| 6/12/2017 | 0 |
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
| ADOPTED
Minutes note: Mr. Tim Askin went through the photos shown at the last meeting. Staff's position is still to require all windows be on exterior display, although some may be moved as needed. Documentation needs to be prepared on the history of each window. Staff is fine with the proposed non-stain-glass windows.
Eric Nordeen - Ascendant Holdings - the hotel is willing to display all 20 windows on-site and will be removed and preserved and will be photographed and catalogued in a manner acceptable to staff. The windows don't read well from the outside as they're very dark.
Ken Gowland - architects - the window matches the current windows, which were replaced in 1996.
Matt Prescott - Ascendant Holdings
Staff is proposing 3 exterior windows stay in place and the rest be displayed internally.
Ms. Keating Kahn moved for approval for showing 3 in the exterior and the remaining windows to be displayed internally. This does not set precedent for future removal of stained glass as a unique case, seconded by Ald. Bauman. There were no objections.
| Pass | 5:0 |
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| 5/8/2017 | 0 |
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
| HELD IN COMMITTEE
Minutes note: Mr. Tim Askin said the applicant requested to move all the stained glass windows and store them on-site, but retain the transom windows. The stained glass windows were not part of the original design, but other Scottish Rite buildings have stained glass windows and function as event space. The building was originally a church and the stained glass windows were put in from 1938-1950. The windows have historic, masonic and religious themes. The "chapel" has stained glass windows in every room. There are four options and staff recommends shuffling the stained glass windows around to permit a minimum of one clear window per room. The stained glass windows have been in the building longer than the original clear windows were in the building. The Commission has never approved removal of stained glass windows.
Ben Prescott - Ascendant Holdings
Eric Nordeen - Ascendant Holdings
Ken Gowland - architects
Mr. Nordeen said that the windows are a problem in that they are very dark and this prohibits the type of entertainment they wish to have. Per the expert they hired, they were locally made and of inferior quality and therefore have no real monetary value. They do want to leverage the history of the building and would re-use portions of some of the windows.
Mr. Gowland said that the windows are not in the art deco style and of a medieval revival style and a lot of the windows are painted, rather than stained glass. The painted areas, even if backlit, would just appear dark. The building wasn't designed with stained glass in mind - the glass was merely replaced and stained glass wasn't part of the original intent of the design. The stained glass windows actually take away from the design as it just makes those windows darker and being asymmetrical rather than symmetrical. The existing facade also has limited area for allowing in daylight. The windows were designed to be inward-facing, rather than outward-facing as they appear solid black to the exterior.
Ms. Hatala noted that the clear windows were changed out during the remodeling project when the stained glass windows were put in.
The applicant would be willing to match either the 1936 steel windows or the 1996 aluminum windows.
Ms. Clendenen-Acosta would not be opposed to removing them if a plan was presented on what wiil be done with the removed windows.
Ms. Keating Kahn said she would like to see what the final disposition of the removed windows would be and how they could be re-used.
Held so the applicant can present information on the disposition of the removed windows. | Pass | 5:0 |
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