LAWRENCE HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION

ITEM NO. 4: L-15-00631

STAFF REPORT

 

A.       SUMMARY

 

L-15-00631   Public hearing for consideration of placing the structure located at 643 Indiana Street, the Wilder-Clark House, on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. Adopt Resolution 2016-01, if appropriate. Submitted by Lindsey Crick on behalf of Daniel and Phyllis Watkins, the property owners of record.

 

Legal Description of the nominated property: LANE'S FIRST ADD BLK 2(LT 24 FT WIDE)LT 1 & LT 2(LT 50 FT WIDE); ALSO INDIANA STREET S 22 FT LT 165

 

The public hearing for the nomination of the structure to the Lawrence Register of Historic Places will be held at 8:00 p.m., or thereafter, in the City Commission Room at Lawrence City Hall located at 6 E 6th Street.

 

B.       HISTORIC REGISTER STATUS

 

643 Indiana Street is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Old West Lawrence Historic District.  The Old West Lawrence Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 prior to the practice of identifying contributing and non-contributing structures.  Because there is no official determination for contributing and non-contributing properties in the district, staff and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) have identified structures as contributing and non-contributing on a case-by-case basis. In 1991, a survey of the district provided a list of proposed contributing and non-contributing structures.  This list is used by the SHPO to help classify contributing structures, but it has never been approved by the National Park Service as an amendment to the National Register Nomination.  Staff continues to evaluate structures in the district on a case-by-case basis.

 

C.       REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

 

1)      History Summary

 

The structure located at 643 Indiana Street was constructed c.1895.  According to the 1991 Historic Resources Survey, information in the property file at the Watkins Museum of History, and the application submitted with the nomination form, the structure was likely built for J.F. Wilder (James Francis Wilder) as he was the owner of record for the property in 1895 when there was a significant increase in property valuation. Wilder and his brother Charles Wilder formed the Wilder Brothers Shirt Manufacturing Company.  According to city directory entries, Wilder is listed as residing at this address in 1896, 1898, 1900/1901, 1905, and 1907.  The Wilder Brothers Shirt Manufacturing Company is significant in Lawrence’s history for their success and eventual construction of the structure located at 612 New Hampshire Street often referred to as the Reuter Organ building.

 

 

By 1911, the directories list Whitsed C. Laming and his wife as residents.  The property identification in city directories includes: Edwin S. Peckham (president of Peckham Clothing Company at 807 Massachusetts Street); the Rumsey Brothers Funeral Home, Ambulance Service and Undertakers; possibly a boarding house; and by 1940, Carroll and Pearl Clark. Mrs. Clark is known for founding the Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Association in 1961.

 

See additional historical information about the property in the attachment to the nomination form.

 

2)      Architectural Integrity Summary

 

This c. 1895 structure incorporates many of the architectural design elements that are indicative of the Queen Anne style of architecture.  According to the nomination, exterior alterations have been made to the structure. A south porch that shows on the 1927 Sanborn Fire Insurance map was reconstructed in 1994 without a roof that is implied by the Sanborn map.  The rear (west elevation) porch has also been altered. The identified alterations are on secondary elevations and are in similar footprints to original patterns of the historic structure. 

 

For an architectural description, see the attachment to the nomination form.

 

The structure maintains integrity of location and design that make it worthy of preservation.

   

3)      Context Description

 

The lots that have been combined into a parcel for the structures (primary and accessory) located at 643 Indiana Street are platted as part of the Original Townsite, Wyandotte Reserve No. 12, and Lane’s 1st Addition (1865). 

 

643 Indiana Street is an example of the Queen Anne architectural style of residential structures that were constructed during the historic context associated with the development of Lawrence Agriculture and Manufacturing, Foundations of Stability Period (1874-1899) as defined by the Historic Resources of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF). 

 

The area surrounding the Wilder-Clark House was developed as a residential area and is currently residential zoning and uses.    

 

The Wilder-Clark House is located in the Old West Lawrence Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The nomination identifies the area as a residential neighborhood that is significant for architecture.   

 

4)      Planning and Zoning Considerations

 

643 Indiana Street is zoned RS5, 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 property is a detached dwelling (single dwelling unit). This use is allowed in the RS5 district.  To the north, south, east, and west of the property is RS5 zoning and the uses are residential.

 

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 built 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.  In addition, the information for Lawrence Register properties will be included on the City’s website in 2016.

 

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 makes up 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 Historic Resources staff or the 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 HRC 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 of the building, demolitions, or partial demolitions.  Minor changes which require a city permit can be administratively approved by the Historic Resources Administrator.

 

 

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

 

Nine criteria are provided within Section 22-403 for review and determination of qualification as a Landmark or Historic District.  These criteria are set forth below with staff's summary of applicable criteria and recommendations for which this application qualifies:

 

(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;

 

(3)  Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the development of the community, county, state, or nation;

 

          The structure is associated with James Francis Wilder of Wilder Brothers Shirt Manufacturing Company, and Pearl Clark, founder of the Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Association.

 

(4)  Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style valuable for the study of a period, type, method of construction, or use of indigenous materials;

         

(5)  Its identification as a work of a master builder, designer, architect, or landscape architect whose individual work has influenced the development of the community, county, state or nation;

 

(6)   Its embodiment of elements of design, detailing, materials, or craftsmanship that render it architecturally significant;

 

643 Indiana Street is an example of the Queen Anne architectural style of residential structures that were constructed during the historic context associated with the development of Lawrence Agriculture and Manufacturing, Foundations of Stability Period (1874-1899) as defined by the Historic Resources of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF). 

         


(7)  Its embodiment of design elements that make it structurally or architecturally innovative;

         

(8)  Its unique location or singular physical characteristics that make it an established or familiar visual feature;

 

(9)  Its character as a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian structure; including, but not limited to farmhouses, gas stations, or other commercial structures, with a high level of integrity or architectural significance.

                                                                   -------------------------

The HISTORIC RESOURCES CODE establishes a procedure to follow in the forwarding of a recommendation to the City Commission on applications for listing on the local register.

 

"Following the hearing the commission shall adopt by resolution a recommendation to be submitted to the city commission for either (a) designation as a landmark or historic district; (b) not to designate as a landmark or historic district; or, (c) not to make a recommendation.  The resolution shall be accompanied by a report to the city commission containing the following information:

 

The Historic Resources Commission needs to formulate its recommendation in response to the following subsections section 22-404.2 (b):

 

(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;

(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.

(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 Wilder-Clark House, located at 643 Indiana Street, for designation as a Landmark on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places pursuant to Criteria #3 and #6 as described in Section 22-403.

 

If the Historic Resources Commission recommends this property for local nomination, the Commission should adopt a resolution for recommendation to be submitted to the City Commission for designation as a landmark.  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 Wilder-Clark House is significant for its architecture and its association with J.F. Wilder and Pearl Clark.

 

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

         

The structure maintains significant integrity of location and design that make it 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,

 

          Stone foundation; wood lap and wood shingled siding, wood windows and surrounds, all elements of the east/main elevation porch, bay window projection, fenestration patterns, eaves, decorative brackets, roof shapes, and chimneys.

 

(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.

 

          Alterations to the roof form, siding, windows and surrounds, alterations to the east porch, eaves, brackets, or chimneys 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 643 Indiana Street and delineate how environs review will be conducted in relation to the listed property. 

 

(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.

 

          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 this property 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; businesses and industries which illustrate the diversity that has been prevalent in Lawrence since its inception.

 

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