Monday, December 6, 2010

Tree Lighting in Nathan Hale Park



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!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!





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.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Final Fall Lecture - Monday, November 22

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!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Give to the Max!

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!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Summit Architecture

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?"

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Next SARPA Lecture - The Architecture of Summit

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

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Marathon Sunday



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

Sunday, October 3, 2010

In Case You Missed It...

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)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Reading List

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.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Lecture Series Starts TOMORROW - Sep. 27

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!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Speaking of Summit History...

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.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

SARPA and Historic Saint Paul FREE Lecture Series

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


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.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Century-Old Chinese Elm





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.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Facebook!

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

Friday, June 18, 2010

Annual Meeting Time!

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

Friday, May 21, 2010

Preserve to the Power of 10

(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

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Best Street - Summit Avenue

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.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Check Out a Summit House on the MSP Home Tour!

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.

Friday, April 16, 2010

More on Preservation Economics - Heritage Tourism

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.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

April Fools

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

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Historic State Tax Credit Signed into Law!

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.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010


977 Summit, Continued

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

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





Side Elevation, from Chatsworth Street
(Image from www.google.com)


HPC Agenda: Summit Items

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

Thursday, March 4, 2010

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

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/

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Parallel Matter: Grand Old Day 2010

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.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

683 Summit Lot Split

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.

Friday, January 1, 2010

University of St Thomas (UST) ST 2115 Summit Ave

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

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

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.