homes, churches, four colleges, other institutional uses but no commercial buildings?

Can you imagine finding an American street where over half of 400 buildings are rated architecturally “significant”?

Wouldn’t it be great to find an American street that provided a central spine to the largest National Historic District ever recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior and is itself now protected by a strong active city supported Historic Planning Commission?

We would be delighted to find an American street after residents creating a restricted residential avenue prior to citywide zoning in 1917 had over 50 years of intervention by courts and city officials to reinforced the residential character of the street?

What if this remarkable American street continued to generate substantial private investment both by residents in their homes but by friends of the street in public amenities such as the $350,000+ privately raised in 2008 to complete the landscaping of a community park on the street?

Can you imagine finding an American street that retained its residential feeling even though every day by over 12,000 cars and at a least 2 historic tour buses every day?

Wouldn’t it be great to find an American street that had its own avenue residential preservation association representing all home owners along the street that served as an educational resource and as a vocal advocate for retaining and enhancing a street that residents reject the idea of creating a fossilized museum piece?

WELL - If you found yourself on St. Paul, Minnesota’s Summit Avenue you would find each of these unique characteristic & probably several more reasons for awe, delight and support.
_
Summit Avenue, an important element of the urban character and a source of continued pride and delight for the greater Twin Cities Community, remains open to the public for review and delight.

Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association (SARPA)

Reading List

2010-09-28T20:35:00.003-05:00

First of all, thanks again to all that attended the kick-off of the Lecture Series! Ted Lentz was a wonderful an inspiring speaker, and we really appreciated the great conversation and ideas! We hope to post some if his information later in the week.

As Ted touched upon, there are several great books discussing the history of the area. I've just gotten off the phone with Common Good Books at Western and Selby, and they are making arrangements to stock the following:

- St. Paul's Historic Summit Avenue - the quintessential book on the street by Ernest Sandeen
- AIA Guide to St. Paul's Summit Avenue and Hill District - by Larry Millett (his full guide to the Twin Cities is also great)
- Grand Avenue: The Renaissance of an Urban Street - by Billie Young and David Lanegran
- Claiming the City: Politics, Faith, and the Power of Place in St. Paul - by Mary Lethert Wingerd
- St. Paul's Architecture - by Jeffrey Hess and Paul Clifford Larson
- A Grand History (referenced below, new stock coming in soon!)

So stop into Common Good Books (they are open 10am-10pm Mon-Sat and 10am-8pm Sunday), support a local store, and learn more about your neighborhood. Mention that you are a SARPA member; though we have not developed and discount or referral program yet, we are working on it!

If people would like to read the books and get together to discuss them (either in a one-off situation or a longer running book club), we'd love to facilitate that as well! Leave a comment below or email the SARPA Webmaster for more information.

Lecture Series Starts TOMORROW - Sep. 27

2010-09-26T15:21:00.002-05:00

Please join us for the kick-off of the FREE Summit Avenue lecture series, with a lecture by Ted Lentz about the history and role of Summit Avenue. At the University Club (420 Summit) starting at 7pm on Monday, September 27 (if you're a Ramsey Hill Association member, go to the Meet & Greet first and then come!). 7pm, lasts under an hour. Hope to see you there!

Speaking of Summit History...

2010-09-19T14:40:00.017-05:00

I was just reading my copy of A Grand History: The Summit Hill Neighborhood's First 200 Years (written by Gabrielle Horner, published by the Summit Hill Association in 2010).

What a great book for the local history scholar! As a native St. Paulite and Ramsey Hiller, I mistakenly presumed I wouldn't learn too much by reading Horner's slim book. I was happily wrong.

Now, of course, this is not strictly a Summit Avenue book. Summit Hill includes a midsection stretch of the South side of Summit Avenue and not the whole of the Avenue, but I nonetheless recommend it for anyone who is interested in local history.

Here's a short snippet of what I learned.

Bicycles on Summit

There have been bikes on Summit longer than there has been pavement. There is a photo of a man named John Lawton riding his "safety bicycle" on Summit in the year 1900. Summit was paved with asphalt in about 1915.

Before Black Top

Summit Avenue was first paved with wood. Wood "hunks," 4" x 4" x 10" (or less) and impregnated with creosote to keep them from rotting, were used to pave major street before asphalt was introduced.

(The alley between Summit and Portland, just west of Lexington, still has wood pavement. In that alley, the wood is cut grain up and laid like "cobbles." If you decide to investigate, wear good shoes. Wood cobbles can be slippery.)

Ramsey Street Extension

In 1859, the orthogonal stretch of Summit Avenue was called "Ramsey Street Extension." The map illustration (on page 7) that features this less-than-flattering name for Summit, only shows land west of approximately Dale Street, but educated guessing would tell us that the "Ramsey Street Extension" began at Ramsey Hill. Summit, already platted in 1859 along the bluff overlooking downtown, crossed Ramsey and curved down Summit Court, where it came to its end. Imagine how different Summit would feel if it were still a mere "extension."

Plat Mystery Solved

One of the maps I enjoyed most was by ecologist Daniel Wovcha, author of Minnesota's St. Croix River Valley and Anoka Sandplain: A Guide to Native Habitats. The map (reprinted with permission) on page 5 of A Grand History is a representation of the lands of Summit Hill in 1847, with the current street grid overlaid for reference. I would love to scan the map in for reference, but it is copyrighted material so you will just have to go buy A Grand History from the Summit Hill Association.

The dominant ecosystem of Summit Hill was "Oak Openings," sometimes called oak savanna. Oak Openings is a fire-dependent, savanna type of ecosystem dominated by oak trees; the tree cover is less dense than a forest, having between 10% and 60% canopy. Triangle Park, located at Goodrich and South Dale Street, still has native old-growth burr oaks, offering a glimpse of what the Oak Openings once looked like.

Summit Hill was almost entirely Oak Openings, with a small corner of Big Woods in the southwest corner and, more interestingly to me, a little insert of Prairie from the north. A large swath of Prairie lay north of central Summit Hill, crossing what is now Summit between Grotto and Dale.

It is this little bit of prairie that piqued my attention.

If you have ever looked at a plat map or read your house's legal description, you likely know that the city is divided into subdivisions, "additions" and "outlots" that were added to the city as it grew. One would probably assume that these divisions were added to the city by proximity, with the first new additions being immediately adjacent to downtown, and subsequent additions radiating outward until the City bumped into Minneapolis or some other obvious stopping point.

I have always been curious about Holcomb's Addition. Holmcomb's includes two blocks of Summit, from Grotto to Dale Street (and from Summit extends northward not-quite-to Marshall Avenue), and was platted in 1857, more than 20 years before the land to its East. Holcomb's was an island belonging to the city, but separated from it by a square mile or so of unplatted land for more than a decade: Woodland Park Addition (Stretching from Dale east to Western Avenue) is dated 1870. To illustrate, the map below is a scan from Building Our Future from Our Past: A Report of the Saint Paul Historic Hill District Planning Program (1975), now out of print.

Thanks to A Grand History I now understand why Holcomb's was platted first. It was prairie. No trees to clear, easy building. The more laborious, wooded tracts were left for later development.

SARPA and Historic Saint Paul FREE Lecture Series

2010-09-15T17:38:00.000-05:00

The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association and Historic Saint Paul are excited to co-sponsor a free lecture series on the history, architecture, and preservation of Summit Avenue, widely considered the nation's best-preserved example of the Victorian monumental residential boulevard.

This series is designed to be educational — discussing the history of Summit Avenue — but also inspirational, promoting ideas for future private (and public) development. It’s also a great chance to meet and socialize with other Summit Avenue homeowners and area residents. The lectures are free, and you don’t have to be a member to attend, but why not take this chance to join? (membership form on the back of the newsletter).

All three lectures will be held at the University Club of St. Paul (a co-sponsor of the series), located at 420 Summit Avenue. Lectures will begin at 7:00pm and run about an hour, with some time for socializing (cash bar) afterwards.

Topics are as follows:

Monday, September 27 – Awareness
The history of Summit Avenue and its role in Saint Paul
Presented by Ted Lentz

Monday, October 25 – Stewardship
Summit Avenue’s architectural styles and the development of the historic districts

Monday, November 22 – Enhancement
Design guidelines, appropriate work and changes, and resources, as well as planning for the future

We hope to see you there!

Smooth Road

2010-09-15T14:15:00.000-05:00

Summit East of Dale and West of Ramsey Hill has received a new surface. These photos were snapped on my camera phone September 9th, the cones have since been removed. They were both taken near the corner of Summit and Summit Court.

I stopped and chatted with one of the city workers a few weeks back and he said that the repaving project will include portions of Grand Avenue as well and will conclude early fall.

Century-Old Chinese Elm

2010-09-01T07:37:00.003-05:00

Dave Thune's office has heard from a constituent who is concerned about one of the last remaining Chinese elm trees at the east end of Summit, located directly across from the Cathedral of Saint Paul.

The tree is dying and marked for removal, but the constituent commented on the trunk's "beautiful structural form" and felt it would make an ideal candidate for a wood carving, perhaps commemorating historical figures from the area. SARPA has agreed to provide some financial support, as long as it is matched by at least three other groups or individuals, and Parks and Rec has agreed to hold off the removal — but only until September 3.

We're looking for a leader in this project. If you're concerned and want to get the ball rolling, please contact Ward 2 Council Aide Pat Lindgren, 310B City Hall, 651.266.8621.

Facebook!

2010-08-17T22:59:00.000-05:00

SARPA now has a Facebook page, and we would love to "see" you over there.

Annual Meeting Time!

2010-06-18T11:44:00.003-05:00

The SARPA Annual Meeting is coming up! Please come, get to know your neighbors, and find out about issues facing the Avenue.

Monday, June 28 • 7-9pm
at the home of Mary and Chip Michel, 1731 Summit Avenue

Business Meeting/Elections: 7:15pm
Wine/Desserts: 7:45pm

Hope to see you there! Please RSVP by June 25 to Mary Michel, 651.645.0292 or chipdecko@aol.com

--

It's also membership renewal time! Dues are just $30 per household, and can be brought to the meeting or sent to: SARPA, PO Box 7371, St. Paul, MN 55107

Preserve to the Power of 10

2010-05-21T20:28:00.004-05:00

(not just a Summit Avenue piece)

Want to do some good for preservation in the state while sitting at your computer?

Click and vote for the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota to receive $5000 in a Pepsi grant. You can vote once a day throughout May — it's a simple way to make a difference while you're stuck at your screen.

http://www.refresheverything.com/preservetothepowerof10

Best Street - Summit Avenue

2010-04-24T08:13:00.001-05:00

The hipsters over at City Pages picked up on what we already know and called Summit Avenue the "Best Street":

If you expect lingerie, bubble tea, or a $4 cup of coffee out of the Twin Cities' Best Street, better luck next year. One look at the condos sprouting along Hennepin and Lyndale faster than clusters of dandelions should let you know that those oh-so-cosmo streets don't need the press. We'd rather spend our fleeting summer hours on Summit Avenue, no matter how far it may be from the nearest Urban Outfitters. St. Paul's pastoral jewel connects two of the Twin Cities' most prized panoramas—the Mississippi River and Cathedral Hill, points from which you can view both downtowns at a safe distance. This grassed, treed haven is a god-sent reprieve from our busier avenues, a street of meadowy medians, shade, and the most agonizingly gorgeous architecture in the city. So do your shopping and shouting on Hennepin Avenue. When your wallet and spirit need some R and R, you'll know where to find it.

Check Out a Summit House on the MSP Home Tour!

2010-04-20T08:28:00.002-05:00

The Minneapolis and Saint Paul Home Tour runs this weekend (April 24 and 25), giving you a free chance to see a really great Summit Avenue renovation!

623 Summit was F. Scott Fitzgerald's maternal grandmother's home. It had been divided into several units, but the current owners have not only restored it to single-family occupancy, but updated it while maintaining a traditional aesthetic. The kitchen has been renovated, and an outdoor eating area added to take advantage of views of the back yard.

See http://www.msphometour.com/ for more information.

More on Preservation Economics - Heritage Tourism

2010-04-16T20:54:00.003-05:00

If you've ever looked at the tour busses driving down Summit and thought "Do they really want to see houses like mine? Can there possibly be any money in that?' — the answers are YES they do, and YES, there is.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, cultural heritage tourism is defined as “traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.” At a time when the travel industry is struggling, cultural heritage tourism is actually growing, as people seek more value for their travel dollar.

Heritage tourism is important because it is exceptionally effective. Tourism is big business, directly contributing over $750 billion to the U.S. economy annually. Of these tourists, 81% classified themselves as cultural heritage travelers. Visitors to historic sites and cultural attractions typically stay significantly longer and spend more than other tourists — $994 per trip average in 2009, compared to $457 for the standard tourist. It is also a growing field, up more than 10% annually even during recent economic circumstances. The most important effect, however, is that this kind of travel is unique to a community’s specific circumstances, organically building upon its diversity and focusing on its unique sense of place.

April Fools

2010-04-14T10:42:00.008-05:00

Spotted this when out for a walk on April 1st...

It was a glorious 80 degrees, and it seemed like all of St Paul was out strolling along the Avenue. The 'hidden garden' on the North side of street between Kent and MacKubin had a strange new sign on its gate:

The sign disappeared a few days later, but I will admit that SARPAexpress was contacted by more than person who was worried it might be true... :0

Historic State Tax Credit Signed into Law!

2010-04-01T20:22:00.002-05:00

This week the state legislature passed, and today Governor Pawlenty signed into law, a new state historic tax credit. After years of work by preservation groups, community advocates, and others, Minnesota has become the 31st state in the nation with such a provision.

The bill is exciting on a number of levels. For individual property owners, it offers a significant tax credit for renovation and rehabilitation. Piggybacking on the federal tax credit, it allows a state income tax credit of 20% when rehabbing a qualified property. The property must be on the National Register of Historic Places (so all properties in the Summit Avenue West Historic District would potentially qualify), and must be income-producing (homesteaded residential properties are not eligible). In an innovative new approach, non-profits such as churches can take advantage of the credit, which they can choose to receive as a grant or against the insurance premium tax.

However, perhaps the deeper impact of the bill is that it is included in the Minnesota Jobs Stimulus Bill, directly recognizing the significant economic impact of preservation. Rehabilitation work employs more people, in better-paying jobs, than either manufacturing or new construction. Other states have seen this impact; in Rhode Island, a recent credit has created 5,334 direct construction jobs in just two years, and in Missouri, the cost of the tax credit has been recouped in payroll taxes alone. If Minnesota follows national models, preservation-related projects would create more jobs than other similarly-sized "shovel ready" projects, including road construction, manufacturing, or new construction.

If projects further leverage their resources, by using green construction techniques, or by purchasing materials at local independent establishments that keep the money in the community, the economic impact increases proportionally. The tax credit is poised to have an important effect not just on Summit Avenue and in Saint Paul, but all over Minnesota.

977 Summit, part 3

2010-03-31T11:05:00.002-05:00

Technical Difficulties solved. Here are more drawings of the Proposed Additions to 977 Summit:

East (Chatsworth) Elevation

(Drawing by David Heide Design)

Existing Plan

(Drawing by David Heide Design)

Proposed Site Plan.

Note: additions are shown with dark hatching

(Drawing by David Heide Design)

Proposed Garage Elevations

(Drawing by David Heide Design)

Proposed Garage Plans

(Drawing by David Heide Design)

977 Summit, Continued

2010-03-31T10:40:00.004-05:00

I am having technical problems uploading more images to the blog right now.

Here are the highlights (abridged) from the written application:

Construct new flat-roofed porch/entry breakfast room with second story roof terrace on east elevation
Construct new open porch addition on north elevation
Additions will have stucco to match existing house, double-hung and fixed sash windows to match existing "as closely as possible"
Convert existing tuck under garages to bedrooms.
Remove existing two car garage and replace with new four car garage. (Note: apologies for technical difficulties. Cannot upload drawings of proposed garage at this time.)
Remove and rebuild existing original entry. Rebuild with slightly larger footprint.
Construct new concrete retaining wall along Chatsworth (west) side of home.

977 Summit

2010-03-31T10:13:00.016-05:00

More detail on the complete renovation application before the HPC:
(Click on any image to see it larger)

Birdseye view of 977 Summit.

(Image from www.bing.com)

Principal facade of 977 Summit

Proposed new principal facade.

(Drawing by David Heide Design)

Side Elevation, from Chatsworth Street

(Image from www.google.com)

Proposed Elevations: Front and East
(Drawing by David Heide Design)

Proposed Garage Addition

HPC Agenda: Summit Items

2010-03-31T08:53:00.002-05:00

There are three summit items on the upcoming Agenda.

Here is the agenda in its entirety, with the Summit Items in bold.

Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Commission
City Hall Conference Center Room 40
15 Kellogg Boulevard West
(Enter the building from Fourth Street)
Business Meeting Agenda
Thursday, April 8, 2010
5:00 p.m.

I. Approval of the Agenda

II. Conflicts of Interest

III. Approval of the meeting minutes

A. March 11, 2010 Business Meeting

B. March 25, 2010 Public Hearing Meeting

IV. Chair’s Announcements

V. Staff Announcements

A. March Design Review Statistics (see attached)

VI. Old Business

A. 2115 Summit Avenue, Summit Avenue West Historic District, by Opus Northwest Construction, LLC, for permits to construct the new 225,000 sq. ft. Anderson Student Center at the northeast corner of Summit and Cretin Avenues. File #10-017 (Spong, 266-6714). Continued from the March 25, 2010 Public Hearing.

VII. Public Hearing/Permit Review

A. Summit Avenue at Cretin Avenue, Summit Avenue West Historic District, by University of St. Thomas, for a permit to alter the radius of the boulevards and add/increase paving at all crossings. File #10-018 (Spong, 266-6714).

B. 977 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District, by David Heide Design Studio, for a building permit for complete renovation including, alteration of the front entrance and terrace, construction of two rear and side elevation additions, conversion of the tuck-under garages into living space and alteration of the driveway. Also proposed is removing the two-stall garage at the alley, and constructing a fourstall garage and other site improvements. File #10-019 (Boulware, 266-6715).

VIII. New Business/Discussion

A. Review and approve Section 106 comment letter for the Phalen Arch Bridge.

B. Comment on the draft 2010 Annual Report

Fun Family Event: Third Annual Cathedral Family Day on Sunday, March 7

2010-03-04T18:13:00.003-06:00

St Paul's Cathedral is located at the corner of Summit and Selby Avenues. This coming Sunday, the Cathedral is hosting its Third Annual Cathedral Family Day.

Sunday, March 7
1-4:30 p.m.
239 Selby Avenue
(Selby and Summit)

Costumed tour guides * Pipe Organ demonstrations *
MN Children’s Museum Art Projects* Science Experiments

(Saint Paul, MN) The Cathedral of Saint Paul welcomes everyone and especially families to tour this historical landmark, listen as a resident musician plays the massive Skinner Pipe Organ, create your own Michelangelo “Pietà” with the Minnesota Children’s Museum and do oxidation experiments on copper with the Minnesota Science Museum on Sunday, March 7th from 1:30-4:30 p.m., located at 239 Selby Avenue, Saint Paul (www.cathedralsaintpaul.org).

“The music of the Cathedral will be special focus this year for Family Day. When music is created in this grand place, it appeals to all the senses,” said the Very Reverend Joseph R. Johnson, Rector of the Cathedral. “Come visit on Family Day and learn how the Great Pipe Organs work and get up close to watch one of our organists create music that fills the Cathedral.”

In addition to pipe organ demonstrations, tour guides will be dressed in period costume and standing at stations throughout the building. Move around to all the stations to hear the stories from the historical characters who played a role in building this great monument on the hill.

After experiencing the history and music in the Cathedral, visitors are invited to enjoy a host of activities on the lower level:
• Minnesota Children’s Museum staff will have materials for children to make their own clay Michelagelo’ sculpture to take home.
• Minnesota Science Museum staff run oxidation experiments on copper (dome).
• LEGO Builder Roy Cook will be on-hand to answer questions about the finished LEGO replica of the Cathedral.
• The Cathedral Gift Store and Museum will also be open to visitors.
• Refreshments will be available for purchase from the Cathedral Young Adults.

The Cathedral Heritage Foundation is a non-profit, non-sectarian, historic preservation, cultural and arts organization established to meet the objectives of restoring and preserving the national historic treasure of the Cathedral of Saint Paul for generations to come. The CHF provides leadership in developing educational programs to showcase the cultural, historic, and artistic influence of the Cathedral on people throughout the world.

For more information, visit www.cathedralheritagefoundation.org or call the Welcome Center at 651-228-1766. To view photos of the Cathedral of Saint Paul’s interior and exterior go to http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/about/photos.asp.

More info: http://www.cathedralheritagefoundation.org/

Parallel Matter: Grand Old Day 2010

2010-02-07T12:43:00.009-06:00

Grand Avenue and Summit are siblings of a sort, perhaps as closely related as fraternal twins. One block apart, Summit and Grand are a residential and a commercial spine connecting neighborhoods and creating vibrant spaces in St. Paul to drive, walk, bike, shop, gather, worship or just down a latte with a cookie. So when things change on Grand Avenue, they often change on Summit as well.

In that spirit I thought I would share an article from the Summit Hill Association newsletter. One of Grand Avenue's grandest days each year is the first Sunday in June: Grand Old Day. Grand is closed to traffic and open to pedestrians; busses run down no-trucks-allowed Summit Avenue; and cars snarl all adjoining neighborhood streets looking for a place to park.

In 2010, the Grand Avenue Business Association is proposing to test a new on-street main stage featuring a "beer garden," The stage and beer garden would be similar to those operated on private property in parking lots of Grand Avenue businesses. It looks to me that the plan has been well thought out, and perhaps most importantly, the stage and beer garden are being proposed as a one year only 'test' that would automatically sunset after 2010, so neighbors have the opportunity to approve or reject the change.

Read on:

Grand Old Day--Proposed Changes

Grand Old Day, in its 37th year, will take place along Grand Avenue from Fairview to Dale on Sunday, June 6, 2010. Grand Old Day is produced by the Grand Avenue Business Association each year as its annual fundraiser and includes sporting events, a parade, live music & festival gardens, kids' activities, international performance, an art air and more.

This year, GABA is seeking to produce a via in Stage located on Grand Avenue between St. Albans & Dale to replace one of the 3 GABA sponsored festival gardens. The Main Stage. would be produced in partnership with Rock the Cause, a non-profit organization working to create a positive, life-changing experience through the power of music and community. The Rock the Cause main stage will promote volunteerism and stewardship for non-profits like Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Children's Cancer Research Fund and Minnesota AIDS Project, that make a measurable impact in the community. Like other Grand Old Day festival gardens, the Main Stage area would be fully enclosed by barricades and guests must be 21 + to enter. The Main Stage would close at 4:30pm (30 minutes earlier than other stages).

In order to move forward with this proposal, Grand Old Day will need to be included in City Ordinance 245.04, which provides an annual festival an exception to the city code barring the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the public right-of-way. Ordinance 245.04 currently includes Taste of Minnesota and River Fest.

Over the past few months GABA staff has presented the Main Stage plan to St. Paul Police Department, Department of Safety & Inspections, St. Paul Fire Department, Ward 2 Councilmember Dave Thune, Grand Avenue property owners and Summit Hill Association. GABA has received support to move forward with the ordinance change process from all of these groups. The process includes four readings at the City Council and a public hearing. Information about the public hearing date/time will be posted at www.summithillassociation.org as soon as it is scheduled.

If you have any questions about this proposed change, please contact the Grand Avenue Business Association at 651-699-0029 or david@grandave.com.

683 Summit Lot Split

2010-01-19T17:44:00.001-06:00

From the HPC Agend for
Public Hearing Agenda
Thursday, January 28, 2010
5:00 p.m.

683 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District, by owner representative George LeTendre, for a subdivision (lot split) in order to sell the new parcel for single family construction.

University of St Thomas (UST) ST 2115 Summit Ave

2010-01-01T13:28:00.000-06:00

Also from the SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION (November 5, 2009)

B. University of St. Thomas Student Center, 2115 Summit Avenue, Summit Avenue West Historic District – by OPUS, pre-application review for the construction of a 225,000 square feet Student Center at the northeast corner of Summit and Cretin (Spong, 266-6714).

Chair Manning recused himself from the discussion and Commissioner Igo took over position of chair. Commissioner Trimble left the meeting at this point, as well. Staff read a description of the property, the proposed changes, and preliminary findings. Staff began discussions by adding the setback information that had not been provided in time for the staff report. Aquinas Hall’s setbacks are 143 feet, and 108 feet to the bays. The proposed Anderson Student Center setbacks are 120 feet, and 109 feet to the bays. Aquinas Hall is 64 feet, 6 inches high, and the height of Anderson as proposed is 69 feet, 5 inches. Commissioner Trimble asked what was historically on the site before the existing parking lot. Staff was unsure, but they would research Sanborn maps to find out. Doug Hennes, with University of St. Thomas, spoke about the scope of the project, saying it is, at 210,000 square feet, the biggest project they have undertaken, and will rival the next-biggest building in size. It is important for the University and neighborhood because of its location, specifically in a historic district, and purpose. They have taken design issues relating to the historic fabric of the district into account when designing the building. Because of this, they feel that their plans are appropriate for the Summit Avenue West Historic District. Dan Dixon, of OPUS, then spoke. The building is very important for the campus as it will be the signature building that links the south and west campuses together; it is an iconic location. The design is compatible with Aquinas Hall and other historic buildings, but differentiated by use and function. The style is Neo-collegiate Gothic, add would add continuity along Summit Avenue. There are breathing spaces added into the design for rhythm, vocabulary, and to blend with existing buildings. Mr. Dixon addressed the height of the building; from the street it would not seem higher due to changes in elevation and slope. The diagonal sidewalks are to aid in traffic flow from the Summit & Cretin intersection to the main entrance. Materials, including Kasota stone, cast stone watertable and trim, pilasters, and clay tile roof, are coherent with existing buildings. There is less glass, fewer openings, than Aquinas Hall because of energy conservation (LEED), as well as because the difference in uses. Mr. Dixon stated that the building is in agreement with the guidelines, and it was clarified that the building is new construction and must comply with those guidelines.

The 106 Group reported that the design was compatible and complies with the principles of massing and scale. He also added that although the foot print is very large, it is not as obvious from street level. Although the height is higher than Aquinas, it is lower than Roach, and the changes will be not be “interruptible” from Summit Avenue. The zoning setback requirements are 100 feet, and Anderson Student Center will be 120 feet. The three projecting bays and main entry break up the massing of the building and the bays are consistent with those on Aquinas Hall. Mr. Dixon also addressed the landscape. WSNAC and other community neighborhood groups’ voices have impacted landscape plans. In order to encourage students to actually utilize the cross walks, the paving in between the boulevard and mid-block cross walks will be removed. The diagonal walk is in keeping with Finn & Summit walks that lead to Roach and McNeely. The court at the front entry has a plaza wall that is three feet at its tallest height, which will also aid in directing the flow of traffic to and from the crosswalks. There is a similar wall at McNeely. At this point, Mr. Dixon was interested in hearing feedback from the commissioners, so they opened discussion.

Commissioner Trout-Oertel was concerned that the uses along Cretin Avenue don’t lend themselves to the façade along Summit; she would like to see more fenestration and articulation on the Cretin façade. Mr. Dixon replied that the Cretin Avenue side is where most service doors, parking, recycling, cafeteria and kitchens are located, and windows aren’t necessary due to freezers and refrigerators on that wall. The four bays along Cretin project ten feet or more, which is hard to see in the pictures. There will be landscaping along Cretin and closer to the building to help break up the relatively-blank walls. Mr. Dixon added that the neighborhood committees shared Commissioner Trout-Oertel’s concerns in preliminary phases, and the landscaping has improved their opinions. He also added that the texture of the building is “beautiful on its own” and they didn’t want additional adornments to distract from that. Commissioner Carey asked if arched windows on the East main floor, on the recessed walls, could match closer to the main façade. Mr. Dixon reasserted that freezers are to be located along some of those walls, so windows are not necessary from a function standpoint. Commissioner Thomas said that because of scale, the roof line reads like a giant wall. Mr. Dixon replied that perspective helps, and that the bays, which are consistent with those on Aquinas, help break up the massing. Staff pointed out that the roofs on Aquinas and Roach both step down at the ends of the buildings, and that Anderson Student Center’s design is not consistent in that sense.

The applicant asked the HPC what direction they should take on the next steps. The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is to be completed in February of 2010; if an EIS is not required, then the applicants hope for a March 2010 formal HPC review and site plan review. O’Shaughnessy is slated for demolition in March 2010, as well; construction would start in April or May 2010, and be complete in June 2012. They are planning for an 18-20 month process. Greg Mathis with the 106 Group spoke about the cultural resource report portion of the EAW. They researched O’Shaughnessy Hall as part of phase I, as well as a survey of the area to determine the audio, visual, physical effects of the proposed project. Of 65 nearby properties, 22 are in the Summit Avenue West Historic District, seven are considered potentially eligible, and there are 36 new properties. O’Shaughnessy is not eligible under significant design or architect. The whole campus is also not eligible for National Register designation because the original campus plans were never completed as significantly as designed. The final EAW will be published on December 14, 2009, followed by a 30-day public review period. Mr. Mathis emphasized that the Anderson Student Center will have very little impact on the historic district since it is right on the edge of it, and that there is very limited visual impact. The bays that read with Aquinas mitigate changes of main masses with the building. He added that if the building were to be the exact same height as Aquinas, it would be read as monotonous. From the street-view, the scale would not be read as massive. Mr. Dixon added that the building has single-loaded functions. Commissioner Trout-Oertel said that she would be more comfortable lending direction if more commissioners were present to discuss the proposal. She added that this building is at the terminus of the Summit Avenue West District and not in the middle of, so it has less of an impact on the district as a whole. She added that the building is not insignificantly large, but has been handled well. Commissioner Igo countered Commissioner Trout-Oertel’s comment and said that he views the building to be the beginning of the district, the first glimpse of what to expect as you travel through it, and acts as an anchor point. Other commissioners echoed Commissioner Trout-Oertel’s feelings about being uneasy proceeding without more commissioners involved in the discussion. Commissioner Thomas said that the interior spaces become less accessible with the proposed design, because there are more edges to read along and not through. A parking lot is not an ideal use for the space, but the sense of being able to read through the campus is lost. Commissioner Carey replied that she hadn’t thought about it in that sense, but thought it was nice that an interior campus was created by the proposed building. She would also like to see more pictures of O’Shaughnessy Hall, especially if it is to be lost, as well as modifications to the design to create balance regarding the setback issues. Commissioner Igo also asked about O’Shaughnessy Hall. Staff replied that they have the opportunity to comment on it for the EAW; although it is not eligible for the National Register, it wasn’t surveyed for potential for local designation. Commissioner Carey asked why the historic district’s lines did not include the entire campus, rather than just a portion of it. Staff replied that at the time of the district’s creation, there was pressure not designate the whole campus.

Commissioner Igo asked for any more staff input. He asked if the west elevation needs more fenestration. Commissioner Trout-Oertel liked Commissioner Carey’s idea of a more articulated first level of the west elevation, to mimic that of the Summit Avenue elevation. Staff asked the commissioners to comment on any major issues to focus on, including massing, volume, and setbacks, adding that the guidelines state that setbacks are not to be more than 5% of surrounding contributing buildings. Staff also stated that, per the guidelines, college buildings, if taller, should have greater setbacks in comparison to contributing buildings. They are not to dwarf, minimize, or overshadow historic buildings. Commissioner Trout-Oertel clarified that the commissioners’ main concerns do relate to the 5% rule, setbacks, massing, and projections. Staff also brought up the massing of the Ashland Hotel on Ashland and Mackubin; they broke up the façade more to make up for the larger foot print. Commissioner Igo confirmed that the massing, site, and setback were their concerns and asked staff how to proceed, given the applicant’s tight timeline. It was proposed that a second pre-application review, primarily to discuss these concerns be set. Commissioner Carey asked if a committee could be formed to create opportunities for dialog, outside of a formal meeting, then asked how committees were formed. Staff replied that ad-hoc sub-committees can be appointed by the chair, but that public notice also needs to be taken into consideration when moving forward. It was decided that a continuation of the current pre-application review be added on the next HPC meeting agenda, November 19, to focus on the main concerns. Mr. Hennes asked if former HPC members could speak on the project’s behalf, as a former commissioner was influential in the McNeely Hall. Staff told him that he could testify, either in written form or speak on their behalf. Commissioner Trout-Oertel pointed out that she would like more commissioners to speak on it, not just specifically architects that sit on the Commission. Mr. Dixon asked if it would be beneficial for the commissioners to know what the interior uses will be, but Commissioners Trout-Oertel and Igo said that no, it was clear from the submitted drawings. Before the discussion was closed, the applicant submitted an old rendering of the original plans for the St. Thomas campus. The discussion was continued at the November 19 Public Hearing.

977 Summit

2010-01-01T13:27:00.000-06:00

Also from the SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION (November 5, 2009)

A. 977 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District – by David Heide Design Studio, pre-application review for a complete interior and exterior renovation including, alteration of the front entrance and terrace, construction of two rear and side elevation additions, conversion of the tuck-under garages into living space and alteration of the driveway. Also proposed is removing the two-stall garage at the alley, and constructing a four-stall garage and other site improvements (Spong, 266-6714).

Chair Manning clarified the pre-application review process, which has the ultimate goal of summarizing the main themes and concerns of the HPC. Staff read a description of the property, the proposed changes, and preliminary findings. The applicant’s representative, David Heide, focused on the driveway area as a main concern highlighted in the staff report. He gave some background on the property. It was originally a duplex, with the basement a part of the main floor’s unit. It will be condominiums, two units for members of one family. The tuck-under garage is going to be converted into bedrooms, so privacy issues became the main concern for the driveway. They wanted to incorporate the driveway away from the street and into the backyard to create a private area. Mr. Heide presented new drawings to show the walls on either side of the driveway extending out to a terrace wall, the top of which would be level with the lawn. There will be stairs out of the basement level up to the lawn. Commissioner Chair Manning asked the Mr. Heide to describe what was between the wall facing the house and fence along the sidewalk, which he replied will be a sod or garden area, filled with earth. Mr. Heide said that there have been a few other changes since the original application was submitted, since they are still in the schematic phases. On the proposed stoop at the rear, there is now a roof that has the same pitch as the house, as well as a thick stucco wall to support it. Iron hoods are proposed over the windows above the garage doors, to complement a similar feature elsewhere on the house. Chair Manning asked the applicant if he had any other concerns; Mr. Heide wanted to hear more input from commissioners. He also asked about windows on the east elevation that are original to the house, and are proposed to be removed and replaced with windows that don’t go as low, in order to serve internally as a kitchen. Commissioner Trout-Oertel asked if any other original windows are to be removed; Mr. Heide replied that yes, one other original window, which is located above the proposed one-story addition will be replaced with a door. An interior staircase is being moved, causing original features to be disrupted. Commissioner Carey asked if the kitchens are being moved into the original dining rooms, what is going into the kitchens. There will be a family room on both floors, a breakfast nook on the main floor, and a larger “more suitable Minnesota” main entrance for the second floor unit (on the main floor). The applicant added that the front terrace is crumbling. Investigative work has uncovered original tiles, which they would like to replace in-kind. There is evidence of masonry above the plane along the edges of the terrace, leading them to believe there was a more substantial masonry wall in place originally. More investigation is necessary. The owner desires the terrace be extended to the west on the main elevation, in order to have a wider area just in front of the main door, totaling 18” – 24”. Commissioner Trout-Oertel clarified that the green tile was on the front terrace. Commissioner Trimble verified that the extension of the terrace would not disrupt any windows, and Commissioner Trout-Oertel clarified that the height of the new terrace would be the same as existing. The applicant added that the balconies above the front terrace always had windows in them; there was no evidence of doors ever opening onto them. Mr. Heide said that their new proposal of the terrace includes masonry walls that are crenellated with iron work that hearkens to the above balconies. Chair Manning told Mr. Heide that approval on the new terrace would have to wait and be held for reaction because the new information was just presented.

The commissioners steered the discussion back to the terrace in the existing driveway. Chair Manning asked to see the newly introduced drawings because the cut-through view was confusing, then asked how high the terrace wall will be. Mr. Heide said it will be five feet high. Commissioner Trimble asked if any historic pictures had been found. Neither the applicants nor staff had found any, but staff offered to look at files of nearby houses for any clues. Mr. Heide asked what tonight’s HPC comments mean, and how they should proceed now that the HPC has seen the plans. Commissioner Igo is OK with most of the plans, but still concerned with the driveway. Commissioner Trout-Oertel agreed, adding that the house is big enough to handle the mass of the new additions. She added that she “was not sure” how she felt about the driveway. Commissioner Igo asked if there was any past precedent that could impact their decision. HPC staff alerted the commissioners to a proposal on the University of St. Thomas campus where they denied a retaining wall across an existing tuck-under driveway that had been converted. A concept with plantings and an open fence was approved. Carriage house doors have been infilled before. Commissioner Igo remembered that most of the UST discussion was related to the materials of the wall and cap of the retaining wall, which prompted him to ask about the stucco pillars. He could see that the garage doors themselves would still be read, and had it clarified that the fence material will be painted steel. He likes the design better than a tuck-under garage. Commissioner Trout-Oertel agreed with that sentiment, saying that the design is very attractive. Mr. Heide told the commissioners that the existing retaining walls’ highest point is five feet. They didn’t want the space to feel like a box, and they were trying to keep the space lower than surrounding yards. Mr. Heide stressed that you can “still see the story, follow the history. Chair Manning asked the applicant how high the stucco base/ top fence would be. The base would be about two feet tall and the fence would be one foot tall. Chair Manning shares the staff’s concern that the space won’t read as a driveway and garage from the street; he desires a more permeable feature to be able to read past the wall, to be reminiscent of the driveway. Commissioner Carey said that there is a difference between this proposal and University of St. Thomas, because these are bedrooms and require privacy. The staff suggested putting aside the idea of infilling the space and questioned how commissioners felt about introducing formal landscaping elements because the original element is an informal and utilitarian one. The sloping, gentle hillside of the existing yard is proposed to be replaced by hard, solid, stucco walls. It makes it feel very heavy, weighty and formal. Staff suggested that, if the commission is OK with infilling, maybe there could be a compromise on the fence.

Commissioner Trout-Oertel echoed Commissioner Carey that there is a need for privacy, but agreed with staff that it was very structured. She would like the slope of the driveway to remain, and terrace it beyond the edge of the sidewalk. Commissioner Carey added that it is not an issue for her to bring a barrier up to the level of the lawn, but she is interpreting from other commissioners that the concern is that it “obliterates” original, unique features. Maybe if the planting bed between the fence and sidewalk “went away” at the driveway, it would be enough differentiation, adding that hardscape is difficult to deal with. Chair Manning agreed that no planter at the driveway, in order to visually signal the change between the lawn and driveway would be a good thing. Mr. Heide added that their concern includes the view from inside the bedrooms, but they will revisit the issue. He requested that the driveway and front terrace have another pre-application review once they have taken the commissioners’ comments into account. Chair Manning summarized the review by stating that the HPC expresses comfort with the additions, the space needs to reflect visually physical changes and how it’s read from the street needs to be taken into account. He added that staff could probably handle a meeting in lieu of a second pre-application review. The staff will need construction-level plans before the design review application can be approved. Staff added that the project will need to come in front of the HPC for public hearing with the final plans, which is when public input and testimony would be included.

Update on 701 Summit

2010-01-01T13:25:00.000-06:00

The following is from the SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION, November 5, 2009

701 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District, by Tom Johnson, for a building permit to alter the design of the terra cotta tiles on the east and west elevation bay and bump-out. File #10-002 design of the terra cotta tiles on the east and west elevation bay and bump-out. File #10-002 (Nelson, 266-6715) Laid over from the October 22 Meeting.

Staff read the report last meeting for the public record, but re-read the staff recommendation. Since the original staff report, staff has been in touch with a custom clay tile company in Colorado who could reproduce the tiles. There was another bid for 80 tiles that would cost $2750. Commissioner Thomas asked if any other sources for tiles had been found. There was written testimony from a neighbor that listed seven sources they found online of custom tile makers. Commissioner Thomas mentioned Mercer Tileworks in Doylestown, PA, that may be a possible resource. The applicant, Thomas Johnson, searched for tiles locally, asked two architects, North Prairie Tile Works in Minneapolis and a Milwaukee brick maker, for information on finding tiles or custom making them. No one he spoke with could guarantee an exact match, due to the ridges on both sides of the tiles. Since the original submittal, the owner stated he would like to modify his application. The estate owners found several tiles in the basement of the house, and they have been able to fill a large portion of the biggest gap with them. The applicant proposes to remove one row of the shaped tiles from the west elevation, instead of the two rows originally proposed. Commissioner Trout-Oertel stated that she had been at the site today and the shaped tiles were also on a shed roof area toward the rear, and it could be possible to replace the tiles on the shed with flat tiles that have already been purchased. Commissioner Igo asked if the newly found tiles, the shed tiles and with just one row from the opposite bay fill in the remaining spaces. The applicant stated that the largest gap should be able to be filled with the current tiles, but he is not sure about how far under the windows can be filled in. Commissioner Trout-Oertel mentioned that not all of the tiles on the shed were in good enough shape to be used on the bay. Commissioner Igo asked Mr. Johnson if he was OK with moving tiles from the shed, which he was, “definitely.” Chair Manning asked if there was anyone else to speak on this item; there was not. Staff read the written testimony, three neighbors whose general consensus was that replica replacement tiles should be found. Staff then mentioned that there are code enforcement orders on this property, so there is a limited time frame to get the work done. Commissioner Igo asked if the $2750 estimate was for the mold or tiles; staff believes it was for making the tiles. He then asked other commissioners to comment on their thoughts for removing tiles from the shed. Commissioner Igo made a motion to prioritize the options, letting staff oversee and approve the final work. He wanted all efforts to find a tile company to be pursued, although Mr. Johnson spoke up to say that the estate does not have the financial means for that option. Commissioner Trimble believes that it would be OK to take tiles from a feature that isn’t a character defining one. He amended the motion to say that the first option should be to reuse tiles found in the basement and from the shed roof area. Then reproduction should be the next step, and finally removing one row from the west elevation’s bay to fill in on the east elevation. Discussion on the motion was opened, and Commissioner Trout-Oertel said they were close to having enough tiles, and it would be a shame to remove anything from the bay that is intact. It may be a better idea to leave that bay as designed, and find reproduction tiles. She also brought up that in coming years, more tiles will need replacement and it would be a good idea to find them as soon as possible. Commissioners Igo and Trimble clarified that Commissioner Trout-Oertel would like to remove the third option of their motion, which she did. Commissioner Carey wants to remove the option of disrupting the intact bay. Commissioners Igo and Trimble were in agreement that the motion should be amended. The first option should be to reuse tile found in the building and from the shed roof area. The applicant should work with HPC staff to find reproduction tiles to fill in remaining gaps. Commissioner Thomas brought up the shed and asked how it was characterized, and added that there should be documentation of its original character. Commissioner Trout-Oertel agreed, but added that it is a relatively small section of shaped tiles on the shed, so little character will be lost, especially when the flat tiles will be continued. Chair Manning asked that staff get documentation of the shed as it looks today, before tiles start to be removed. The motion carried, 5-0.

HPC Agenda--UST Item

2009-11-13T21:51:00.000-06:00

Public Hearing Agenda
Thursday, November 19, 2009
5:00 p.m.

Item VII.

"Old Business
A. University of St. Thomas Student Center, 2115 Summit Avenue,
Summit Avenue West Historic District – by OPUS, pre-application review for
the construction of a 225,000 square feet Student Center at the northeast
corner of Summit and Cretin. This is a continuation of the discussion
started on November 5. (Spong, 266-6714)."

701 Summit Roof

2009-10-28T22:51:00.002-05:00

Here is the 9/30/09 HPC Staff Review:

CITY OF SAINT PAUL
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT

FILE NAME: 701 Summit Avenue
DATE OF APPLICATION: September 30, 2009
APPLICANT: Thomas M. Johnson
OWNER: Louise Miller O’Neil Estate
DATE OF HEARING: October 22, 2009
HPC SITE/DISTRICT: Hill Historic District
CATEGORY: Pivotal
CLASSIFICATION: building permit
STAFF INVESTIGATION AND REPORT: Christine Boulware
DATE: October 14, 2009

A. SITE DESCRIPTION:
The W.H. Elsinger House at 701 Summit Avenue was designed by Clarence H. Johnston, Sr. and built by the St. Paul Building Co. in 1898. According to the inventory form, this house is historically significant as the home of St. Paul businessman W.H. Elsinger, owner of the Aberdeen Hotel, partner in the firm of W.H. Elsinger and Company. It is architecturally significant as an impressive, massive house designed by a prominent local architect who must have collaborated with the architect of the house next door, Cass Gilbert, since they were both built the same year and compliment each other so well. Constructed of rock-faced buff-colored limestone, this two-and-one-half story house has an intersecting hip and gable red tile roof with two small gabled dormers with stone crenellations at the base. There is one stone exterior chimney. Though the facade is somewhat symmetrical, it has a rounded corner turret on the east side. There is a hipped roof open porch with three, wide arched openings supported by squat light-colored stone columns which are round and have medieval inspired capitals. The property is classified as pivotal to the Hill Historic District.

B. PROPOSED CHANGES:
The applicant proposes to:
1. Remove the bottom two rows of unique clay tiles from the west side of the building and replace with flat clay tiles of a similar age.
2. Remove the bottom two rows of unique clay tile from the damaged east side of the building and replace with flat clay tiles of a similar age.
3. Fill in the damaged areas of the east elevation with the previously removed unique clay tiles.
4. Fill in the north corner of the east elevation bump-out with flat clay tiles.

C. GUIDELINE CITATIONS:
Historic Hill District Guidelines
Restoration and Rehabilitation
1. Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide a compatible use for a property which requires minimal alteration of the building, structure, or site and its environment, or to use a property for its originally intended purpose.
2. The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure, or site and its environment shall not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible.
3. All buildings, structures, and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged.
4. Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure, or site and its environment. Theses changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected.
5. Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure, or site shall be treated with sensitivity.
6. Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, whenever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historic, physical, or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures.
7. The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken.
8. Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archaeological resources affected by, or adjacent to any project.
9. Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical, architectural or cultural material, and such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material, and character of the property, neighborhood, or environment.
10. Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to structures shall be done in such a manner that if such alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the structure would be unimpaired.
Siding and Surface Treatment:
Deteriorated siding materials should be replaced with material used in original construction or with materials that resemble the appearance of the old as closely as possible. Resurfacing frame buildings with new material such as artificial stone, artificial brick veneer, or asbestos and asphalt shingles is inappropriate and should not be done. Four-inch lap vinyl, metal, or hardboard siding may be used in some cases to resurface clapboard structures, especially structures categorized as non-contributive to the district, if well detailed, well designed and in keeping with the historic character of the structure. Ventilation must be carefully provided when using these products to prevent damage to the original wood fabric by trapping moisture. The width, pattern and profile of the original siding should be duplicated. Residing should not alter the profile of bordering trim such as drip caps, frieze boards and corner boards; if replacement is necessary, they should be matched. Color is a significant design element, and paint colors should be appropriate to the period and style of the structure. Building permits are not required for painting, and although the Historic Preservation Commission may review and comment on paint color, paint color is not subject to Heritage Preservation Commission approval.

Porches and Exterior Architectural Features:
Decorative architectural features such as cornices, brackets, railings, and those around front doors and windows should be preserved. New material used to repair or replace, where necessary, deteriorated architectural features of wood, iron, cast iron, terra-cotta, tile and brick should match the original as closely as possible.

D. FINDINGS:
1. The property is classified as pivotal to the historical and architectural integrity of the Hill Historic District.
2. The unique tiles on the east elevation of the building have unfortunately suffered quite a bit of damage from the elements and branches of a nearby tree. The applicant has worked with staff over the last year to brainstorm ideas for repair and replacement and discuss information about companies that manufacture and replicate clay tiles. The uniquely shaped tiles on the upper portions of the bump-out and bay on the east and west elevations were not able to be located. The flat clay tiles at the base were able to be located. The tiles are an original character defining feature of the property. The guideline states, the removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible. In this situation the damage has already been done and the applicant is proposing to retain as much of the original material as possible and introduce new tiles in a slightly different pattern to keep the relationship of the shingle pattern as close to the original as possible.
3. The damaged tiles are beyond repair. Replacement would be the next step, if replacement tiles could be located or reproduced. According to the applicant, reproductions were not possible. The new tiles will not match the damaged tiles above, but will match the flat tiles below in material, composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities. This complies with the guidelines.
4. This proposal will retain as much of the original material as possible, but will alter the shingle pattern slightly, thus it will have slight negative impact on the property and the program for preservation in the Hill Historic District.

E. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Based on the findings, staff recommends approval of the application as proposed and would encourage the applicant to continue to look for a manufacturer who could reproduce the uniquely shaped clay tiles should the need for replacement come up in the near future.

Upcoming Items Before the HPC

2009-10-28T22:27:00.006-05:00

701 Summit
701 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District, by Tom Johnson, for a
building permit to alter the design of the terra cotta tiles on the east and west
elevation bay and bump-out. File #10-002 (Nelson, 266-6715) Laid over
from the October 22 Meeting.

image from St Paul Phototour

This house was designed by architect Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.

SARPA has an inquiry to the staff at the HPC to get more information about the proposed work. We will post it to the blog as soon as we have it.

977 Summit

977 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District – by David Heide
Design Studio, pre-application review for a complete interior and
exterior renovation including, alteration of the front entrance and
terrace, construction of two rear and side elevation additions,
conversion of the tuck-under garages into living space and alteration of
the driveway. Also proposed is removing the two-stall garage at the
alley, and constructing a four-stall garage and other site improvements
(Spong, 266-6714).

image from St Paul Phototour

St. Thomas

University of St. Thomas Student Center, 2115 Summit Avenue,
Summit Avenue West Historic District – by OPUS, pre-application
review for the construction of a 225,000 square feet Student Center at
the northeast corner of Summit and Cretin (Spong, 266-6714).

Check the WSNAC website for information on UST.

Summit Items on HPC Agenda

2009-10-26T21:35:00.002-05:00

Upcoming HPC Business Meeting

Thursday, November 5, 2009
5:00 p.m.

There are three Summit Avenue items on the agenda.

Excerpts from the "Business Meeting Agenda":

Public Hearing Design Review
A. 701 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District, by Tom Johnson, for a
building permit to alter the design of the terra cotta tiles on the east and west
elevation bay and bump-out. File #10-002 (Nelson, 266-6715) Laid over
from the October 22 Meeting.

Pre-Application Review
A. 977 Summit Avenue, Hill Historic District – by David Heide
Design Studio, pre-application review for a complete interior and
exterior renovation including, alteration of the front entrance and
terrace, construction of two rear and side elevation additions,
conversion of the tuck-under garages into living space and alteration of
the driveway. Also proposed is removing the two-stall garage at the
alley, and constructing a four-stall garage and other site improvements
(Spong, 266-6714).

B. University of St. Thomas Student Center, 2115 Summit Avenue,
Summit Avenue West Historic District – by OPUS, pre-application
review for the construction of a 225,000 square feet Student Center at
the northeast corner of Summit and Cretin (Spong, 266-6714).

Historic Tour in White Bear Lake

2009-09-16T13:24:00.003-05:00

The Ramsey Hill House Tour was last weekend, if you missed it or are just hankering to walk through more historic houses, our neighbor city White Bear Lake has their White Bear Historical Home Tour is THIS SUNDAY, September 20,2009 from 12-6pm!

How to purchase your tickets:
1. By phone: 651-407-5327
2. At the Depot - Hwy 61 and 4th Street. Depot hours are 10 am – 4 pm, Tuesday through Friday, and 10 am – 1 pm on Saturdays.
3. By mail – make check payable to “WBLAHS” and send to PO Box 10543, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
4. Online at http://www.whitebearhistory.org/Tickets.htm

Tickets are $25 each before the tour, $20 for WBLAHS members and $30 the day of the tour for everyone. Visa/MasterCard/Discover accepted. Tickets purchased by phone, mail or online may be mailed up until September 11th Or picked up at the Depot through September 19th. Or picked up at the Fillebrown House the day of the tour.

Fall 2009 Street Closures

2009-09-11T18:08:00.018-05:00

Labor Day was Monday, which means the end of the State Fair, the start of school, and the beginning of Fall here in the northland. For Summit Avenue, Fall brings the St Paul Bike Classic and the Twin Cities Marathon.

Bike Classic: Sunday 9/13/09

Summit Avenue will not be closed to car traffic for the Bike Classic, however, parking will be restricted on the North side of the street on Sunday, September 13th, 2009 during the event in order to provide an expanded bike lane (From the Classic's website, "On some open streets, like Summit Avenue, a wide lane is provided for cyclists). The bike ride--it is not a race, just a fun family-friendly event--will begin at Cretin and Summit, and I imagine there will be a bit of a bottle neck there around the two start times of 7:15 AM and 9:15 AM. For more information, check out their website or the course map.

Marathon: Sunday 10/4/09

Summit Avenue will be closed for the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday October 4, 2009 from 6:50 AM until around 2:00 PM for most of Summit, for more information, check out TC Marathon's page on road closures and Marathon Course Information.

Pre-Marathon: Saturday 10/3/09

The East end of Summit, from the Cathedral to Pascal Street, will be closed to all traffic on Saturday morning October 3rd, 2009 at approx. 8:20 a.m. until approx. 11:30 a.m. for a 5k Fun Run. For more information, check out TC Marathon's page on road closures.

Tree Work

Many SARPA members and readers of this blog will remember back a score and some years ago when Dutch Elm disease swept though St Paul, thinning much of the gorgeous canopy of trees along Summit. Unfortunately, tough times for trees have returned to St Paul. I came across a two block closure of Summit this afternoon toward the eastern end of the Avenue, and in the middle found a crew of tree workers. I immediately guessed it was the Emerald Ash Borer, a reasonable assumption since the borer was discovered in St Paul this Spring. And while it is likely that there are ash trees along Summit that will come down, the tree being removed today was a 100+ year old Elm struck down by the old tree killer, Dutch Elm Disease.

For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer locally, the University of Minnesota Extension Services offers the following advice if you have an ash tree:

Ash trees lack a way to defend against these pests. Once an ash is attacked, it will be killed.
Look for 1/8 inch, D-shaped exit holes in trees. These are the result of borers leaving the tree once they have become adults.
Do not apply insecticides to ash trees out of the likely range of emerald ash borer.
Do not transport firewood, even within Minnesota.
Extension has close to 200 volunteers trained as emerald ash borer First Detectors. These volunteers can help homeowners determine if their ash trees have been attacked.
If you think you have found emerald ash borer, go through the steps at Do I have emerald ash borer? (246 K PDF) to be sure. Those without internet access can call Forest Resources Extension at 612-624-3020.

More Ash Borer Information:

Local blog with a wealth of information about the ash borer, including great images.
City of St Paul website: the city's plan to dealing with the ash borer.

Cass Gilbert 150th Birthday Party

2009-09-10T15:35:00.005-05:00

150th Birthday Celebration for Famous Minnesota Capitol Architect Cass Gilbert

Join the Party Saturday, November 21st

The Cass Gilbert Society will host a celebration to honor this nationally recognized architect whose buildings are an important part of Minnesota history.

The 150th Birthday Celebration for Cass Gilbert will begin at 2pm on Saturday, November 21, 2009 with a free tour of the Minnesota State Capitol. Guides from the Minnesota State Historical Society will focus on the Cass Gilbert story and the architectural details of the capitol. These free tours, which begin at 2pm, require reservations by calling 651-296-2881. A LEGO(TM) model of the capitol will be on display to delight visitors young and old.

An exhibit highlighting 50 years of buildings designed by Cass Gilbert will be on display in the North Corridor of the capitol building and continue to be available for public view for two weeks following the celebration.

Festivities will include a birthday cake that will be served in the capitol’s Rathskeller at 3:30pm. This event is free an open to the public.

Gilbert’s first residence in St. Paul was built on Ashland Avenue for his mother. Soon his commissions included churches, office buildings, railroad stations and commercial buildings in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and Montana. He designed several homes along Summit Avenue, including the Lightner House at 318 Summit, pictured below.

In 1895 Cass Gilbert was selected to design the new state capitol in Minnesota. This job enhanced his career and brought him national recognition. In 1899, he won the commission for the U.S. Custom House in New York. The same year he opened his New York office and moved to New York.

Gilbert would go on to design many buildings in New York. In 1913, he completed the Woolworth Building in New York City. It would stand as the world’s tallest building for over a decade. His work was recognized throughout the United States. Cass Gilbert’s last building was the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.

The Cass Gilbert Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 to preserve and enhance the nation’s cultural heritage by advancing scholarship and appreciation of Cass Gilbert’s contribution to American architecture. Membership in the society is open to all. To join go to www.cassgilbertsociety.org.

For more information contact: Cindy Stephani 612/719-8419
www.cassgilbertsociety.org

SARPA Annual Meeting: Sept. 10th

2009-08-26T16:52:00.002-05:00

SARPA Annual Meeting
Thursday September 10th, 2009
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
1731 Summit Avenue

Business Meeting/ Elections 7:15 PM
Wine/Desserts 7:45 PM

Please RSVP via email: SARPAexpress@gmail.com

Upcoming Happenings for the St Paul History Buff

2009-08-18T11:10:00.004-05:00

The Ramsey Hill Association's 2009 House Tour is coming up next month and tickets are available for purchase online. Ramsey Hill is a historic neighborhood that includes Summit Avenue east of Dale Street:

http://www.ramseyhill.org/tour.php

The Cass Gilbert Society's next event will be a celebration of his 150th birthday in November. There will be free tours of the Capitol building. Information is not yet up on the CGS website, but for those who are interested check back with their website as we get closer to November:

http://www.cassgilbertsociety.org/cgs/events.html

The Summit Hill Association will be publishing a history of Summit Hill this fall:

http://www.summithillassociation.org//files/uploaded_files/6.9.09_history_book_flyer.pdf

Finally, the MN Historical Society has tours of the James J Hill House, including walking tours of Summit Avenue.

http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/jjhh/

They even have a virtual tour podcast online:

http://discussions.mnhs.org/tours/category/summit-avenue/

Summer on Summit

2009-06-04T11:34:00.011-05:00

A hearty thank you to the SARPA volunteers who planted the urns on the bridge over Ayd Mill (that's "the Shortline" to old school St. Paulites).

Summit got a fresh coat of white wash on its bike lanes this week, just in time for some of the best biking weather of the year. Perhaps we will have Garden Stroll attendees on bicycle this year? Or...

If you are in search of a novel way to explore Summit, there are options! For the technologically inclined--the SEGWAY Tour, or for active socialites, there's the PEDAL Pub.

Summit Segway Tours

I found this article in the 6/4/2009 Pioneer Press:

Segway tours are set to roll down Summit Avenue this summer

By Julio Ojeda-Zapata

If you're strolling on Summit Avenue sometime soon, look out for Segway stampedes. You're actually in little danger, but pay attention as drivers of the upright scooters roll by — likely with smiles on their faces.

They're partaking in a global trend: the Segway history tour, now coming to St. Paul.
Segway creator Dean Kamen thought he would revolutionize inner-city transportation with his gyroscopically balanced one-person vehicle, but this never came to pass. Like other consumer technologies, though, Kamen's invention has been put to unforeseen uses.
Entrepreneurs like Bill Neuenschwander, of Minneapolis, have snapped up dozens of the scooters and used them to offer history tours for visitors and others who want to see cities from a fresh vantage point.

This month, Neuenschwander, who has been leading Segway expeditions along the downtown Minneapolis riverfront for years, will realize his longtime dream of expanding into the east metro with Summit Avenue scooter tours.

His partner in this endeavor, the Minnesota History Center outside downtown St. Paul, is letting him use the facility as a staging ground with easy access to points of interest, such as the James J. Hill House and the Cathedral.

Segway tours offer unique advantages, Neuenschwander said. "We can go into alleyways and little nooks" along Summit that are not accessible on bus tours while covering much more ground than walking tours allow.

Segway tours won't replace other, traditional ways to see the metro sights, said Wendy Jones, manager of the History Center. But she said Segway tours provide "a hook you can use to get people engaged in history and connected to their neighborhoods. I think you should use that hook."

The History Center has followed Neuenschwander's Segway exploits for years, partly because his Segway Magical History Tours in Minneapolis stop at the Mill City Museum. The History Center even was inspired to buy a Segway of its own, Jones said. That scooter is being used by facility staffers to teach visitors about transportation.

"The kids are fascinated by the Segway," Jones said. "And this will get them to look at other things in the exhibit."

The History Center has no role in determining how Neuenschwander's tours will be conducted, Jones said, but it has allowed him to use a room in the facility for Segway orientations before participants head off on 90-minute journeys.

This formula is being repeated hundreds of times around the world by Segway entrepreneurs who are finding this to be a profitable business formula "if done properly," said Carol Valianti, vice president of global communications for Bedford, N.H.-based Segway Inc.

The company monitors and regulates the Segway tours organized by its scooter dealers "so we can hold them to certain standards, such as training and helmet requirements," Valianti said.
Segway takes a more hands-off approach with independent operations, such as Neuenschwander's Mobile Entertainment, that only offer tours and do not sell Segways.
Segway tours first appeared in Paris after the scooter's 2001 debut and quickly spread around the globe to state parks, beach areas, historical monuments and inner cities.

"It's not only what you're seeing" on such a tour, "but a new way to see it," Valianti said.
She pointed to one prominent Segway tour operator: Disney. Segways have seen increasing use at the company's Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Fla., initially in the futuristic Epcot area, and more recently in other parts of the operation, such as the Fort Wilderness Resort.
Segway Guided Tours, an online Segway tour directory created by Twin Cities native Joe Brown, recently tallied its 300th such listing, Adventure Tours of Idaho, based in downtown Boise.
Florida leads the nation with 29 tours, according to the site, followed by California with 28 locations and Texas with 16. (Mobile Entertainment is the sole Minnesota listing.) The site lists 115 locations in this country, along with tours in such far-flung locales as Latvia and Zambia.
In Minnesota, Neuenschwander plans to beef up his fleet of 85 Segways with 20 more scooters to accommodate his east metro clientele (with tours starting June 15). He is up from about 20 of the vehicles when he started his company in July 2003.

Despite a tanking economy that is causing consumers to rein in discretionary spending, Neuenschwander said he is seeing continued demand for tours with a significant surge last month compared with the same period in 2008. Clients include tourists, companies having team-building exercises and residents seeking to give out-of-town visitors a thrill. "People are willing to pay for an experience," he said.

The ever-entrepreneurial Neuenschwander, meanwhile, is looking beyond Segways. He's looking to invest in a fleet of scooter-like electric bicycles with more speed and range, allowing him to conduct daylong tours of the metro area with meals included.

"It's going to be a hoot," he said.

Summit Pedal Pub "Tours"

Photo by Pedalpub LLC

According to its website, PedalPub is a bicyle-like vehicle designed by the Dutch that you can rent for tours. They have several routes your can chose from around the metro area. The route that travels on Summit for seven blocks on its eastern side is not really a Summit Avenue tour; instead the real destinations of the tour are the local watering holes on Selby Avenue, Grand Avenue and Dale Street. You can book your own tour, however, so for the truly intrepid, you could pedal the entire 4.75 miles of Summit--caution, though, at an average speed of 5 mph, the round trip is going to take at least a couple of hours.

UST and Grand Avenue

2009-05-21T22:06:00.003-05:00

UST article in the May 20, 2009 Villager:

Deadline Looms for Selling Grand Lots

St. Thomas, neighbors are at odds over the marketing of off-campus property

By JANE MCCLURE

Local residents on the West Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee (WSNAC) have turned heir thumbs down on St. Thomas' latest proposal for selling off three residential properties on Grand Avenue across the street from the university's campus.

Prospective developers Craig Anderson arid Frank Greczyna had asked WSNAC on May 12 what it thought about changing the zoning of one of the three contiguous properties from residential back to commercial.

The zoning of the lot at 2076 Grand, which has a maintenance garage on it, was changed from commercial to residential as part of the 2004 agreement among St. Thomas, its neighbors and the City of St. Paul that allowed the university to extend its campus to the two blocks bounded by Summit, Cleveland Grand and Cretin avenues.

According to Anderson, the cost to acquire all three properties and demolish the existing buildings is too great to make redeveloping all three lots as housing feasible in the current market. The two houses at 2080 and 2084 Grand could be renovated and sold, but that leaves the maintenance garage. "When the heck can you do with that?" Anderson asked.

Anderson suggested reopening the 2004 agreement to allow the rezoning of 2076 Grand to commercial use.

WSNAC members representing the Macalester-Groveland and Union Park distriuct councils, the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association and Neighbors United made it clear at they are opposed to any change that would force the reopening of the university's special condition use permit and the complex legal agreement that ammended it in 2004.

"It's frustrating to me that we’re in this situation,” said WSNAC co-chair Scott Banas. According to him, any amendment could unravel the entire 2004 agreement and negate years of progress in university-neighborhood relations.

The fear is that if the special condition use permit is reopened to address one issue, its other-points could all come into play as well.

The 2004 agreement created WSNAC and the processes used to review campus projects. It requires St. Thomas to buy 30 rental houses in the neighborhood around the campus over the course of 12 years and return them to owner-occupied status. The agreement also calls for the university to sell all of its off-campus properties by August 11, 2009.

The off-campus properties are to be sold strictly to owner-occupants and are not to be redeveloped as student housing. The intent of this provision was to discourage the longstanding practice of property owners in the neighborhood around St. Thomas from selling or bequeathing their property to the university, according to Marc Manderscheid, a Macalester-Groveland resident an member of WSNAC.

Over the past few years, three prospective buyers have backed out of plans to redevelop, the three Grand Avenue properties. "Were going to continue to market them and try our best to sell them,” said Mark Vangsayd, St. Thomas' chief financial officer.

“But clearly we're running out of time,” said Doug Hennes, St. Thomas’ vice president for intergovernmental relations. "We honestly thought we could sell properties, but life has gotten a lot more complicated,” he said, referring to the downturn in the housing market.

St. Thomas officials asked WSNAC members last month if the university could continue to use the maintenance garage until a new maintenance facility is built as part of the new Anderson Athletic complex that will be completed in the next couple years. However, WSNAC rejected that idea because of its potential for reopening the university’s special conditional use permit.

WSNAC members discussed redeveloping the three properties as rental housing, possibly for senior citizens, but that would also require reopening the 2004 agreement. Another idea is to allow the maintenance garage property to be redeveloped as a parking lot for a nearby business. Davanni's restaurant just to the cast had expressed an interest in the property a few years ago.

A few WSNAC members suggested knocking down the garage and selling it as a side yard for the adjacent house. Another suggestion was to demolish the maintenance garage and move a house onto the lot. St. Thomas owns all but one of the houses remaining in the two block campus expansion area and has plans to redevelop those properties with either classroom buildings or student housing.

Garden Stroll June 28th, 2009

2009-05-18T16:50:00.004-05:00

Sunday, June 28, 2009, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Visitors can explore 10 gardens along Summit Avenue in
St. Paul.

The Tea will be from 3 to 5 pm and will include a display
of Victorian dresses and hats. Cost of the Stroll is $10; Stroll and
Tea $20.

Garden Stroll Date Announced: June 28th

2009-05-11T08:41:00.004-05:00

SARPA's Garden Stroll will be held again this June on Sunday June 28th, 2009. Mark your calendar. More details will be forthcoming.

19th Annual Saint Paul Preservation Awards

2009-05-10T08:46:00.000-05:00

"This Place Matters"

May 2009 is National Preservation Month

The Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Commission and the Saint Paul Chapter of the American Institute of Architects cordially invite you to attend the 19th Annual Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Awards Program. The Preservation Awards recognize projects, individuals and organizations that enhance and celebrate Saint Paul's history and promote preservation values and compatible design for a more livable city.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Social Hour at 6:00 pm Awards Program 7:00-8:30 pm

Saint Paul City Hall - Lower Level Concourse & Rm. 40 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul

(Use Fourth Street Entrance)
Suggested $5.00 donation at the door (award recipients free)

RSVP: To Judith Van Dyne at AlA Minnesota by May 18, phone (612) 338-6763

Mother's Day Event: Cass Gilbert Walking Tour

2009-05-05T08:05:00.004-05:00

A CASS GILBERT TOUR FOR MOTHER’S DAY, May 10, 2009--Hosted by the Cass Gilbert Society. (www.cassgilbertsociety.org)

Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tours at 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM

The tour will begin on the lower end of Summit Avenue and will highlight the famous Minnesota architect's projects in the historic Ramsey Hill Neighborhood.

The tours are walking tours, so plan for the weather and wear good walking shoes.

From the CGS website:

Celebrate Mother’s Day by joining the Cass Gilbert Society in a tour of Cass Gilbert’s work on Summit Hill and Ramsey Hill. Gilbert and his family had long associations with the neighborhood, from his first independent commission, the house he designed in 1882 for his mother Elizabeth Gilbert on Ashland Avenue, to the house he designed for himself on Heather Place, to a wide variety of residences for prosperous clients in fashionable architectural styles. In addition, the tour will view the work of Gilbert’s early partner, James Knox Taylor, and his chief draftsman and protégé, Thomas Holyoke.

The tour will be offered at two times. The first tour will begin at 2:00 p.m.; the second tour will begin at 3:30 p.m. The tours will follow the same route in both time slots. Architects Thomas Blanck and Sonja Mason and architectural historian Marjorie Pearson will be the tour guides. All tours will begin at Lookout Park, at the junction of Summit Avenue and Ramsey Street, east of the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul. The cost will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members, payable at the beginning of the tour. Each tour participant will receive a tour book that combines information from two previous Cass Gilbert Society tours in the area. For further information, call Marjorie Pearson, 612-338-1987 (days).

Traffic Safety

2009-04-17T10:29:00.008-05:00

A bicyclist was killed on Summit in 2008. (See previous post.) The place of her death is marked with a white "ghost bike" and the city has re-configured the interesection to make the stop sign more obvious to motorists (albeit with temporary-looking pilons and signage). This tragedy and the return of warm weather remind us of the importance of sharing the road.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has released preliminary statisitics for last year's traffic deaths. Fourteen bicylists died on Minnesota roads, up from four in 2007. While the number of bicyclists killed pales in comparison to the number of people in motorized vehicles (399) or even pedestrians (25), the sharp increase (as well as Summit's fatal accident being one of the 14) gives pause. The good news, the total number of traffic deaths (424) is the lowest since 1944.

As you enjoy driving up and down Summit, please remember to watch out for bicycles, runners and strollers. And if you are strolling, biking or running, use reasonable caution, and if biking, don't forget your helmet.

Here's the complete report, for interested parties: 2008 Traffic Deaths in MN (requires Acrobat reader).

WSNAC Meeting Agenda for tomorrow 4/7/09

2009-04-06T22:41:00.004-05:00

WEST SUMMIT NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT AND TPS & SR SUBCOMMITTEES
6:30 P.M. TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2009
152 MURRAY-HERRICK CAMPUS CENTER

6:30 Introductions

6:35 Draft construction management plan for athletic-rec complex
(Doug; Beth Duyvejonck of Opus)

6:55 Draft construction management plan for Sitzmann Hall addition
(Doug)

7:15 Safety improvement at Grand-Cretin-ramp intersection
(Leo)

7:30 Cretin/Summit-Grand pedestrian crossing safety
(Leo, Elis)

7:40 Purchase agreement for 2076-2080-2084 Grand
(John)

7:50 Miscellaneous

Notes:
(1) Doug will e-mail two construction management plans to everyone by
Monday [provided in Blog post below]
(2) No student center issues on April 7 agenda (at this time)

Sitzmann Hall Update

2009-04-06T20:39:00.004-05:00

Copied below are the drafts of two construction management plans, one for the addition to Sitzmann Hall and the other for the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex.

These plans will be discussed at the joint meeting of the WSNAC Campus Development and Traffic, Parking, Safety and Student Relations subcommittees at:

6:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 7),
152 Murray-Herrick.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS AND MCGOUGH COMPANIES
SITZMANN HALL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN
FIRST DRAFT

April 6, 2009

Introduction

McGough Companies will begin construction around May 1, 2009, of an addition to Sitzmann Hall on the northeast corner of Summit and Cleveland avenues.

The four-level, 4,700-square-foot addition will provide additional offices, a chapel, a classroom and storage space for the Center for Catholic Studies, which has occupied Sitzmann since 2003. McGough expects a six-month construction period, with plans to occupy the new areas by Nov. 1.

Timetable

Here is a timetable of anticipated activities. The schedule is subject to change, depending on weather conditions and progress made by crews. The university will update its campus construction web site every Friday from May until the project concludes.

• May 1: A construction fence is installed around the construction site.

• May 8-14: The site is excavated over five working days.

• May 15-29: Footings and foundations are poured over 10 working days.

• May 22-June 5: The elevator shaft is installed over 10 working days.

• June 1-July 7: The structure and exterior are constructed.

• July 7-13: The interior is roughed in.

• July 31-Aug. 20: Exterior brick is laid and roofing is installed.

• July 31-Oct. 9: The interior is completed.

• Sept. 1-15: The site is landscaped.

• Oct. 12-30: The building is furnished and equipped.

• Nov. 1: Faculty and staff move in.

Construction crews

Construction crews will work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

McGough expects 20 employees on the site. They will park in the ramp at Cretin and Grand avenues or in Lot H, where Opus crews working on the athletic and recreation complex will park.

Construction vehicle traffic

Construction vehicles will use Cleveland and drive onto the property at its northwest corner (Cleveland and the alley). The staging area will include the backyard, the parking lane on the east side of Cleveland from a spot 25 feet north of Summit to the alley, and the equivalent of two parking spaces on the east side of Cleveland north of the alley. A chain-link fence will be installed to separate the staging area from the northbound Cleveland driving lane.

During the week of May 4, excavation crews will remove an estimated 60 truckloads (600 cubic yards) of soil, or an average of 12 loads per day. Trucks leaving the site will turn north on Cleveland to Marshall and west on Marshall to Cretin.

Dust and dirt mitigation

McGough will follow Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and industry standards in controlling dust and dirt during demolition, excavation and construction activities.

The construction site will be watered as necessary to keep the dust problems to a minimum, and Cleveland will be swept and cleaned on an as-needed basis.

Street closings or delays

As noted above, part of the parking lane on the east side of Cleveland will be closed.

Part or all of Cleveland between Portland and Summit will be closed for up to two days in July to allow the city to install a new water main and sanitary sewer near the curb cut of the existing three-car parking bay along the east side of Sitzmann.

Construction site noise

Noise is expected to have minimal impact on the neighborhood. Most construction-related noises will be muffled by the sound of motor vehicle traffic on nearby streets.

Communications

St. Thomas will coordinate all construction project communication.

John Hershey will be the primary contact, with Doug Hennes as a secondary contact. Calls should go to them – not to McGough employees. John and Doug will have regular contact with St. Thomas employees coordinating the construction activities and the McGough on-site superintendent, and will address concerns as quickly as possible.

Beginning in early May, St. Thomas will maintain a construction page on its Web site (www.stthomas.edu/constructionprojects. The page will be updated every Friday, with a recap of what occurred that week and a preview of what will occur in the weeks ahead.

++++

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS AND OPUS NORTHWEST
ANDERSON ATHLETIC AND RECREATION COMPLEX
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN
FIRST DRAFT

April 6, 2009

Introduction

Opus Northwest will begin construction of the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul on May 26, 2009.

The center will be constructed on the site of the existing Schoenecker Arena, Coughlan Field House and Foley Theater, all of which will be demolished in June. The center, which will include a basketball and volleyball arena, field house with 200-meter track, swimming pool, fitness center, weight room, offices and classrooms, will open by Oct. 1, 2010.

Pending Board of Trustees approval, St. Thomas expects to raze a fourth building – the adjacent O’Shaughnessy Hall – in the summer of 2010 to make way for the new Anderson Student Center on the northeast corner of Summit and Cretin avenues. The student center would open in January 2012.

Timetable

Here is a timetable of anticipated activities. The schedule is subject to change, depending on weather conditions and progress made by crews. The university will update its campus construction web site every Friday from June 2009 until the project concludes in October 2010.

• Mid-April-May 29: Demolition preparation occurs in Foley, Schoenecker and Coughlan, including asbestos abatement in Foley.

• May 26: A construction fence is installed around the building and the staging area, which includes a portion of Lot H.

• June 1: Demolition begins on Foley, Schoenecker and Coughlan, and could take three weeks.

• June 22: Excavation begins for utility tunnels, foundations and water-retention pools.

• July: Work begins on below-grade concrete footings and foundations.

• Mid-July/August: Structural precast and structural steel erection begins.

• September-March: The structure and exterior of the new complex are constructed.

• March-September (2010): Interior and specialty work is completed.

• October (2010): Athletic, faculty and staff members move into the new complex.

Construction crews

Construction crews will work from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, although their schedules could be extended to 6 p.m. during the summer to take advantage of the weather. Crews may work an occasional Saturday if necessary to stay on schedule, with shifts beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Opus expects an average of 40-50 employees on the site during the summer 2009, with crew sizes slowly increasing and running as high as 100+ during the winter and spring of 2010. Crew members will park in Lot H.

Construction vehicle traffic

A site plan will be submitted to the City of St. Paul for approval of construction truck routes.

Construction vehicles will use Cretin, usually coming from Interstate 94, and will not travel on residential streets (e.g., Summit Avenue and Mississippi River Boulevard). The entrance to Lot H from Cretin will be the main entrance point to the site. Most, if not all, vehicles will used the fenced-in staging area of Lot H for layovers. Construction traffic will exit onto Cretin.

During the three-week demolition stage, crews will remove an estimated TBD truckloads (TBD cubic yards) of debris and average TBD loads a day. Trucks leaving the site will turn onto Cretin.

During the four-week site excavation stage, crews will remove an estimated 820 truckloads (13,000 cubic yards) of debris and average 40 loads a day. Trucks leaving the site will turn onto Cretin.

Truck arrivals and departures will be staggered as much as possible to reduce the amount of time that they have to idle on the site.

Dust and dirt mitigation

Opus will follow Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and industry standards in controlling dust and dirt during demolition, excavation and construction activities.

The construction site will be watered as necessary to keep the dust problems to a minimum, and Cretin will be swept and cleaned on an as-needed basis – every Friday and on Mondays through Thursdays depending on conditions.

Street closings or delays

All utility connections for the new complex will be to existing university mains and will not require any relocations within city streets. The internal campus drive between the football stadium and the construction site will be closed for the duration of the project.

Construction site noise

With construction occurring near the middle of campus, noise is expected to have minimal impact on the neighborhood. That distance and the sound of motor vehicle traffic on nearby streets will muffle most, if not all, construction-related noise.

Parking

During construction, St. Thomas will lose up to 394 parking spaces – 71 in Lot E, 23 in Lot F and up to 300 in Lot H – because they are within the building construction footprint or will be used as part of the staging area.

Faculty and staff now park in Lots E and F and commuter students now park in Lot H. During construction, they will park primarily in the new 725-car ramp on the southwest corner of Cretin and Grand, and at least 100 spaces will be available in the southern portion of Lot H for students.

Communications

St. Thomas will coordinate all construction project communication.

John Hershey (651-962-6123 and jwhershey@stthomas.edu) will be the primary contact, with Doug Hennes (651-962-6402 and dehennes@stthomas.edu) as a secondary contact. Calls should go to them – not to Opus employees. John and Doug will have regular contact with St. Thomas employees coordinating the construction activities and the Opus on-site superintendent and will address concerns as quickly as possible.

Beginning in late May, St. Thomas will maintain a construction page on its Web site (www.stthomas.edu/constructionprojects. The page will be updated every Friday, with a recap of what occurred that week and a preview of what will occur in the weeks ahead.

2009 HPC Awards Call for Nominations

2009-04-01T09:22:00.006-05:00

Nominations are due April 20, 2009

2009 SAINT PAUL HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARDS CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Heritage Preservation Commission of the City of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Chapter of the American Institute of Architects are co-sponsoring the nineteenth annual Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Awards to recognize projects, individuals and organizations that enhance and celebrate Saint Paul's cultural resources. The 2009 awards will be presented at an evening event as part of a month-long celebration during National Preservation Month in May. The date and location of the event are to be announced.

AWARD CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA:

1. Restoration/rehabilitation/adaptive reuse of an historic building; New addition to an historic building; New construction in an historic area or district

Projects must be located in Saint Paul.
Projects must have been completed between April 1, 2007 and April 1, 2009.
Projects will be judged by:
- the quality of design, workmanship, and materials;
- the respectfulness of the building's historic and architectural character;
- the impact of the project on the surrounding neighborhood/community.

2. Organizations and community education projects (for overall, contributions to preservation, rather than for a bricks-and-mortar project)

Organizations and community education projects must be located in Saint Paul.
Projects will be judged by:

the quality of the work;
the relevance of the work to current and emerging preservation issues;
the impact of their work on a Saint Paul community/neighborhood.

3. Individuals (for an individual, professional or volunteer, who has made an excellent contribution to heritage preservation in Saint Paul)

Individuals will be judged by:
- the quality of their work;
- their dedication to preserving Saint Paul's heritage;
- the impact of their work on the Saint Paul community.

4. Cultural heritage (Project, organization, or individual making a significant contribution to the recognition of the city's cultural heritage)

Projects will be judged by:

the quality of the work;
its impact on the Saint Paul community;
the extent to which it embodies preservation values .

5. Vote of Confidence Award (Given to a quality preservation-related project having difficulty)

Project must be located in Saint Paul.
Projects will be judged by:

the quality of the project and the organizations involved;
the potential of the project to support preservation values and the Saint Paul community.

6. Historic landscapes: (including cultural landscapes, comprised of plantings and the built environment, and designed landscapes such as cemeteries and parks)

Projects will be judged by:

the quality of design, workmanship and materials; .
the degree of reference to a documented historic landscape, where applicable;
compatibility with an historic building or district.

7. Stewardship: (recognizes outstanding efforts toward the long term maintenance and preservation of a historic property or site)

Award winners will be selected by a jury of Heritage Preservation Commission and American Institute of Architect members using the above criteria and the nomination information submitted.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARDS

To nominate a project, group, or individual for an award, send the enclosed nomination form along with required photographs to the address shown on the form.

NOMINATIONS ARE DUE AT THE SAINT PAUL DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS (DSI), 375 JACKSON STREET, SUITE 220, SAINT PAUL, MN 55101 BY 4:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, APRIL 20,2009. Incomplete forms may preclude the nomination from consideration, at the jurors' discretion.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Amy Spong or Christine Boulware of DSI, at (651) 266-9078
Or amy.spong@ci.stpaul.mn.us or christine.boulware@ci.stpaul.mn.us
with questions about the Awards or the nomination forms.

Nomination Form

Note: original form is two-sided.

Neighbors want UST to add owner -occupied homes to buyback plans

2009-03-31T08:43:00.000-05:00

Article in 3/25/2009 Villager, by Jane Mcclure

Neighbors want UST to add owner -occupied homes to buyback plans

The West Summit N.eighborhood Advisory Committee (WSNAC) is expected to vote on a proposal next month that would expand the University of St Thomas' housing buyback program to include owner-occupied homes around UST's St. Paul campus.

St.Thomas agreed to purchase and renovate 30 houses over a 12-year period as part of its 2004 agreement· with the city to expand its campus boundary.The intent was to fix up student rental-properties and sell them to owner-occupants. Ten houses have been bought and resold through the program so far.

Over the past year, university officials and WSNAC . members have received requests to expand the program to include owner-occupied homes that may be slated to become student rental properties, according to Jeanne Matross, co-chair of WSNAC's Housing Sub-committee. Matross' committee has proposed that the purchase of owner-occupied homes be limited to an area bounded by Marshall, Prior, Goodrich and Cretin/Exeter [A]venues. That is less than half the size of the area targeted by the full housing buyback program, which includes parts of the Merriam Park and Macalester-Groveland neighborhoods.

"This is coming from neighbors who are saying, 'Boy, wen really like you to protect our blocks,' " said St. Thomas neighborhood liaison John Hershey.

Over the past year, reSidents on- Laurel Avenue and Powell Street approached St. Thomas about buying two owner-occupied homes that went up for sale on their blocks, rather than see the homes become student rentals. Both of the houses sold on the private market and at least one was purchased by a family for its student-child and friends to live in.

WSNAC members would like a better sense of how many houses could potentially be included in an expanded buyback program. The committee laid over a decision on the policy change on March 10.

Debate over changes to the housing buyback program has been heated in the past. When the program began, St. Thomas bought the rental properties' and made renovations before they were resold to owner-occupants. Now houses are purchased and the new owners are given money to make the improvements themselves.

Two years ago, WSNAC, members and neighborhood residents battled over which blocks should get priority when rental housing is purchased. At the heart of that debate was whether St. Thomas should target home purchases on blocks that are already largely rental or whether it should focus on protecting blocks that are still largely owner-occupied. Some subcommittee members quit in protest when WSNAC opted for the latter.

The push for setting specific bonndaries arose after the university purchased a student rental home on Stanford Avenue, more than a half-mile south of the main campus. Some WSNAC members felt the house was too far away fer the buyback program.

Several committee members commented on March 10 about the growing problems caused by families who buy houses near St. Thomas for their children and friends to live in while attending college. Those properties are usually homesteaded, which means they are not subject to the same kind of housing inspections that rental properties are. It is also harder to track those properties, which some WSNAC members describe as "de facto rental," through property records. University officials estimate that about 45 houses around the campus have been purchased by families for their student-child in recent years.

St. Thomas and WSNAC have encouraged neighbors to put deed restrictions on their own properties to block them from future rental use and offered informational packets on how to put the restrictions in place. However, many campus neighbors have balked at the notion.

Some WSNAC members would like to have seen the university create a community development corporation rather than try to buy problem properties house by house. St. Thomas has continued to seek houses to purchase and resell through the program, Hershey said, but some recent deals have fallen through due to prospective homeowners having trouble getting financing.

UST on HPC agenda

2009-03-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

St. Paul Historic Preservation Commission public hearing regarding 2055 Summit--Sitzmann Hall- on Thursday, March 26.

University of St. Thomas is asking for a permit to construct an addition to roof and rear elevations. WSNAC has been active in the planning process with UST's building plans. See the WSNAC website for more details.

Summit Avenue Closed 3/22/2009

2009-03-16T08:44:00.004-05:00

Sunday March 22, 2009:

11:30 AM to 2:30 PM: Summit Avenue closed between Cretin and Hamline
12:45 AM to 2:30 PM: Summit Avenue closed between Hamline and Victoria, and the streets surrounding William Mitchell College of Law.

There will be parking restrictions along the race route.

The Sporting life has obtained a parade permit for the City for the 36th annual St. Patrick's Day Human Race run/walk. For more details, check out the Human Race website or call 651-228-1986.

UST expansion plans in the News

2009-02-22T19:15:00.003-06:00

This Article in the Star Tribune reports on the UST's plans for a new student center and athletic facilities.

The article mentions, briefly, the participation of WSNAC and community members in the planning stages, but it leaves out the still unsettled controversy surrounding increased traffic and parking concerns.

Here's the article in its entirety:

St. Thomas trustees OK plans for athletic complex

By MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune

February 20, 2009

As competition between colleges for new students gets tougher, the University of St.
Thomas will buff itself up with a new $52 million athletic and recreation complex and a $66
million student center on the university's main campus in St. Paul.

The project, another significant expansion of the school's presence in St. Paul, is the
largest in the university's history. Unlike previous construction efforts, it doesn't appear to
be inciting acrimony with neighborhood residents.

"This is a way of simply making sure we have the type of facilities that will help attract
students to the campus 10 and 15 years from now," said Mark Dienhart, the university's
executive vice president and chief operating officer.

In recent years, the university devoted a lot of time and money to building a downtown
Minneapolis campus and a law school, he said.

"While we were doing that, many of Minnesota's private colleges where we cross over with
applicants were building these kind of facilities," Dienhart said. "Our primary athletic facility
was built in 1939, and the student center was built for a population of 2,000."

St. Thomas' enrollment now totals nearly 11,000 with 7,460 students on the St. Paul
campus.

"These type of facilities, which are very important to students, just didn't match up to the
type of schools they were considering when they were looking at St. Thomas," Dienhart
said. "So we lost some students. We're trying to ensure the viability of the institution."
The university's board of trustees approved plans for the athletic and recreation complex
on Thursday, and construction will begin in late May. The 180,000-square-foot complex, to
be located east of the university's football stadium, is scheduled to be opened in fall 2010.
The board discussed the athletic complex in October but held off on approval because of
concerns about the weakened economy.

"Thanks to the support of generous contributors, we are able to move forward," said the
Rev. Dennis Dease, president of St. Thomas.

Construction of the proposed 240,000-square-foot student center, if approved next year by
the board of trustees, would begin in fall 2010 and be completed by February 2012.
The two projects and a 725-car parking ramp that opened earlier this week all will be
named for Lee and Penny Anderson, who made a $60 million gift to St. Thomas in 2007. It
is believed to be the largest single contribution by an individual or a couple to a college or
university in Minnesota and is part of St. Thomas' $500 million fundraising drive, which has raised $365 million to date.

The projects will be a bit of a boost to the local economy at a time when a downturn in
new construction has left many workers unemployed, Dienhart said.
The new facilities will significantly change the appearance of St. Thomas along both
Summit and Cretin avenues. But unlike the last major construction project, they likely will
rouse little if any neighborhood rancor.

A five-year feud over a campus expansion ended in 2004 after both sides drew up a 14-
page agreement that included establishing campus boundaries and the 12-member West
Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee, a group of neighborhood and university
representatives who collaborate on issues concerning the campus and neighborhood.
"Our goal is peaceful coexistence," said Scott Banas, the advisory group's neighborhood
co-chair. "And we've been successful beyond my wildest dreams."

Before the parking ramp was built, the advisory group hashed out concerns, and the plans
were redrawn until the design was agreeable to both sides, Banas said.

The advisory group has been tweaking plans for the athletic complex for more than a
year, Banas said. "There's really been no major blow-up," he said. The "compromising
and conciliation" process will continue with plans for the student center, with the group
probably allaying neighborhood concerns about parking and pedestrian safety, he said.
The $15 million Anderson Parking Facility that opened earlier this month will allow the
university to close its parking lot at Summit and Cretin avenues. This will free up space for
the athletic complex, student center and a larger quadrangle. Some existing buildings also
will be replaced.

The new athletic complex will feature:
•A 2,000-seat basketball and volleyball arena.
•An aquatic center containing an eight-lane, 25-meter swimming pool and diving area.
•A new field house with a 200-meter track.
•A west wing with a fitness center, weight room and aerobic rooms on the first floor and
offices, classrooms and labs on the second and third floors.

Mary Lynn Smith • 612-673-4788
(c) Star Tribune 2009

Gail Fenske Lecture 7:00 PM tonight--don't miss!

2009-02-17T09:17:00.003-06:00

From the University Club newsletter:

"Once the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Woolworth Building is noted for its striking but incongruous synthesis of Beaux-Arts architecture, fanciful Gothic ornamentation, and audacious steel-framed engineering. In the first history of this great urban landmark, Gail Fenske argues that its design serves as a compelling lens through which to view the distinctive urban culture of Progressive-era New York."

Upcoming Architecture Lecture

2009-02-12T20:32:00.001-06:00

February 17, 2009

Gail Fenske will be at the University Club (420 Summit) to Speak on Her Book, The Skyscraper and the City: The Woolworth Building and the Making of Modern New York.

Gail Fenske, Professor of Architecture at the School of Art, Architecture and Historic Preservation, Rogers Williams University, will speak on her book, The Skyscraper and the City: The Woolworth Building and the Making of Modern New York, why she wrote it and what it meant to her.

Following her talk, Dr. Fenske will answer questions and sign copies of her book. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free to Cass Gilbert Society members and students with ID; the charge is $5.00 for non-members.

Gail Fenske is also the author of “The Image of the City: The Woolworth Building and the Creation of the New York Skyline,” a chapter in Cass Gilbert: Life and Work, edited by Barbara Christen and Steven Flanders (W. W. Norton, 2001), and “Cass Gilbert’s Skyscrapers in New York: The Twentieth-Century City and the Urban Picturesque,” in Inventing the Skyline: The Architecture of Cass Gilbert (Columbia University Press, 2000)

Music in the Hill House... Tonight!

2009-02-02T08:13:00.004-06:00

If you haven't been to the JJ Hill House, or just haven't been there lately, here's a fun event!

The Schubert Club Presents a Hill House Parlor Concert

The Schubert Club brings to you the the classical sounds of the Hill House Chamber Players. They will perform tonight live in the restored art gallery of this beautiful Summit Avenue mansion.

Tonight's program includes "Four Duets, Opus 39", for violin and cello by Reinhold Glier; "The Turning of the Year" for flute and guitar by Jeffrey Van; "Sonata, Op. 16," for flute, viola and guitar by Joseph Kreutzer; and a String Quintet by W.A. Mozart. Enjoy complimentary refreshments during intermission, then top it all off with a tour of the mansion following the performance.

7:30 p.m. Monday 2/2/09, James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, $16; $14 for MHS members or Schubert Club subscribers

HPC Meeting Agenda for 2/12/09

2009-01-31T11:58:00.000-06:00

There are no Summit items on the roster for 12/12/09 meeting, as of the Agenda update dated 1/27/09.

Staff review statistics had no Summit properties listed.

UST Advisory Committee OKs Design for wider Finn Street

2009-01-21T08:58:00.008-06:00

WSNAC approved the plan to widen Finn Street. Finn will be widened to 36 feet; a 'normal' street is 32 feet in width. There will be a center turn lane added. Finn is being widened in anticipation of the increased traffic along Cretin from UST's new parking ramp (under construction) and proposed student center.

Article from 1/29/2009 Villager, by Jane McClure (click on article to enlarge):

Finn Street is a north-south street located halfway between Cretin and Cleveland. It extends between Summit and Randolph (the campuses of UST and St. Kate's to the South interrupt the street). Here's a Google Map showing Summit Ave. and Finn St. (click on article to enlarge):

Google Streetview showing intersection of Summit Ave. and Finn St. looking South. The image was probably taken c. summer 2008 (click on article to enlarge):

340 Summit New Construction: Garage Variance

2009-01-13T10:07:00.002-06:00

The home at 340 Summit was built in 1894. It features a limestone facade and was designed by Allen Stem. The home was recently featured in the Minneapolis Luxury Realestate blog.

The owners have applied for permits to construct a 1300 sf garage behind the house, accessible from Summit via the existing driveway. Two variances are being sought: a side setback variance of 4 or 5 feet, and a square footage variance. The maximum permitted size for a garage is 1000 sf; 1300 is being proposed.

HPC Agenda Jan 22 Meeting

2009-01-13T09:59:00.001-06:00

BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA

5:00

I. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

II. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
A. December 18, 2008 Permit Review/Public Hearing

III. PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW
A. 1225 Estabrook Drive, Marjorie McNeely (Como Park) Conservatory, by
Lunning Wende Associates, for a second preliminary review to construct an
addition to the Como Conservatory along with a terrace, gardens and display
benches. (Boulware, 266-9067)

IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Saint Paul City Hall/Courthouse, Individual Heritage Preservation Site, adopt
resolution regarding the security/screening alterations proposed for Memorial
Hall and the Kellogg Boulevard entrance. (Spong, 266-9079)

V. HISTORIC RESOURCE REVIEW
A. 437 Mount Ida Street, Historic Resource Review to advise City Council. The
property has orders to remove or repair. The Legislative Hearing Officer
continued the item to the January 13 Legislative Hearing with a City Council
hearing date on January 23. RA-SPC-4715 (Boulware, 266-9067)

VI. ANNUAL MEETING
A. Election of officers for 2009 (Nomination committee: Kralicek, Thomas and
Trout-Oertel)
B. Draft annual report and permit statistics

VII. STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. December Design Review Statistics (see attached)

VIII. ADJOURN
Attendees: Please enter the City Hall through the Fourth Street entrance.
Commission members: Please call 651.266.9078 if unable to attend.

HPC 2009 Calendar

2009-01-01T09:57:00.000-06:00

MEETING TIME: 5:00 PM

MEETING LOCATION: Lower Level, Room 40, City Hall/Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard

JANUARY
2 Deadline for January permit applications
8 Annual Meeting
22 Permit Review/Public Hearing

FEBRUARY
5 Deadline for February permit applications
12 Business Meeting
26 Permit Review/Public Hearing

MARCH
5 Deadline for March permit applications
12 Business Meeting
26 Permit Review/Public Hearing

APRIL
2 Deadline for April permit applications
9 Business Meeting
23 Permit Review/Public Hearing

MAY
7 Deadline for May permit applications
14 Business Meeting
28 Permit Review/Public Hearing

JUNE
4 Deadline for June permit applications
11 Business Meeting
25 Permit Review/Public Hearing

JULY
2 Deadline for July permit applications
9 Business Meeting
23 Permit Review/Public Hearing

AUGUST
6 Deadline for August permit applications
13 Business Meeting
27 Permit Review/Public Hearing

SEPTEMBER
3 Deadline for September permit applications
10 Business Meeting
24 Permit Review/Public Hearing

OCTOBER
1 Deadline for October permit applications
8 Business Meeting
22 Permit Review/Public Hearing

NOVEMBER
29 Oct. Deadline for November permit applications
5 Business Meeting
19 Permit Review/Public Hearing

DECEMBER
25 Nov. Deadline for December permit applications
3 Business Meeting
17 Permit Review/Public Hearing

Note: Permits for minor and some moderate work are reviewed by HPC staff; permits for major work andsome moderate work are reviewed by the full HPC at Permit Review/Public Hearings.

City Preservation Plan

2008-10-27T18:03:00.002-05:00

The Planning Commission and HPC will hold a public hearing on the Historic Preservation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan

Thursday, November 6, 2008, 5:45 p.m.
City Hall.

You can obtain more information by calling Sonja Butler (651-266-6573) or Larry Soderholm (651-266-6575.)

UST Expansion

2008-10-24T18:20:00.003-05:00

The Oct. 22nd Villager had two articles about the University of St Thomas' expansion plans.

UST Student Center:

(Click to enlarge)

Highlights: As a one-time agreement, WSNAC recommended that the City allow UST to perform one EAW (Environmental Assessment Worksheet) for both projects. An EAW is a shorter study than an EIS (Environmental Impact Study). The combined EAW will save the University time and money, as the University pays for the worksheet. The St Paul Planning Department reserves the right to require an EIS, if it is determined to be necessary.

Sitzmann Hall:

(Click to enlarge)

Highlights: WSNAC supported UST's plans to expand Sitzmann Hall in exchange for a binding agreement that limits UST expansion elsewhere. For more information, check out WSNAC's website.

Summit Tragedy

2008-10-17T08:47:00.003-05:00

One of the many reasons that Summit was recognized as a Great American Street by the American Planning Association, was its park-like quality. On a daily basis, hundreds if not thousands of walkers, runners, bladers and bicyclists make their way up and down Summit Avenue.

Most days this is pleasant journey for all involved; Summit is shared by people in cars and people not in cars. On rare occasions, however, this is not the case. Two weeks ago a woman riding her bicycle was killed by an SUV that failed to observe a stop sign. It was a tragic accident. We extend our condolences to the friends and family of Virginia Heuer.

Article from the Pioneer Press:

Working toward more life — and less death — on city streets
By Russ Stark
Article Last Updated: 10/16/2008 06:13:34 PM CDT

When it comes right down to it, why do we live in cities? For me and many constituents I have spoken to, a primary motivator is proximity — the ability to be able to walk or bicycle to places easily.

Two weeks ago, a St. Paul resident lost her life and a family lost a loved one when Virginia Heuer was killed in a crash while riding her bicycle down Summit Avenue. Earlier this year, a woman who lives on my block was crossing University Avenue on foot when she was struck and killed. It turned out the driver lived just down the street, but the driver and victim did not know one another.

Everyone agrees these deaths are tragic, but still it's disturbing how complacent we have become in accepting that traffic "accidents" are just a part of life, that people die all the time just trying to get from here to there. Something about the deaths being unintentional, and we just shrug our shoulders and express regret.

We have to reduce injuries and deaths of cyclists and pedestrians in St. Paul, and we can.

Driving a car is very deceptive. The more we do it, the more we feel comfortable doing it. The deceptive part is that the passenger compartment of a modern automobile makes us forget that we are operating 1-ton to 2-ton vehicles at relatively high speeds. In vehicle-vs.-vehicle crashes, seat belts and air bags have made drivers and passengers much safer than in years past. But in vehicle-vs.-pedestrian and vehicle-vs.-bicycle crashes, the pedestrian and the cyclist are generally going to be hurt or even killed. In St. Paul in the past year, there have been 261 cyclists and pedestrians involved in crashes with automobiles.

As recent articles in this and other local papers have described, more and more people are bicycling. The cost of gas, growing concern about global climate change, improved facilities for bicycling — whatever the causes, the reality is more bikes on our streets.

More people riding bikes and walking benefits all of us, in the form of reduced traffic congestion, reduced air pollution, and reduced wear and tear on our streets. While there have been a number of cyclist deaths in the past couple of months, the experience nearly everywhere is that there is safety in numbers for both cyclists and pedestrians. The more of them there are, the more motorists look out for them, and the less likely crashes become. Each one of us has a stake in making it safer to bike and walk in our community.

We cannot solve the problem of pedestrian and bicycle deaths and injuries by pointing fingers at motorists. As the saying goes, we have met the enemy of safe streets, and that enemy is us. Most of us who walk and ride bikes also drive cars, and few of us follow or even know all the rules of the road. Many times as motorists, even if we are paying close attention and trying to be safe, the unpredictability of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists can make it difficult to behave safely.

We can solve this problem by raising awareness about the rules of the road, by following those rules, and by using common sense. And this goes for everyone — motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. And all of us, no matter by what mode we are traveling, can make a point of slowing down and paying more attention to everyone else. And yes, when we are motorists, we have a higher level of responsibility to ensure the safety of others because we are operating large machines that can easily cause harm to people.

My office partnered with St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health and many other community partners to kick off a pedestrian safety awareness campaign focused on North Snelling Avenue this week. The idea has been to educate pedestrians and motorists about their responsibilities and rights.

The St. Paul Police Department was assisting in this effort by stepping up enforcement of pedestrian safety laws. This is intended to be a pilot project that can and will be repeated in other parts of our great city. MnDOT and the Minnesota Department of Health are also engaged in the discussion with an eye toward more comprehensive statewide education.

To be a truly livable city, St. Paul needs to be a place where we feel safe walking, riding our bicycles and driving on our streets. If we're the problem, we can also be the solution.

Russ Stark represents Ward 4 on the St. Paul City Council. Send him e-mail at ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

Also, he recommends the following Web sites for more information on the subjects addressed in this column: http://www.sharetheroadmn.org/ and http://www.bikewalktwincities.org/