Good afternoon. I call to order the March 24th regular meeting of the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission. For the record, my name is Marie Bjornberg and I serve as chair of the commission. Just a reminder to silence your cell phones and other electronic devices and to speak clearly
into the microphone when speaking at the dis or giving testimony. Before we begin the meeting, I want to offer a reminder that these meetings are broadcast live to enable greater public participation. These broadcasts include real-time captioning as a method to increase the accessibility of our proceedings to the
community. Therefore, all speakers need to be mindful of the rate of their speech so that our captioners can fully capture and transcribe all comments for the broadcast. We ask all speakers to moderate the speed and clarity of their comments. Would the clerk please call
the role so that we may verify the presence of a quorum. >> Commissioner Alexander is absent. Booty >> present. Curado is absent. Melbourne >> present. Rodriguez >> present. >> Thomas
>> present. >> Wallace >> present. >> Vice Chair Masten >> present. >> Chair Bjornberg >> present. >> There are seven members present. >> Let the record reflect that we do have quorum. Our first order of business is to adopt the agenda for this meeting. We will work from the agendas that are
available by the clerk. Item number four is 100 2nd Street Southeast Ward 3. This is a commission preservation application and will be discussed. So the proposed agenda is the following item. We'll have staff presentation,
public comment, and commission discussion and action. That is item number four, 1002nd Street Southeast, Ward 3. Commissioners, may I have a motion to approve the proposed agenda? >> Wallace so moves.
>> Thank you, Wallace. Is there a second? >> Melbum seconds. Thank you, Melbourne. Any discussion? Let the record reflect that uh commissioners Curado and Alexander are also present. Now
all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Those opposed say nay. Any abstensions. The agenda is approved. Our next order of business will be to approve the minutes from our February
10th, 2026 meeting. May I have a motion to approve those minutes? >> Masten so moves. >> Thank you, Commissioner Masten. Is there a second? >> Thomas seconds. >> Thank you, Commissioner Thomas. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I.
>> I. >> I. >> Those opposed say nay. Any abstensions, including commissioners who were absent. >> Melbum abstains. >> Those minutes are approved. Before I open the hearing to public
comments, let me summarize the process for conducting the public hearing. First, planning staff will present its report and commissioners may ask questions of staff. Then I will open the public hearing and we will hear from the applicant and commissioners may ask questions of the applicant. After that,
we will invite public comment. If you wish to speak, we need you to do two things. Please be sure to sign up on the sheet over by the clerk. If you haven't done this already, you can do so afterwards. When you come up to testify, please state your name for the record. Please
keep your comments specific to the application before us today. After the public comments are complete, I will close the hearing and commissioners will deliberate and act upon the application before us. Our first item is item number
four, 1002nd Street Southeast, Ward 3. This is a commission preservation application. The staff report is presented by Aaron K. Good afternoon, Chair Bjornberg and commissioners. My name is Aaron Kay and I am a senior city planner in the
historic preservation subsection of the department of community planning and economic development or CPED. I am here today to present a commission preservation application for the property located at 102nd Street Southeast in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. This is the first
commission preservation application to come before you since the new preservation ordinance went into effect on January 1st. Here is the property's location. The subject property is Winsslow House, which is a high-rise brick condominium that was completed in 1980. um since
that is after the period of significance, it is a non-contributing resource to the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. The specific project is to replace the salarium and add a pergola on the eighth floor of the building. The location is identified by
an orange arrow on this slide. Here are some pictures of the existing carium. The applicant has described the carium as a mass-produced standardized kit type with a metal frame on a brick base. The curved profile was typical in the 1980s. The applicant has identified
various issues with the existing solarium, including failed seals, fogged glazing, water infiltration, thermal inefficiency, inability to source replacement parts because the company is no longer in business, and safety hazards due to the low height of the
short end, which is 5'8 in. The applicant is proposing to build a new carium that has the same footprint as the existing, which is 13 ft wide by 26 feet 5 in long. The new salarium would have approximately the same height as the existing tall end, which is 11 ft
4 1/2 in. The proposed design is rectangular with a flat roof. It will have an aluminum framing system with matte finished metal wall panels and fascia. The west side will have nearly full height windows. The south side will have sliding glazed doors and the north
side will have clartory windows. The pergola will be approximately 11 ft tall uh so slightly shorter than the new salarium and located uh to the right of the carium or south. I do apologize there's a slight typo in the staff report. The pergola will be 14 ft wide
by 17 ft long, not 11 ft long as was noted in the staff report. The pergola will have a powdercoated aluminum structure with four metal columns at the corners and hardwood slats for passive solar shading. In staff's review of the project within the applicable design
guidelines and the secretary of the interior standards, staff have found the project to be compliant with one exception, which is the proposed material for the sophets on the carium. The new carum is proposed to have 4ft deep sophets that extend beyond the
footprint of the carium walls. The applicant is proposing to clad the sophets with prefinished quote unquote wood look aluminum panels to achieve a warm aesthetic as shown here. According to the applicant, true wood is not permitted here because it is a
combustible building material and this is a commercial building. Staff's concern is that the proposed material is an imitation of wood and staff suggest instead to consider metal panels that are painted to achieve a warm aesthetic. Uh since the staff report was posted,
the applicant has been reviewing options and um had initially planned to discuss those with you today. I think they have since um perhaps change change their opinion on the condition of approval, but I will uh let them speak to that during their time.
We have received two comments from the public uh which were shared with you at the start of the meeting. Uh, one commenter suggested that they would like to see a slightly curved top on the new car salarium as a nod to the existing salarium. They also noted that in
addition to visibility of this feature from the ground, there are residents in higher floors and other buildings that can see the terrace. Um the other commenter also provided some comments about um the design um expressing some
concern that the flat roof design um and the reduced glazing is perhaps too different from what was originally on uh on the building in the 80s. Um staff recommend
that the HBC adopt staff findings and um in the discussion today consider whether or not a condition of approval is appropriate to ensure that the um metal on the sophets is either appears metal or um is not imitating other materials. This concludes my
presentation and I'm happy to stay for questions and as I mentioned the applicant is here and would like to speak. >> Thank you for that report. Commissioners, are there questions for our staff? >> Commissioner Wallace. >> Hi, thank you, Erin. Um, I have just one
question about the footprint, just so I'm clarifying it in my head. is the the 4 foot extensions on either side. Is that in addition to the current footprint of the carium from 1980 or is that is the footprint of the carium from
1980 inclusive of those 4 feet overhangs? >> Chair Bjornberg, Commissioner Wallace, thank you for the question. The walls of the proposed carium u match the footprint of the existing carium and so the sophet would extend beyond that footprint of the current solarium.
>> Got it. Thank you. >> Any other questions for staff? Commissioner Melbam. >> Thank you, Chair Bjornberg. Um, Miss K, I have a question. So, this does look very visually different from the existing
is the is the fact that the building is non-contributing allow more flexibility in what can be done as an alteration to the building? Chair Bjorn, Commissioner Melb. Yes. So, since this building postates the period
of significance by about four decades, uh when we evaluate changes to the resource, we're looking for um those changes to be contemporary and also compatible with the the building and the surrounding historic district. Um and so in our review of the design, we felt
that the proposal was both com is both compatible and contemporary for um for this building and for the historic district. Any other questions for staff? Okay. Thank you.
I will now open the public hearing for this item. and I understand that the applicant is here um and would like to speak, please come to the microphone and state your name for the record. >> Thank you. My name is Zachary Lesson. I'm with Construct All Corporation out
of Champlain. Um and I'm the general contractor and applicant on this project. Um thank you all. I sure I'm going to get your titles wrong, so forgive me. Uh Erin, thank you so much. She's been wonderful to work with. Um and uh going through this process was um
much better than it's been in the past. So nod to the the new process. Um Aaron did a great job of giving a summary. There's a few things that have been discussed here in some of those comments that I'd like to um to address. Um so the the first one is um yes uh we
understand uh that products that look like other products are kind of frowned upon from a heritage preservation standpoint. So yeah, we we will re revise our design to simply use a metal painted panel for those sophets. We're not looking to to uh die on that hill,
so to speak. Um the comments about um this the departure of the appearance from this uh from the original building. I think it's important to note that this original atrium, actually the gentleman over here made the comment that it looked like a Perkins from the 80s. This
was a mass-roduced kit. This was not um we can't go back in time. Um uh the the architects mentioned in here, Ben Thompson, I you know, we can't go and speak with him, but this was not put on the building at the time of construction. It was added a couple years later. So, from a design
perspective, from a design intent perspective, like this was just something that was cost effective and did the job at the time, but now it's, you know, the thermal performance is terrible. Um to Commissioner Wallace's comment about the sophets, right? We're
trying to get some passive um or shading because this is a um south and west facing room generates a tremendous amount of heat today. So, you know, just that trick of using a large sophet to get better shading. That's why we're going in that direction. Just make the
space much more usable. Um the other comment uh just in in terms of the appearance of this so Winsslow House is there's some debate about what the design the overall architectural design style of this is u generally kind of
falling into a modern category. What we're trying to do is we're trying to to uh draw a connection to the entrance of the building which has a very large canolvered uh flat lows sloped roof to it. So, in in in looking for design elements to try to bring in, we're kind
of struggling because there isn't a lot of standout features to the building. So, that's that's kind of the thought process behind uh the the the flat roof as well. Um, so yeah, I I believe that takes me to the end of the comments that I had heard
and wanted to address. Um, so thank you. >> Thank you for that. Commissioners, do you have any questions for the applicant? Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Thanks. >> Are there any members of the public that
wish to speak for or against this item? >> Seeing none, I will close the public hearing. Commissioners, let's discuss. Any comments, questions, concerns, thoughts, >> Commissioner Alexander,
>> thanks. Um, I've worked on some of those uh those curved old 80s uh salariums, green houses, and they are they can be really problematic. water infiltration, um seals, uh disintegrating. Um I find
the uh the design, the new design to be appropriate. Uh also, as you mentioned, sort of responding to, you know, uh orientation and and thermal conditions that good designers should be
attentive to. Um, so, uh, I have no reservations supporting the the new design and I appreciate being willing to to, you know, kind of bend on the the faux wood look um, metal
panel as well. >> Thank you. Other thoughts from commissioners? Commissioner Melbum. >> Thank you, Chair Bonberg. Um, I think the two things that are salient to me are the fact that the applicant said that this wasn't part of the original building. So, that is hugely helpful and
I didn't pick that up in the report, the staff report. So, I appreciate him saying that. Um, and then, uh, I would guess the second piece is that it it doesn't I because the building isn't, um,
it's not a conforming structure. or it's a non-conforming structure um or non-contributing, excuse me, that's the word. It's a non-contributing structure. I I have less concern about it. I will say the it looks a little suburban to
me, but you know, I don't think that that's a reason that we um can hold back approving it. So, I I I will support approving it as presented with the caveat. >> Thank you. Yeah, I agree with both of those points and I think that that um
also helped put into perspective like it's a non-contributing building and it isn't a feature that was even on that building originally. Other thoughts, comments? Anyone willing to Commissioner Booty?
>> I'll go ahead and make a motion um that the Heritage Preservation Commission approves the Commission Preservation Application to replace the solarium and add a pergola on the property located at 102nd Street Southeast in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District subject to um the condition as written in the
agenda number one. >> Thank you, Commissioner Booty. Is there a second? Wallace seconds. >> Thank you, Commissioner Wallace. Any further discussion? >> Will the clerk call the role? >> Commissioner Alexander.
>> I. >> Booty. >> I. >> Curado. >> I >> Melb. >> Rodriguez. >> I >> Thomas. I >> Wallace >> I >> Vice Chair Masten >> I >> chair Bjornberg >> I
>> There are nine eyes's. >> Thank you. That motion passes and that concludes our public hearing items. Do staff have announcements. Yes. Uh good evening. Um Andrea Burke. I'm supervisor for the historic preservation team in CPAD. I have a few
things to mention. And so it's been a few weeks since we last met, but in early March, um the HPC award or excuse me, the Minneapolis Preservation Awards, I need to correct myself. Um took place, um at the Granada Theater, and there
were two awards that were won for a project that our team worked on. um one of them was for uh the African-American heritage work group um and a grassroots uh category and then also the African-American historic and cultural
contact studies. So really um you know one I know Aaron accepted one and then the the work group and then 106 group um who was the consultant that worked um were up there for for both of them as well. Um just was such a great uh event
to see the recognition of all the hard work that have gone into this group and this document and um also you know gaining momentum to see it continue beyond just a a a document that that sits and see it's more actionable item
is in there. So wanted to just call attention to that. Um, also since we had last met, um, I had last made an announcement that we had received an appeal on a project that was previously heard in late in December, but this was the 2011 Franklin Avenue East. This was
a sighting project that you had heard um that was appealed and that appeal was granted um basically to allow the the vinyl sighting that um was put on unpermitted. Um, so that is concluded. Um, also letting you know we did receive
an appeal about the 1750th Street West demolition that did go to the committee of the whole today and was forwarded to the council without recommendation. Um, which will be taken up again in two days
time. So I don't have any other update other than that the appeal was received and it was it was heard today. Um and then the last uh bit of information is the registration for the National Alliance of Preservation Commission's forum conference which will be held here
in July um opens tomorrow. Um, with that, I I will send a follow-up email with the link to the registration, but wanted to put it out there that I am aware that there may be some
spots that normally we are get CLG money or funding to support commissioner attendance at the annual state historic preservation conference, but there will be no state conference this year. It's just going to be the forum conference in
July. Um, but I understand there may be some opportunities. So, um, wanted to gauge interest from commissioners because I know several of you have other positions and you may be working something out in that category, but and we're still have nothing is finalized, but really would like to get interest.
Um, and obviously if you want to register on your own, that is entirely your choice. Um, all of us will be there. we are all participating in multiple events at at the conference and um would love to see love to see everybody there because it really is
highlighting Minneapolis and the work that has happened here. Um but look for that for me and if you have more questions or want to be more involved, please let me know. I know I've heard from some of you over the past few months and I think we're finally at a point where we're starting to be able to
give some directions of where where help could be needed. So, that concludes my updates. Thanks. >> Thank you. Do commissioners have any updates? Commissioner Maldum? >> Yeah, I have a question for Andrea
Burke. Um, do we know when the new member will be seated on the commission? I see I see Commissioner Her's name still on there and it made me reminded me of that. >> Thank you, um, Cheer Bjornberg and Commissioner Mel Bloom. So that was the
other um item that went today to the committee of the whole was um the appointment of the person who um would fill commissioner Harris seat. Um and that person um his name is Paris Smith.
Um and so that was recommended onto city council um for this Thursday. So it's not nothing's final yet in the appointment, but that uh recommendation did happen today. So, pending city council decision hopefully
soon. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Um I'll ask one more time if there's anything else. There being no other business to come before this meeting and without objection, I declare the meeting
adjourned. The next regular meeting will be April 14th, 2026. Thanks.