Lake County Gazette

City of Highland Park Historic Preservation Commission Met March 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the commission:

CALL TO ORDER

At 7:30 p.m., Chairwoman Salamasick called the meeting to order. She read the agenda, information that the City of Highland Park continues to follow social distancing requirements and Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-07, and meeting procedures. This Commission meeting takes place virtually through audioconference or video call and at City Hall for some Staff and residents. Staff was asked to call the roll.

ROLL CALL

Commissioners Remotely: Chairwoman Salamasick; Commissioners Levy, Marshall de Armas, Pierce, Pines, Reinstein, Sogin

Councilwoman Remotely: Stone

Student Council Remotely: Zhang

Student Council Absent: Beck, Betancourt

Staff declared that a quorum was present.

Staff On-Site: Cross

Guests Remotely: Hart Passman/Corporation Counsel, Elrod Friedman

Sergey Taitler/Applicant

Jerome & Julie Kane/Applicants

Richard & Nancy Becker/Becker Architects Ltd.

Others Remotely: Cerabona

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Revisions are:

∙ Page 1, Roll Call                             add Commissioner Pierce

∙ Page 3, 275 Linden Park Place      remove Commissioner Levy from the vote

Commissioner Levy moved to approve the minutes of January 14, 2021, as amended. Commissioner Pines seconded the motion.

On a roll call vote

Voting Yea Chairwoman Salamasick; Commissioners Levy, Marshall de Armas, Pierce, Pines, Reinstein, & Sogin

Voting Nay: None

Chairwoman Salamasick declared that the motion passed unanimously.

SCHEDULED BUSINESS

1. Determination of Significance – 1682 Huntington

Senior Planner Cross reviewed the plan:

∙ Built in 1956

∙ Split-level style

∙ Significant status in 2000 West Side Survey

∙ Architect is John Neebe

∙ Aerial photos were shown

∙ Historical and Architectural Analyses were identified

∙ Ownership Research was highlighted

∙ Elevations were shown

∙ Landmark Criteria and Impact of Historic Findings were noted

Chairwoman Salamasick asked if the applicant has comments. Mr. Sergey Taitler said he has been a resident in Highland Park since 1983 when he went to school here as his children do now.

Senior Planner Cross asked and Mr. Taitler advised he has lived in this house a short time and used it as a rental property in 2003; is in a land trust and the house has lived its useful life.

Councilwoman Stone asked what the plans are for the property. Mr. Taitler advised – to have two single- family homes.

Some HPC comments are:

∙ Commissioner Pierce asked if there are alterations. Mr. Taitler stated – just painting, remodeling; tile and flooring.

∙ Commissioner Sogin noted John Neebe came to Chicago in 1880. He studied in Germany as an apprentice. The Beech House may have been a Non-Contributing style.

∙ Commissioner Levy said Frank Lloyd Wright also changed his style. He is unsure if any standards are met.

∙ Commissioner Pines commented this is nicely expressed.

Commissioner Pines moved that this house meets none of the criteria. Commissioner Sogin seconded the motion.

On a roll call vote

Voting Yea Chairwoman Salamasick; Commissioners Levy, Marshall de Armas, Pierce, Pines, Reinstein, & Sogin

Voting Nay: None

Chairwoman Salamasick declared that the motion passed unanimously.

Senior Planner Cross said there would not be a delay on the demolition. Commissioner Reinstein shared he is not sure that Zoning would allow two houses on this property. Senior Planner Cross said he would work with the applicants on zoning issues related to the subdivision of the property.

2. Determination of Significance – 280 Cary Avenue

Senior Planner Cross reviewed the plan:

∙ Built in 1972

∙ International style

∙ Non-Contributing status in the 2000 Architectural Survey

∙ Architect is Ernest “Tony” Grunsfeld III

∙ Grunsfeld & Associates’ houses were highlighted

∙ Landmark Criteria and Impact of Historic Findings were shared

Chairwoman Salamasick asked if there are further comments.

Applicants are Jerome & Judy Kane. Richard & Nancy Becker with Becker Architects Ltd. also joined remotely.

Mr. Kane advised he & Julie have lived in Highland Park for 32 years. He stated they wanted a Ranch style single-family home and were excited to find a Grunsfeld home. The consensus is the house isn’t worth saving – rooms and closets are small, it has a quirky layout, the basement is like a dungeon. The exterior has damage to the siding from animals and water. The roof has multiple leaks. These are the issues to remodel. The intent is to demolish the house and build a single-story Ranch house.

Mr. Becker added they conducted a walk-through and though they try to restore houses, the layout, strange corridors, and warehouse feel makes no sense to repair/remodel. He discussed landmark criteria, and shared this is not a true high-style International style nor one of Grunsfeld’s finest houses.

Some HPC comments are:

∙ Commissioner Levy thanked Staff for not administratively approving this petition. He thanked Mr. Becker for his thoughts on criteria and believes criteria #5 is met.

∙ Chairwoman Salamasick concurs that criteria #5 is met

∙ Commissioner Sogin agrees it is not an International style – it’s a Contemporary style; not a good example

∙ Commissioner Marshall de Armas believes the Non-Contributing status is appropriate; doesn’t see any value (narrow hallways, etc.); is a Contemporary style rather than International. There are better examples of International houses in Highland Park.

∙ Chairwoman Salamasick concurs and would remove criteria #4 and #6

Commissioner Levy moved that this house meets criteria #5 with no delay imposed. Commissioner Pierce seconded the motion.

On a roll call vote

Voting Yea Chairwoman Salamasick; Commissioners Levy, Marshall de Armas, Pierce, Pines, Reinstein, & Sogin

Voting Nay: None

Chairwoman Salamasick declared that the motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Pierce said a member of the next generation of the Grunsfeld family s an astronaut. Commissioner Pines noted a Ravinia Brewing product is named after Grunsfeld.

Councilwoman Stone departed the meeting at 8:19 p.m.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. Annual Legal Training with Highland Park Corporation Counsel

Senior Planner Cross advised the legal training is provided to all Commissions in Highland Park. He introduced Hart Passman with Elrod Friedman who stated this is a refresher as not much has changed for Historic Preservation in Highland Park. The presentation included discussion on the following: 

∙ Statutory & Legal Authority

o Illinois Municipal Code

∙ City Code Provisions

∙ Specific HPC Duties & Responsibilities

∙ Landmark Criteria

∙ What is “Integrity”?

∙ Demolition of Dwellings

o New Code Provisions

o Common Questions

∙ Establishing A Landmark

∙ Certificate of Appropriateness

∙ Certificate of Economic Hardship

∙ Burden for Satisfying Standards

∙ Common Questions & Problems

∙ Procedure – Open Meetings Act

∙ Open Meetings Act:

o Email & Online Communication

o Openness

o Agenda

∙ Robert’s Rules of Order

∙ The “Prosser” Rule

∙ Procedure – Public Hearings

∙ Ethics – City Guidelines

∙ Ethics Guidelines

o Interaction with Staff

BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC

There is no Business from the Public.

OTHER BUSINESS

1. Next Regular Meeting

The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2021.

STAFF REPORT

Senior Planner Cross advised Zubin Coleman will be joining the staff next month.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Reinstein moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:38 p.m. Commissioner Levy seconded the motion.

On a roll call vote

Voting Yea Chairwoman Salamasick; Commissioners Levy, Marshall de Armas, Pierce, Pines, Reinstein, & Sogin

Voting Nay: None

Chairwoman Salamasick declared that the motion passed unanimously.

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