Apr 22, 2025 Landmarks Commission

YEP. WE'RE ON. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE ABILENE LANDMARKS COMMISSION.

[CALL TO ORDER]

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THE COMMISSION ACTS ONLY AS A RECOMMENDING BOARD TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS OF HISTORIC OVERLAY ZONING.

HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY FOR APPROVAL ON CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATIONS AND HISTORIC PROJECT TAX REDUCTION CASES. DECISIONS REGARDING CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS MAY BE APPEALED TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BY WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE PLANNING DIRECTOR OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE, NO LATER THAN 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS MEETING.

DECISIONS REGARDING HISTORIC PROJECT TAX REDUCTION MAY BE APPEALED TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE CITY SECRETARY NO LATER THAN TEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS MEETING.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM UNDER DISCUSSION BY THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION AFTER RECEIVING RECOGNITION BY THE CHAIR.

THOSE WISHING TO BE HEARD SHALL APPROACH THE PODIUM.

STATE YOUR NAME AND PURPOSE FOR APPEARING. EACH SPEAKER IS REQUESTED TO LIMIT THE PRESENTATION TO NO MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.

ADDITIONAL TIME MAY BE GRANTED TO THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR.

[1. Minutes: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Minutes from the Regular Scheduled Meeting Held on January 28, 2025.]

ANYONE OPPOSED THE MINUTES FROM JANUARY 28TH, 2025, 25 PAST AND THE

[2. PP-2025-01: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request for a Project Proposal for Interior and Exterior Improvements Located at 689 EN 18th Street. (Kera Valois)]

PROPOSAL FOR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS.

LOCATED AT 689 EAST NORTH 18TH STREET. AND WE WILL HAVE THE STAFF REPORT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KIRA VALOIS. I'M A.

2020 501. THE OWNER IS MARTHA GROVES. THE REQUEST IS FOR ORDINARY REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE REPAIRS TO BE INCLUDED IN A PROJECT PROPOSAL AS FOLLOWS. ROOF REPAIRS, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF BROKEN TILES.

FOUNDATION REPAIRS TO INCLUDE FRAMEWORK AS NECESSARY.

REPLACEMENT OF CAST IRON AND COPPER PLUMBING WITH PVC EXTERIOR PAINT AND STUCCO TRIM.

REPAIRS. LOCATED AT 689 EAST NORTH 18TH STREET.

THE MCKENZIE JOHNSON HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1929 AS A ONE AND A HALF STORY, FOUR BAY DOMESTIC BUILDING IN THE MISSION SPANISH REVIVAL STYLE.

THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING IS ORIGINAL STUCCO, WHICH INCLUDES THE STUCCO CHIMNEY ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

THE BUILDING HAS A FLAT PARAPET ROOF WITH A SINGLE BAY ENCLOSED PORCH THAT CONTAINS A TOWER ROOF CLAD IN TERRACOTTA TILE AND ARCHED STUCCO POST.

THIS PROPERTY RECEIVED HISTORIC OVERLAY IN MARCH OF 23 AND HAS BEEN RELATIVELY UNALTERED SINCE.

HERE WE HAVE THE LOCATION MAP. THE AERIAL MAP.

THE ZONING MAP. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.

SOME ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.

THESE WERE PHOTOS FROM MARCH 23RD, WHEN IT RECEIVED THE HISTORIC OVERLAY, AS WELL AS A PROPOSED PAINT SAMPLE.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3041 OF THE CITY CODE.

PRIOR TO FILING AN APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC PROJECT TAX REDUCTION, IF A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS HAS NOT BEEN REQUIRED, THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT A PROJECT PROPOSAL TO THE LAND LANDMARKS COMMISSION.

STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY. WE WILL CLOSE THE STAFF REPORT AND OPEN UP FOR COMMENTS TO THE PUBLIC. AND IF THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO,

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MARTHA GROVES AND I LIVE IN LUBBOCK, 6809 NASHVILLE AVENUE, LUBBOCK.

AND SO I HAVEN'T MET SOME OF YOU. THEREFORE, I'M GOING TO COME UP AND USE PART OF THIS TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE OR GROUP, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE PRESERVATION OF ABILENE, TEXAS.

AND SO THIS IS AN OLD FAMILY HOME BUILT BY MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, AND IT HAS BEEN UNALTERED THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE HAD A HEALTH ISSUE IN APRIL OF THE FOLLOWING MONTH AFTER THIS WAS APPROVED.

AND SO WE'RE JUST NOW KIND OF GETTING OVER THAT WITH MY HUSBAND, AND WE'RE READY TO GET BACK AND GET THINGS DONE.

SO WE'RE HOPING FOR A TAX CREDIT REDUCTION OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED.

I'M SORRY. AND JUST SEEK THAT APPROVAL TODAY SO WE CAN GET STARTED AND JUST MAXIMIZE ALL THE MONIES THAT WILL BE INVESTED INTO THIS PROPERTY.

AND THANK YOU, MASON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, CARA.

WE APPRECIATE BEING HERE TODAY. I DON'T. DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL WANT TO ASK THEM ABOUT THE PROPERTY? I LIKED THE PAINT COLOR.

DO WHAT? THEY SHOWED US THE PAINT COLOR. I LIKED IT.

YES. YES. SO IT'S PORCHES ARE NOT NOT QUITE AS RED NOW.

I'VE HAD A FEW LITTLE WEATHERS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH, SO WE ARE EAGER TO GET STARTED. JUST AS SOON AS WE GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO FROM YOU GUYS.

SO IT'S A PRETTY BROAD AMOUNT OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE, FROM PLUMBING TO ROOFING TO STRUCTURAL AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL THROWN IN THERE. PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING KNOWS FROM ONE SET OF PICTURES TO THE NEXT.

THE SIX DISAPPEARED OFF THE HOUSE ON. YES. THE LAST SET.

SO THE WOOD TRIM IS ROTTED A LITTLE BIT MORE PREVALENTLY.

AND? AND THE FLAT ROOFS WOULD JUST BE STILL THE FLAT ROOFS.

WE DO. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT. IT STARTED LEAKING NOW.

SO IT'S AN IMMEDIATE CONCERN BECAUSE THERE'S BETTER PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET NOW.

YEAH EXACTLY. AND SO WE'RE STILL GOING TO KEEP THE TILE.

WE HAVE LOCATED A SOURCE THAT HAS THAT ORIGINAL TILE IN CALIFORNIA.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE TO REPLACE THAT WITH. AND WE HAVE OUR BIDS IN FOR ALL OF THAT TO BE DONE.

FLAT ROOFS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING. IT'S LEAKING AT THE SEAMS. AND WE HAD A BIG TREE THAT WAS THERE. THAT'S NOT THERE IN THIS PICTURE WE'D ALREADY TAKEN OUT THAT WAS CAUSING AN UPROOT.

SO WE THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT ROAD. WE'RE NOVICES AT THIS.

AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN AND HOPE FOR SOME EXPERTISE TO STEP IN.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GATHER RESOURCES AND LEAVE THE CHARACTER INTACT.

ABSOLUTELY, YES. AND THE HOSPITALITY? YES. AND THE REST OF THE.

SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD BEFORE, BUT THIS WAS A HOME BUILT BY MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, AND MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS FROM ENGLAND, AND SHE SERVED TEA THERE EVERY DAY. SO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL LIVING REMEMBER GOING THERE TO GET THEIR TEA.

AND THAT WAS WHEN THERE WAS JUST 4 OR 5 HOUSES ON THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN AREA.

AND WHEN SHE SOLD IT IN THE 60S OR LATE 60S, THEN OF COURSE, THAT STOPPED.

BUT MY MOTHER AND FATHER KEPT IT VERY HOSPITABLE AND OPEN.

AND I WAS JUST MEETING MR. HOOD OVER HERE, AND YEAH, THEY USED TO.

HIS MOTHER, HIS STEPMOTHER USED TO PLAY BRIDGE THERE IN THAT HOUSE.

AND SO WE'RE HOPING FOR THOSE TYPE EVENTS TO COME BACK.

THIS IS NOT A HOUSE THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO LIVE IN. WE'RE JUST USING IT AS A PLACE TO NOT AN EVENT CENTER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT JUST TO WELCOME PEOPLE WHEN THEY WANT TO HAVE MEETINGS OR FESTIVITIES OR TEAS OR SUCH.

SORT OF THERE'S NOT A FEE TO THAT. THAT'S JUST A KIND OF A CONSIDERATION THAT THOSE PEOPLE WILL, YOU KNOW, HELP WITH WHATEVER THEY HELP WITH AT THIS POINT.

I KNOW IT'S PIE IN THE SKY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BELIEVERS WHEN WE THINK GOD CAN DO EVERYTHING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LET HIM RESTORE THIS HOUSE TO THAT HOSPITALITY AND LOVE AND AFFECTION THAT IT'S GIVEN OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS.

IT'S ALWAYS HAD WE DIDN'T HAVE A KEY FOR THIS HOUSE.

WE HAD TO GET A KEY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE A KEY.

IT JUST WAS AN OPEN DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND STAY.

AND AND MY MOTHER WANTED TO HAVE A BED AND BREAKFAST.

AND SO BY THE TIME THAT SHE WAS PASSING AWAY, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS ILL.

SHE WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD, AND WE WERE. I FINALLY HELPED YOU DO THAT BED AND BREAKFAST.

AND I SAID, BUT YOU'VE HAD ONE ALL THESE YEARS. YOU JUST DIDN'T CHARGE FOR IT.

THAT'S TRUE. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I PROBABLY DO HAVE ONE. SO HAVE YOU HAVE YOU CONFIRMED WITH A ROOFER THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVEN'T CONFIRMED, BUT WE HAVE CONFIRMED. SO WE HAVEN'T GONE INTO ANY KIND OF CONTRACTS OR ANYTHING.

BUT WE HAVE THE BIDS AND WE'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT WHO HAVE SUBMITTED BIDS FOR THINGS TO BE DONE.

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DID THEY TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT? HE DID SAY THAT WAS BAR ROOFING THAT SAID HE THINKS HE CAN LOCATE IT, BUT HE'S ALSO NEW ON STAFF WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND WE HAVE A CONTACT IN CALIFORNIA THAT DOES HAVE THAT TILE, AND IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT, BUT WE DON'T NEED A LARGE AMOUNT TO OUR UNDERSTANDING. SO WE THINK THAT WE CAN JUST TRANSPORT IT HERE AND USE THAT ORIGINAL STUFF.

IF THEY SHIP IT, HAVE THEM WRAP IT REALLY WELL.

I'D BE SCARED ALMOST TO ALMOST WORTH DRIVING OUT THERE AND GETTING IT.

YEAH. NO, NO IT DID. IT IS A GOOD. YES IT IS AT PEPPERDINE RIGHT NOW SO.

OH OKAY. I WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT THERE REGULARLY BUT I FLY.

SO MAYBE ONE TRIP WILL ROAD TRIP IT BACK. OH, I WOULD REWRITE A PIECE OF FURNITURE.

AND SO WE DROVE. WE LEASED A TRUCK AND DROVE FROM PHOENIX RECENTLY WITH THIS PIECE OF FURNITURE THAT WE SAW.

SO MAYBE WE'LL BRING THAT TILE BACK. I DON'T KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH HE WANTS.

AFTER YOU GET PAST EL PASO, IT'S ALL FAST DRIVING.

IT GOES LIKE THAT. IT'S JUST REACHING EL PASO, THAT ROAD.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? AND IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? OKAY. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY DISCUSSION AMONG THE COMMISSION? I KNOW WE'VE COVERED PLUMBING BEFORE. PLUMBING UNDERNEATH LIKE THAT THEY'RE DOING DOES QUALIFY AS, LIKE A STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT. AND IT DOES QUALIFY FOR CERTIFICATE OF TAX CREDITS.

CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. ANY, YOU KNOW, USUALLY INTERIOR THINGS DO NOT QUALIFY, BUT STRUCTURAL TYPE TOP THINGS. PLUMBING PIPES SUPPORT BEAMS, ELECTRICAL THINGS THAT.

YEAH, THERE'S PLUMBING THAT GOES OUT UNDER IT DID GO UNDER THE OUTBUILDING WITH THE FLAT ROOF, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE REROUTED. SO I GUESS ALL THAT WOULD BE COVERED.

ALL PLUMBING EXCEPT FOR FIXTURES ARE COVERED.

OKAY. YEAH. WE'VE EVEN WE'VE EVEN COVERED SEWER LINES BEFORE FOR TAX PROJECT CREDITS.

SO. THIS TODAY. RIGHT. OKAY. BECAUSE THAT SEWER LINE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DUG UP.

YEAH. WE WE DID THAT ON THE SHAHEEN HOUSE ON ELMWOOD YEARS AGO.

IT NEEDED A NEW SEWER LINE. QUALIFIED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, COME BACK UP TO AND WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING SOME MORE. I DID NOTICE THAT ON THE PAPER. I DIDN'T PUT SOME OF THE WOOD TRIM AND THINGS.

IS THAT SOMETHING I NEED TO ADD? DID I NOT PUT THAT ON THERE BECAUSE I JUST SAW IT AND I'M LIKE, WE HAVE TRIM ON THERE. OKAY. WE DO. NEVER MIND.

THANK YOU. ALSO I'LL JUST SAY THIS. IF IT'S REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND YOU'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING, WELL, BUT FOR A TAX PROJECT CREDIT, SHE WOULD.

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MENTION IT, BUT THEY MENTIONED IT.

SO? SO, YES. IF THEY WANT TO DO HISTORIC PROJECT TAX REDUCTION, THEN IT HAS TO BE PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS.

USUALLY IT'S PRESENTED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS KIND OF WHERE OTHER WORK IS BEING DONE THAT REQUIRED ONE.

BUT BECAUSE THIS WORK TECHNICALLY DIDN'T NOT, DID NOT REQUIRE ONE, WE CREATED A PROJECT PROPOSAL, WHICH IS WHY IT'S NAMED DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE.

SO IN THESE INSTANCES WE WILL HAVE THESE PRESENTED AS JUST A PROJECT PROPOSAL, BECAUSE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE REQUEST IS WHAT THEY'LL BE APPLYING FOR FOR THE PROJECT TAX REDUCTION. OKAY. OKAY. SO IT'S COVERED.

YOU CAN TALK TO MASON ABOUT VERY DETAILED SPECIFICS AND KEEP ALL KEEP ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS NO MATTER WHAT.

AND THEN YOU CAN GO THROUGH THEM WITH HER AND PRESENT THEM.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.

OKAY. EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT? I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GORGEOUS WHEN IT'S DONE.

SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO IT. THE COLOR IS CLOSE ENOUGH.

IT'S JUST A SLIGHT, CREAMIER COLOR. WELL, YOU KNOW, IT MAY EVEN BE ALMOST

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IT'S GOING TO BE. IT'S A REALLY NEAT HOUSE. IT'S REALLY SWEET.

OKAY, WE WILL CLOSE. AND IF. MASON, ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED.

202501. I SECOND. OKAY. AND WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

MISTER HOOD. YES, MISS KISTER. YES. MISTER BUCKMAN.

YES. MISS ALLEN. YES. MISS PARTAIN. YES. AND MISS LEE.

YES. MOTION APPROVED. AND WE WILL CLOSE THIS MEETING.

ALL RIGHT. THIS WAS A FAST MEETING. WE. OH. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.