Rock Island Today

City of Moline Historic Preservation Advisory Commission met July 10.

Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:

Meeting was called to Order at 4:20 PM

Introduction of Guests: Chris Mathias

Chris Mathias shared an application from Dr. David R. Birdsell, 1201 5th Avenue, for a Notice of

Appeal and request for Variance for signs, on his office building. He is asking for a dynamic

display sign, on the west side of his chiropractic office on 5th Avenue. In the sign ordinance, it

states that dynamic display sign cannot be placed in a historic district. After discussion,

Commissioner Dan Mizner proposed denial of the Application of Dr. David Birdsell for installing

dynamic display sign on his Chiropractic office on 5th Avenue. The Moline Historic Preservation

Commission recommends that the Moline Planning Commission deny Dr Birdsell’s request due

to the fact that his building is located in the historic District of Moline Illinois. The motion was

seconded by Carm Senatra. The Commission vote was in favor of the motion to deny the

request for dynamic display sign.

Approval of Minutes – June 12 and 13th, 2017: Commissioner Carm Senatra made the motion

to approve both the HPC regular minutes and the minutes for the special meeting of the Fifth

Avenue Building. Motion seconded by Commissioner Dan Mizner followed by a unanimous vote

of approval from the Commission.

Reports:

• Sears Warehouse – “The Q” Depot Clock: The Commission discussed the plans of the

proposed stair tower which leads from the platform at “the Q” to the overhead bridge

to the Moline Metro Center. For the past months the Commission has been requesting

that the designers put the elevator on the west side of the tower so that the clock can

be installed on the east face of the tower, but the final design was the reverse. The way

it is designed the workings of the clock cannot be exposed or maintained from the

interior shaft of the elevator. The only other option that the Commission has is to build

a free standing structure, similar to the one that Commissioner Senatra proposed in

front of the east side of the tower. This would require the Commission to raise money to

build and maintain a structure for the clock.

Commissioner Potter suggested the idea of maybe installing the clock in the

new west parking lot across from the “Q”. But that lot has already been built.

Another suggestion is when Bob Ontiveros builds The Mercado on Fifth, that

maybe there might be a location for the clock along 4th Avenue. More

discussion on this issue will be required.

• Wilson House: Work has begun on cleaning up the site. No visible work can be seen on

the exterior of the building.

• Sylvan Island Bridge: No construction has started. Bridge is scheduled to be completed

by November 2017.

• Prospect Park pavilion –update: The Park Board is looking into additional funding to

finish out the restrooms and miscellaneous projects at the Pavilion.

• Collector Center site – Mike and Curt Whalen (Heart of America) continues their due

diligence and design work for an infill residential development on the former Deere

Collector Center site.

• Downtown Heritage tour – update: Commissioners Frank Ege and Barb Sandberg are

redesigning the Downtown Heritage tour card for the Visitors and Convention Bureau.

• Chase Building: Construction is nearly complete and leasing of the apartment units

should begin later this month or early next month. There is concern by the Commission

of the placement of mail boxes on the sidewalk in front of the building. This could be a

safety hazard for pedestrians. The Commission is still wanting a tour of the facility

before occupancy.

• Spiegel building: Nothing new.

• Fifth Avenue Building - Demolition continues on the upper floors and the adjacent

properties.

• Other:

Old Business:

• John Deere House: Nothing new.

• Main Street/Façade rehabilitation: Nothing new to report.

• Garfield School: Construction has not yet started on this project.

• Future development of Ray’s Appliance: No report

• List of Moline’s historically and architecturally significant buildings –survey/inventory:

No report

New Business:

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act

of 1966, the U.S. Department of the Interiors National Park Services

congratulated and recognized the City of Moline and the Moline Historic

Preservation Commission for being a Certified Local Government and partner in the Federal

preservation program since August 1994. Jeff Anderson has the certificate in his office.

Announcements:

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 5:10 PM

Next meeting August 14th, 2017

http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4205