Rock Island Today

City of Moline Historic Preservation Commission met May 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

Commission Members	Present	Absent
Frank Ege	x
Jeff Adamson	x
Dan Mizner	x
Dick Potter	x
Barb Sandberg	x
Jeff Dismer	x
Jennifer Bizarri - Staff	x
Savanna Cruz - Staff		x
Seán Foley – Staff	x
Chris Mathias - Staff	x

1. Meeting called to order: At 4:01 p.m. by Chair Potter.

2. Roll Call

3. Introduction of Guests

Diane Moore – Historic Preservation Society

Felix Vallejo – Skelly Gasoline Service Station

Ursula Miniter – Skelly Gasoline Service Station

Christopher Parr – Economic Development Manager

4. Public Comment – N/A

5. Approval of the Meeting Minutes for April 8, 2024 Meeting

Commissioner Sandberg would like item 7(e) to have the language corrected in the second sentence. Motion made by Commissioner Mizner, seconded by Commissioner Ege to approve the minutes from the April 8, 2024 meeting with Commissioner Sandberg’s corrections to item 7(e). Motion carried unanimously.

6. New Business:

a. Johnson House/Century 21 Office

Chair Potter stated the Johnson House/Century 21 Office is for sale. This is a Moline Historic Landmark that is privately owned and there are concerns for its future. The owner is also selling two other properties near the Johnson House: a house next door and a mattress store. The property has been well maintained on the outside and inside. The realtor knows the property is a Moline Historic Landmark.

b. National Register nomination for the Skelly Gasoline Service Station

Mr. Vallejo expressed he is excited to have a meeting with the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council on June 28, 2024. Amy Hathaway in Springfield, Illinois helped Mr. Vallejo with the National Register of Historic Places Form. The fact that the Skelly Gasoline Service Station is now a Moline Historic Landmark, and having reviewed the application, the Historic Preservation Commission is in full support of the National Register nomination for the landmark.

Motion made by Commissioner Mizner, seconded by Commissioner Sandberg to affirm the nomination application, and to send it back to the National Register with the Commission’s blessings to be listed on the National Register. Motion carried unanimously.

c. Other

Mr. Mathias introduced the new Economic Development Manager, Christopher Parr, to the HPC.

The Commission discussed if a new Commissioner was going to be appointed to fill the vacancy spot on the HPC. If there is anyone interested, they should contact the Mayor’s office.

7. Old Business:

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

Mr. Mathias explained he had told the HPC he was not in favor of the demolition ordinance. Mr. Mathias was going to take the demolition ordinance to City Council, and he was going to put a staff recommendation to deny approval, but the City Administrator and some Alderpersons asked Mr. Mathias take it back to the HPC and try to figure out a solution. He questioned if there is a middle ground between an ordinance that states looking over the entire city for a building that was built prior to a certain date for demolition review, or creating a list of all of the historic buildings in the city and review demolitions over those buildings. Commissioner Mizner questioned what Mr. Mathias’ objections were to the demolition ordinance. Mr. Mathias is uncomfortable with adding more requirements to the demolition process right now. Commissioner Mizner brought up a project on 7th Street and 19th Avenue that he said took down 50 houses. If the demolition ordinance was in place back then, there would be more housing. Also, staff would have to review zoning for a building, and that would give the HPC the same amount of time to review the building. Discussion was had on other Illinois cities that have demolition delay ordinances such as Chicago, Bloomington, and Peoria. The Commission explained that the current demolition ordinance is only for the Commission to have time to review the building, not have the ability to stop the demolition of a building. Mr. Mathias will research on other cities that have demolition ordinances. The Commission is to send any more examples of cities that have demolition ordinances to Mr. Mathias for research.

b. Gordon Memorial Church Property Redevelopment

Commissioner Adamson explained Landeros & Sons gutted both buildings, replaced the roof, and closed up all of the broken windows. He has not seen any action on the property for a couple months. Chair Potter would like this item to be moved to Reports on the agenda.

c. Redevelopment of the JCPenney Building

The development agreement for the JCPenney Building was approved at City Council last week. This project will most likely not begin until January 1, 2025.

d. Draft RFP for the Historic Structures Survey (On Hold)

Commissioner Mizner sent two emails to Jon Pressley and one email to his supervisor, and he has not heard back from them yet. Ms. Bizarri also sent an email to Mr. Pressley, and she received a response. Mr. Pressley stated the Historic Structures Survey application will be available this summer. The funds for this application are not in the budget, and will estimate about $30,000. Forest Hill is the area where the HPC plans to have the survey done. The HPC will need to draft an RFP, and get approval from the City for the funds.

e. Other

Commissioner Sandberg stated the Wharton Field House Program was on WQPT and she hoped the Commissioners had a chance to see it. The overall program dealt primarily with sports, but if you received Diane Moore and Kirk Marske’s book, there are a lot of other things that happened at Warton Field House. Commissioner Sandberg questioned if Ms. Moore inquired with anyone on landmarking the building. Ms. Moore spoke with a member of the school board and Brandon Tidwell had spoke with the Superintendent, and there seems to be some indication of interest in hearing about the landmark nomination. Ms. Moore suggested a Commissioner from the HPC or City Staff speak with the school board about the landmark. Commissioner Sandberg would like Ms. Moore to help with the landmark nomination as well.

8. Reports:

● Deere-Wiman House Landmark Ordinance

Commissioner Sandberg stated a plaque for the Deere-Wiman House Landmark will need to be picked up from the Parks Department for the ceremony. The Moline Preservation Society would like to know when the ceremony for the Deere-Wiman Landmark will be held so they can attend too.

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

● Public Arts Commission

Commissioner Dismer stated all projects he spoke about at the HPC last meeting are still underway. There is a draft RFQ for the Q Parkway (Leading Light) project with MetroLINK. In the next coming months, they plan to have an RFP to send out for the project. This project will be a combination of a sculpture installation and mural. The building at 1722 River Drive (which is leased by Kone and owned by Ryan Wade) may get a “Greetings from Moline” mural. The PAC will discuss which façade of the building to put the mural on at their next meeting. The Bass Street Landing toilet building is under construction, and the PAC has an RFP ready to be sent out for a mural on the east side of that building. Contracts are being signed on the Public Sculpture Program for 6 locations that will be installed in June 2024. Five sculptures will be placed on 5th Avenue sites, and one sculpture will be placed adjacent to the Kone Building. The PAC is wanting to work with the Floreciente Neighborhood on their Veteran’s Memorial, but funding for the project is still being discussed. Heritage Natural Foods would like a mural on the west side of their building, if they can get the billboard removed.

● Proposed Riverfront & Spiegel Building Redevelopment

Mr. Mathias explained the final public input session for the Riverfront Master Plan was held on May 11, 2024 at Mercado on Fifth. It will take about 2-3 months before they finalize the Plan together, and then it should go to City Council by the end of the summer. Commissioner

Sandberg discussed the Kone Tower, and the new concept for the tower that was presented at the event. She also discussed Darrel Hagberg and his concept that he had presented to the Project Management Team back in December, that she believes was a better concept.

● David B. Sears Recognition

Commissioner Ege has a program on Thursday night at the Putnam Museum regarding the David B. Sears Recognition. Drinks and networking begin at 6 p.m., and program will start at 7 p.m.

● Main Street & Commercial Façade Improvement program

Commissioner Sandberg stated the Façade Committee has a pending proposal. The application was not filled out to meet the requirements of the Committee, so it will go back to the applicant for finishing touches. The applicant would like to paint and tuckpoint the building. The Commission discussed this was the Yankee Doodle building on 16th Street.

● Downtown Heritage Tour Web site and promotional materials

Commissioner Sandberg updated 21 different sites on the Downtown Heritage Tour with the help of Todd Green, City of Moline Website GIS Specialist. They also added the O’Keefe’s Sports Pub and Grub to the website tour.

● John Deere House (1217 11th Ave)

Commissioner Sandberg explained the brick street on 11th Avenue that is parallel to the John Deere House is being completely reset.

● McKinley School (4th Ave & 41st St.) & Manual Arts Building Redevelopment Mr. Mathias stated there is nothing new going on with the buildings except trying to find a developer.

● Other – N/A

9. Public Comment - None

10. Announcements: Next meeting Monday, June 10, 2024

11. Adjournment

Motion made by Commissioner Ege, seconded by Commissioner Mizner to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m.

http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/10066