City Hall

City of La Crosse, Wisconsin

400 La Crosse Street

La Crosse, WI 54601

Meeting Minutes - Final

Heritage Preservation Commission

Thursday, April 25, 2024

6:00 PM

Grandad Room- City Hall 400 La Crosse St

Members of the public may participate in the meeting in the following ways:

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Or you may attend in person at City Hall located at 400 La Crosse Street. Members of the

public who

would like to provide written comments on any agenda may do so by emailing

acklint@cityoflacrosse.org, using a drop box outside of City Hall or mailing the Department of

Planning, Development and Assessment, 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse WI 54601.

Questions, call

608-789-7512.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm.

Roll Call

6 -

Present:

Vacant 1, Laura Godden, Mackenzie Mindel, Natalie Heneghan, Greg

Clark,Eric Garland

1 - Jim Gallagher

Excused:

Approval of Minutes

Approval of the March 28, 2024 Meeting Minutes.

Natalie Heneghan moved to approve the minutes Greg Clark seconded. Eric

Garland moved to amend the minutes with some minor corrections. Greg Clark

seconded. The motion passed 5-0 by voice vote. The motion as amended

passed 5-0 by voice vote.

Agenda Items:

Nomination of the South Branch Library, located at 1307 16th Street S, to

designated as a Local Historic Landmark.

24-0591

Staff provided the Commission with an explanation of the designation process.

The applicant, David Riel, provided an overview of his nomination. He is

proposing it be designated under all four of the eligible criteria. He also stated

that the nomination supports the Holy Trinity Neighborhood Association's

efforts to save the building.

Greg Clark asked when the roof was put on. David Riel stated it was put on in

1993 maintaining a Prairie Architecture influence.

Mackenzie Mindel asked about how the building was designed. David Riel

provided an overview on the history of the building's design and the

investments that were made for the project and the roof.

Natalie Heneghan asked David to speak more on the criteria selected for its

importance to the social and cultural history of La Crosse. David stated that its

was important for its role society played in its creation civic pride, and the

generations that still had attended it.

Eric Garland asked David if he could elaborate on his determination of the

condition of the building being excellent. David Riel stated that his

determination was based on a visual inspection of the exterior materials. He

did not perform an interior inspection.

Greg Clark stated that there is a plan in place to repurpose the site and/or

building. He asked David if designation makes it more advantaged. David Riel

stated that it may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places which

could allow for the usage of historic tax credits. Staff updated the Commission

on the status of the current process to repurpose the site.

Eric Garland moved to accept the nomination as written. Laura Godden

seconded. Natalie Heneghan stated that she would like to see more

information to support the Criteria for its importance to the social and cultural

history of La Crosse and what it meant to the community and moved to the

refer the item to allow for the applicant to conduct more research. David Riel

was asked about conducting further research. David Riel stated that he felt that

the nomination was already well research and had nothing more to add. He

also stated that he would prefer to have it removed as part of the nomination

as only one criteria is required. The motion failed due to the lack of second.

The motion to accept the nomination as submitted is approved 5-0 by voice

vote.

Review of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the property located at 313 Main

Street. (Sign- Downtown Historic District)

24-0592

Staff provided an overview of the project and their recommendation.

Eric Garland asked if the two businesses ere sharing the building. Staff stated

that they were.

Laura Godden moved to approve. Natalie Heneghan seconded. Mackenzie

Mindel stated that the sign does not look appropriate next to the existing

awning. She also stated that she felt it would not meet the Secretary of

Interior's Standards for Historic Structures. Staff agreed but stated that it meets

the design standards in the City's Municipal Code. The motion passed 4-1 by

voice vote.

Discussion on Ghost Signs.

24-0473

Anna McConahay provided an update on her research and presented her

historic photo findings. Staff stated that they are looking for input on the goals,

intent, definitions, and feedback on the examples from other cities.

Mackenzie Mindel stated she was impressed with the goals.

Greg Clark stated that he felt we should preserve the advertising aspect and

include why they are culturally important.

Natalie Heneghan stated that she would be interested in them being

designated.

Mackenzie Mindel suggested talking to Jason Tish with the Wisconsin

Historical Society to see if he is aware of other communities that regulate

these. She also stated that she would prefer to just enhance the signs

characteristics rather than repainting the whole sign.

Anna stated that best practices for masonry is to not paint or repaint.

Staff will bring a draft ordinance to the Commission next month.

Discussion on the 2024 10 Most Endangered Building List.

It was determined that Lincoln Middle School would be removed and the rest

would remain.

Focus would be to celebrate Lincoln.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm.

Notice is further given that members of other governmental bodies may be present at the

above scheduled meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have

decision-making responsibility.

NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY

Requests from persons with a disability who need assistance to participate in this meeting

should call the City Clerk's office at (608) 789-7510 or send an email to

ADAcityclerk@cityoflacrosse.org, with as much advance notice as possible.

Heritage Preservation Commission Members

CM Mackenzie Mindel, Laura Godden, Greg Clark, Natalie Heneghan, Eric Garland, Jim

Gallagher