pl_l-15-00429_nomination_staff

LAWRENCE HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION

ITEM NO. 3: L-15-00429

STAFF REPORT

A. SUMMARY

L-15-00429 Public hearing for consideration of placing the structure located at 304 Indiana Street, the Zimmerman House, and its historic accessory structure at 302 Indiana Street , the Zimmerman Carriage House on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. Adopt Resolution 2015-13, if appropriate.

B. HISTORIC REGISTER STATUS

304 Indiana Street, the Zimmerman House, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The individual listing for 304 Indiana Street in the National Register does not include the property that is identified as 302 Indiana Street. However, when the Pinckney II National Register Historic District was listed, 302 Indiana Street was listed as contributing and was associated with 304 Indiana Street as a carriage house for the Zimmerman property.

C. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

1) History Summary

The primary structure located at 304 Indiana Street was built for Albert and S.T. Zimmerman in 1869. S.T. Zimmerman was chief engineer for the construction of the Bowersock Dam, a miller and a railroad contractor. The site was reportedly chosen for a nearby natural spring. John H. and Ella E. Kahao were listed at this address in the 1909 city directory. Andrew J. and Florence V. Laughlin were listed as owners in the 1923 city directory. A garage is located on the 304 Indiana Street property.

See National Register Nomination Section 8.

In 2004 when the Pinckney II Historic District was listed in the National Register, the structure now located on the property at 302 Indiana Street was identified as the carriage house for the Zimmerman property. Prior to 1915, the structure was identified as 304 Indiana-rear. Stanislas Van Meensel (no occupation identified) was listed as a resident in 1911. The property is listed as a contributing structure to the Pinckney II Historic District and is owned by the same owner as 304 Indiana Street. It has not been determined when the property was divided.

2) Architectural Integrity Summary

The Zimmerman House is a two-story, mansard roofed, Second Empire style brick dwelling that sits on a stone foundation. A 2 ½ story tower is located on the southwest corner of the structure with a concave roof form. The house has decorative brackets below the eaves, a one bay porch on the southwest corner of the main façade and hooded windows.

See national Register Nomination Section 7.

Carriage House at 302 Indiana Street

The one-and-a-half-story, side gabled frame Folk Victorian dwelling sits on a masonry foundation. A wall dormer is placed above the entrance gable overhang on the primary façade. One-story additions are located on the south and east sides. A central brick chimney pierces the roof. The house is clad in clapboards with decorative shingles in the gable ends.

The structures maintain integrity of location and design that make them worthy of preservation.

3) Context Description

The structure located at 304 Indiana Street, the Zimmerman House, is possibly the best extant example of the Second Empire architectural style in Lawrence. The house was constructed in 1869 during the City Building Period (1864-1873) as defined by the Historic Resources of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF).

The house is sited on an odd shaped lot of approximately .76 acres. The lot was originally platted in the West Lawrence plat as Lot one, Block 17. It appears that the Carriage House was also included in this lot.

The area is comprised primarily of single-family homes. During the 19th century, the two neighborhoods known today as Pinckney, on the north side of Sixth Street, and Old West Lawrence, on the south of Sixth Street, were considered one neighborhood. But unlike the Old West Lawrence neighborhood area, the Pinckney II area housed few mansions of Lawrence's newly wealthy merchant class. Housing primarily accommodated the town's working class, reflected in the majority of modest homes. The area was primarily developed from circa 1867 to circa 1924. Most houses include detached garages or carriage houses located at the rear of the property or on an alley. The grid of streets that runs through and surrounds the area was platted in 1858, although 3^rd Street was platted as Reed Street.

In addition to the continuation of the residential context of the area, the modern context includes features that are similar to the historic context of the area. According to the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, by 1918, the Lawrence Water Works had moved to the northwest corner of Reed (3^rd) and Indiana Street. Now known as the Kaw River Water Treatment Plant, the first structure on the site was completed in 1917 and an addition to this plant was completed in 1958. The plant draws its water from the Kansas River and alluvial wells on the Kansas River banks. The development of Burcham Park as a City park started in 1973, but the majority of this area has always been heavily wooded.

4) Planning and Zoning Considerations

304 and 302 Indiana Street are zoned RS7, Single Dwelling Residential District. The primary purpose of the district is to accommodate predominantly single detached dwelling units on individual lots. The district is also intended to create, maintain and promote housing opportunities for individual households, although it does permit some non-residential uses that are compatible with residential neighborhoods. The current use of the properties is as detached dwellings (single dwelling unit). This use is allowed in the RS7 district. To the north of the properties are City owned properties that are zoned GPI (General Public and Institutional Use District). This area is zoned for the Kaw River Water Treatment Plant. To the east, the property is zoned OS (Open Space) for the use of the City park. To the south and west of the properties, the areas are zoned RS7 and RS5 to accommodate the residential uses in the area.

5) Fiscal Comments

There are no monetary benefits directly associated with nomination of a structure to the Lawrence Register of Historic Places at this time. However, Chapter 22 of the Code of the City of Lawrence does identify mechanisms for financial incentives. If these programs become available in the future, structures listed on the Lawrence Register will be eligible for participation.

Listing on the local register does help preserve historic resources important to Lawrence's history and helps to maintain streetscapes in older neighborhoods through environs reviews.

The original information submitted with nominations for properties to the Lawrence Register is kept on file in the City Planning office for public review and consultation with regard to development projects within the notification area.

6) Positive/Negative Effects of the Designation

The positive effect of designation is the creation of a permanent record of the historical significance of an individual property, for its architectural quality or its association with a significant local individual or event. This provides the local Historic Resources Commission with pertinent historical data which can help to provide an ‘historic' perspective to property owners when they desire to improve, add on, or redevelop a property within an older section of the City.

The public accessibility of this information is also a resource as it can be used by realtors, builders/developers, and others in the community prior to a property's resale, redevelopment or rehabilitation. In a more general sense, this information can be used by the Chamber of Commerce and existing businesses and industries to identify one of the facets that help to create Lawrence's quality of living.

Additional effects of designation are the creation of an arbitrary 250' environs notification and review area. Within this 250' circle, projects which require city permits, e.g., demolition, redevelopment, renovation or modification, require review by the Historic Resources Administrator or the Historic Resources Commission. These environs reviews permit scrutiny of proposed development/redevelopment by individuals sensitive to historic preservation.

A Certificate of Appropriateness or a Certificate of Economic Hardship is required to be issued by the Historic Resources Commission before a City permit can be issued for the proposed project. If the Historic Resources Commission denies a Certificate of Appropriateness or a Certificate of Economic Hardship, the property owner can appeal to the City Commission for a new hearing. The City Commission can uphold the decision of the Historic Resources Commission or it can grant the proposed development over the Historic Resources Commission's action. Certificates of Appropriateness or Economic Hardship are required for a project within the 250' radius of a Local Register property.

Examples of projects which would require review and approval are: projects involving the exterior building which are considered structural changes, demolitions or partial demolitions. Minor changes which require a city permit can be administratively approved by the Historic Resources Administrator.

7) Summary of Applicable Designation Criteria

Chapter 22, of the City Code is the Conservation of Historic Resources Code for the City of Lawrence. Section 22-403 of this code establishes criteria for the evaluation of an application for nomination to the Lawrence Register of Historic Places.

D. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION AND DESIGNATION - Section 22-403

Nine criteria are provided within this section for review and determination of qualification as a Landmark or Historic District. These criteria are set forth below with staff's recommendations as to which this application qualifies for:

(1) Its character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the community, county, state, or nation;

(2) Its location as a site of a significant local, county, state, or national event;

(1) Explanation of the significance or lack of significance of the nominated landmark or historic district as it relates to the criteria for designation as set forth in section 22-403;

(2) Explanation of the integrity or lack of integrity of the nominated landmark or historic district;

(3) In the case of a nominated landmark found to meet the criteria for designation:

(A) The significant exterior architectural features of the nominated landmark that should be protected; and,

(B) The types of construction, alteration, demolition, and removal, other than those requiring a building or demolition permit, that cannot be undertaken without obtaining a certificate of appropriateness.

(4) In the case of a nominated historic district found to meet the criteria for designation:

(A) The types of significant exterior architectural features of the structures within the nominated historic district that should be protected;

(C) A list of all key contributing, contributing and noncontributing sites, structures and objects within the historic district.

(5) Proposed design guidelines for applying the criteria for review of certificates of appropriateness to the nominated landmark or historic district.

(6) The relationship of the nominated landmark or historic district to the on-going effort of the commission to identify and nominate all potential areas and structures that meet the criteria for designation.

(7) A map showing the location of the nominated landmark or the boundaries of the nominated historic district.

E. RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends the Zimmerman House and its associated Carriage House, located at 304 and 302 Indiana Street, for designation as Landmarks on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places pursuant to Criteria #4 and #6 as described in Section 22-403.

If the Historic Resources Commission recommends these properties for local nomination, the Commission should adopt Resolution 2015-13 for a recommendation to be submitted to the City Commission for designation as associated landmarks. In addition to the resolution, the Commission should direct staff to prepare a report to accompany the resolution including the information set forth in Section 22-404.2(1) - (7) and the environs definition.

Staff recommends the following for the report to the City Commission:

(1) Explanation of the significance or lack of significance of the nominated landmark or historic district as it relates to the criteria for designation as set forth in section 22-403;

The Zimmerman House is an excellent example of Second Empire architecture and is likely the best extant example of this style in Lawrence. The Carriage House is an exemplary example of a carriage house for this type of structure.

(2) Explanation of the integrity or lack of integrity of the nominated landmark or historic district;

The structures maintain significant integrity of location and design that make them worthy of preservation.

(3) In the case of a nominated landmark found to meet the criteria for designation:

(A) The significant exterior architectural features of the nominated landmark that should be protected; and,

All exterior architectural features and forms of these properties should be protected. Architectural features include but are not limited to the roof form, eaves, brackets, porches and porch details, windows and window hoods, chimneys, projecting bay, ironwork, gable end shingles, wood siding, and dormers.

(B) The types of construction, alteration, demolition, and removal, other than those requiring a building or demolition permit that cannot be undertaken without obtaining a certificate of appropriateness.

Any alterations to the exterior of the structures other than maintenance or repairs and preventive measures as are minimally required to prevent additional loss or harm to the structures should require a Certificate of Appropriateness.

(5) Proposed design guidelines for applying the criteria for review of certificates of appropriateness to the nominated landmark or historic district.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, published in 1990, and any future amendments, in addition to any criteria specified by Chapter 22 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas.

The HRC may also adopt An Analysis of the Environs for 304 and 302 Indiana Street and delineate how environs review will be conducted in relation to the listed properties.

A primary goal of the HRC is to build a Register of properties which show the diversity and growth of Lawrence since its inception. The nomination of these properties is another step toward registering a wide variety of historic properties which together present a visual history of Lawrence’s past. The goal of the Lawrence Register of Historic Places is to represent all socioeconomic strata including residential, business, and industry which illustrate the diversity that has been prevalent in Lawrence since its inception.

(7) A map showing the location of the nominated landmark.

See attached