The City of Auburn

Historic Resources Review Board

c/o Office of Planning and Economic Development

Memorial City Hall - 24 South Street

Auburn, New York 13021

(315) 255-4115 Fax 253-0282

Meeting Minutes

May 8, 2012

Present: Betty Lewis, Richard Stankus, Mike Deming, Jim Hutchinson, Paul McDonald, David Thurston

Chair opens the meeting and asks for a motion to accept the April 10, 2012 minutes. So moved by Jim and seconded by Betty. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Note: David is the attorney for the contractors of 5 and 7 Grover St. but has no personal interest in the properties.

Certificates of Appropriateness.

  1. Richard & Elaine Oughterson- 1 Elizabeth Street

Application to repair southeast porch including replacing weathered decking, lattice, and framing. Install balustrade to match southwest porch and to relevel porch roof.

Chris – remaining work of porch facing Elizabeth St. to match previously approved porch.

Jim – spoke with owner. Removed vinyl lattice, using painted cedar

Motion to approve as presented except to use wood lattice made by Jim, seconded by Richard. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

  1. Fairchild Apartments, LLC- 5 Grover Street

Application to demolish rear western porch and construct new porch to match existing porch features. Repair in-kind balustrades, decking, columns, ceilings and decorative molding of remaining five porches. Remove existing roof on eastern (driveway side) porch and replace with architectural style asphalt shingle roofing. Installation of new exterior doors throughout property and window on third-floor shed dormer.

Sara Fagan – reviews intents for building. Replace in kind.

Christina – reviews responsibilities of the Board. A certificate of occupancy issued by Code Enforcement will be required before the building can be occupied.

Sara Fagan, Jamie Baker –

Porch A, south porch facing Grover St.

  • remove/replace roof
  • Jack up right front corner, replace cracked top pillar, replace bottom of pillar
  • Soffit and fascia work
  • Prefer pressure treated but not certain, pine previously used, pressure treated can’t be painted for 1 year.

Jim – has painted pressure treated right away without problem; oil primer, latex paint

  • Repair front west column
  • Remove/replace stair railing in kind to match porch

Board recommends replacing in kind with square turn.

  • Reset front stone steps, repair cracks, parge side to match house foundation

General discussion – recommend reset, flipping stones, fill in gaps, concrete support underneath, urethane fill.

  • Porch ceiling, soffit – replace in kind

Recommend gutters.

Motion to approve as presented with recommendations made by Jim, seconded by Richard. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porch B – west side

  • Repair porch/floor damage – tongue and groove, pine
  • Handrails, stairs not original

Recommend square spindles around with top rail to match porch

  • Roof repair
  • Spindle repair around porch
  • All work in kind as much as possible

Motion to accept as presented with recommendations made by Paul, seconded by Richard. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porch C – north/rear

  • Has lost much of historic integrity – worse shape – replace in kind with square posts – not visible from street
  • Keep lattice – repair/replace where needed

Recommend trim boards around lattice

  • Lattice under steps
  • Replace fascia boards

Recommend metal base under posts-trim vinyl wood around

  • Clean and paint steps
  • Repair floor in kind with Douglas fir
  • Replace door-galvanized steel painted to match house
  • Cap all posts
  • Roof-tear off & replace w 30 year architectural shingles

Motion to accept as presented with recommendations made by Paul, seconded by Jim. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porch D – east/driveway side

  • Clean and paint railings and steps
  • Repair roof
  • Dismantle lattice to repair then replace and frame in
  • Replace bead board
  • Paint deck
  • Add post under railing extension and cap

Motion to accept as presented with recommendations made by Richard, seconded by Jim. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porch E – above porch D

Recommend removal of lattice and enclose with bead board with metal base, paint

  • Replace floor – rubber

Motion to accept as presented with recommendations made by Jim, seconded by Paul. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Shed dormer – east side 3rd floor

  • Currently screened only
  • Proposed to install windows, previously divided light single paned, 4 divided
  • Double hung vinyl, paint to match

Motion to accept as presentedwith recommendations made by Jim, seconded by Paul. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porch F – west side rear facing City Hall parking lot

  • Remove and rebuild
  • Replace door
  • Extend risers out
  • Square spindles
  • Replace roof
  • Lattice, framed around bottom

Motion to accept as presented with recommendations made by Jim, seconded by Paul. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

  1. Fairchild Apartments, LLC- 7 Grover Street

Application to repair in-kind the decking and ceilings and construct new balustrades and replace exterior doors on five existing porches. Special attention will be given to the western (driveway side) porch to replace in-kind historical features. Shift electrical meters from existing location to between basement window openings on driveway side, enclose and screen from right of way with plantings. Repair/ replace existing fiberboard and paint.

Non-contributing resource.

Three major issues.

Porch A – front facing Grover St.

  • Repair in kind square spindles and cap
  • Remove carpet, sand and paint

Motion to approve as presented with recommendations made by David, seconded by Mike. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porch B – east/driveway

  • Repair/replace steps and spindles – square caps
  • Enclose risers
  • Lattice on side – frame

Motion to approve as presentedwith recommendations made by Jim, seconded by Paul. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porches C & D

  • Enclose risers
  • Frame lattice
  • Replace door, 9 light on porch D
  • Repair/replace in kind where needed
  • End post under rail extensions and cap

Motion to approve as presented with recommendations made by Paul, seconded by Richard. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Porch E

  • Replace in kind where needed
  • Remove center beam for uninterrupted ceiling line
  • Install beadboard vinyl ceiling

Motion to approve as presented with recommendations made by Jim seconded by Paul. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Bank of electrical meters on west side rear

  • Move to right between cellar windows
  • Screen, wooden fencing painted to match house.

Motion to approve as presented with recommendations made by Paul, seconded by Jim. All members vote approval. Motion carried.

Jim – dress up basement entrance – door being replaced.

Submit landscape proposal.

Other Matters

Preservation month – four houses being presented with awards: 54 South St., 46 South St., 138 E. Genesee St., 203 Genesee St. Presentation will be made before Council on May 17.

Next meeting June 12, 2012 at 7 p.m.

Meeting adjourned.