Rock Island Today

City of Moline Historic Preservation Commission met Nov. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

Moline City Hall, 619 16th Street, Moline, IL 61265

Commission Members	Present	Absent
Frank Ege	x
Jeff Adamson	x
Dan Mizner	x
Brandon Tidwell	x
Dick Potter	x
Barb Sandberg	x
Jeff Dismer	x
Jennifer Bizarri - Staff	x
Savanna Cruz - Staff	x
Seán Foley – Staff	x
Jan Stoffer - Other	x

Meeting called to order: At 4:01 pm by Chairman Mizner.

Roll Call

Introduction of Guests – Jan Stoffer

Approval of the Meeting Minutes for October 9, 2023 Meeting

Motion made by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Ege to approve the minutes from the October 9, 2023 meeting with an amendment to change “City Hall Reno” to “City Hall Renovation” under New Business. Motion carried unanimously.

New Business:

● Code suggestion: HPC review buildings over 50 years prior to issuing a demolition permit.

Ms. Cruz informed the Commission that Chris Mathias, CED Director, has City’s Legal Counsel reviewing the Demolition Ordinance.

● MHPC By-Laws

City Staff added language to the MHPC By-Laws. Under Article II, Section 3, language for Commissioner members’ acceptable reasons to join a meeting virtually were added. Under Article VI, language for the month when elections of officers will be held (January) was also added. Under Article VII, Section 1, City Staff questioned whether the Historic Preservation Commission’s Chair would like staff to prepare the agendas, since staff is now drafting meeting minutes, or if the Chair would still like to be responsible for preparing agendas. Discussion was had. Decision was made that City Staff would prepare the agendas and the Chair would approve the agendas.

Motion made by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Sandberg to approve City Staff to prepare Historic Preservation Commission’s agendas and have the Chair approve said agendas. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion made by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Sandberg to approve the By Laws presented, with the correction of the Chair approving agendas, not preparing agendas. Motion carried unanimously.

● Bierstube Damage

Chair Mizner stated the Bierstube Bar & Grill in Moline had a waterpipe break, and the business itself did not survive. Drake Daley, City of Moline Building Official, said it had been repaired after the business had closed.

Old Business:

● Gordan Memorial Church Property Redevelopment

Chair Mizner reached out to Brad Hauman, City of Moline Neighborhood Improvement Officer, for an update on the property, but has not heard back from him. Ms. Bizarri stated the property is going forward at this time as a renovation of two single family homes. Landeros has bought the property, but they have not started any work yet.

● Redevelopment of the JCPenney Building

Ms. Bizarri stated the redevelopment of the JCPenney Building is moving forward with negotiations. The City is trying to create a Tax Incrementing Finance (TIF) district on the property, and if everything goes smoothly with creating the TIF, the TIF should be finalized in April 2024. The TIF could possibly include the Dispatch Building and the Carnegie Library (the new Sound Conservatory).

● Draft RFP for the Historic Structures Survey (On Hold) – N/A

● Affordable Housing and Density Brief

Commissioner Tidwell explained he had come across a Facebook post from the National Trust for Historic Preservation last month, and in the post was a briefing that talked about historic preservation being a solution to the housing crisis. It spoke about reutilizing old public spaces such as schools, churches, etc. It also spoke about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and demolition delays. Mr. Foley suggested using the briefing as an explanation page for the demolition ordinance the Commission is working on.

Reports:

● Fire Station #3 (502 River Drive) - Damage & Neglect – N/A

● Public Arts Commission

Commissioner Dismer explained Werc and Geraluz were selected as the artists to complete the mural at 14th Street and 5th Avenue. The mural was completed within a week. The Public Art Commission is planning on putting a mural on the Bass Street Landing restrooms that are to be constructed by Spring 2024. The PAC is also siting locations for the Quad City Arts’ Public Sculpture Program and working with the Floreciente Neighborhood on their Veteran’s Memorial Park.

● Proposed Riverfront Redevelopment

Ms. Bizarri explained Chris Mathias, Alex Elias, and herself meet with MKSK, Riverfront Plan Consultants, bi-weekly to stay updated on the plan. Ms. Bizarri also went over the past month’s events with MKSK.

● David B. Sears Recognition – N/A

● Main Street & Commercial Façade Improvement program

Commissioner Sandberg stated the Wunder-Y on 16th Street came before the Façade Improvement Program Committee in July this year with plans for their bar. The Committee had asked that they come back when they had finalized their plans, and the Committee could give them the approval to move forward, but they went ahead with their projects without the approval. If the owners of the Wunder-Y would have waited for the approval, the City could have provided them the funds for their projects, but the Committee has to follow the guidelines for the program. Commissioner Sandberg continued that Chair Mizner and herself had a meeting with the owners of the building, and suggested they stop their projects so the Committee could still assist them. Mr. Hafner, Wunder-Y building owner, and his daughter will perhaps rethink their projects.

● Downtown Heritage Tour Web site and promotional materials – N/A

● Spiegel Building (1506 River Drive)

Mr. Foley stated the Spiegel Building would be a part of the Riverfront Redevelopment, and there are still plans for a food hall.

● Leedy Building Renovation (1530 5th Ave)

Commissioner Ege stated he was in the Leedy Building last week, and they are putting up partitions for shops downstairs, and are also working on the upstairs. Commissioner Ege sent a message to Chris Mathias to possibly have City Inspectors go into the building.

● John Deere House (1217 11th Ave)

Commissioner Sandberg visited the John Deere House about a week ago and wanted to check if the brush on the hillside had been worked on. She noticed there were several areas under the soffits that were showing signs of rot, likely from leaks from the Yankee Gutters. She walked around to the North side of the house and found a carpenter was hanging the custom double doors that had been waiting inside the house for some 20 years to be installed. Mr. Chris Baker came out and said he would like to move into the first floor of the house with his wife, and fix the second and third floor. Mr. Drake Daley explained Mr. Baker would have to have all three floors enclosed with drywall before the Bakers could move into the house. There was work done on the hillside and Mr. Bob Vitas said what doesn’t get finished this year, should be completed next year. Ms. Sandberg gave a brief history on the John Deere House, stating that it rates as Moline’s number one most historic property.

● McKinley School (4th Ave & 41st St.) & Manual Arts Building Redevelopment

Discussion was had on the condition of both McKinley School and Manual Arts Building. No other updates.

● Other:

Commissioner Tidwell stated there are individuals in Moline starting a Forest Hill Neighborhood Association. There was a good turnout at the Moline Library for the association meeting, and it had a good group of involved neighbors invested in preserving historical landmarks. The neighborhood is roughly located between 12th & 16th Avenue and 27th & 30th Street. There should be more meetings in the future.

Public Comments

Jan Stoffer stated the holiday open house for the Deere-Wiman House would be on December 3, 2023, and the vestibule should be fully restored by that day.

Announcements: Next meeting Monday, December 11, 2023

Adjournment: Motion made by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Tidwell to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 4:57 p.m.

http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9604