Will County Gazette

City of Joliet Historic Preservation Commission Committee of the Whole met July 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

CALL TO ORDER

DECLARATION OF QUORUM

Present Quinn Adamowski, Mary Beth Gannon, Bill Habiger, Candace Johnson, Sharon Merwin, Aaron Mikottis, Sara Stovall and Steven Wright

Absent Brian Bessler, Kevin Heinemann and Kailee Lowry

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

June 23, 2021 Historic Preservation Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Minutes

A motion was made by Candace Johnson, seconded by Mary Beth Gannon, to approve the June 23, 2021 Historic Preservation Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Minutes. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: Adamowski, Beth Gannon, Habiger, Johnson, Merwin, Stovall and Wright

Abstain: Mikottis

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS

This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding items listed on the agenda. Anyone speaking on an agenda item is entitled to speak for a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff and the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission do not generally respond to public comments. Please note speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak.

COMMITTEE AND STAFF REPORTS

a. Staff Report

Ms. Bernhard gave the staff report.

Ms. Bernhard has received an update on the downtown historic resource survey. The consultant have completed the building picture inventory. They will now start individual building research. The same consultant is also completing the St. John's survey which has hit a few setbacks. The project is currently running a year behind. Ms. Bernhard spoke with the consultant from Lakota Group who is completing the design guidelines. They hope to have the first two chapters complete within the next week. Ms. Bernhard would like to make the full draft of the design guidelines public when it is available to ask for public comments and input. Ms. Merwin asked if the design guidelines are for everything. Ms. Bernhard answered the design guidelines will focus on the 130 designated historic properties in the City of Joliet but will also include architectural styles that are represented in the older areas of the city. Ms. Johnson asked if the maps if the maps will be available on the website. Ms. Bernhard said she hopes to get the maps up soon.

Ms. Bernhard stated that there is one Certified Local Government Grant project that is active. It is for the railroad museum. The state of Illinois has given an extension to September of 2022. The 2021 Certified Local Government grant was approved for an update to the City’s inventory of 130 designated historic properties. The state of Illinois is providing 73% of the funds for this project. This will hopefully go to the August 17th City Council for approval of the grant agreement. Ms. Bernhard talked about a meeting with US Steel regarding the US Steel Administration building on Collins Street. Ms. Merwin, Chairman Adamowski and Ms. Bernhard went on a tour of the facility. Ms. Bernhard announced that US Steel has pulled a roof repair permit. US Steel has verbally committed to fixing the interior of the building as well. Representatives with the executive leadership team from the US Steel real estate division, they have given the City of Joliet permission to retrieve and scan old building plan documents on the site. Mr. Mikottis asked what the long-term plan was for the site. Ms. Bernhard said the long-term plan is someone else will come in and manage the site. The Commissioners talked about possible future usage.

Ms. Bernhard met with the Will County Black History Museum Committee to talk about their plans for the Casseday house, this committee is comprised of people of color. The committee is moving forward with stabilizing the building and the site. They are working on a timeline with Ms. Bernhard. The committee will also be meeting with the Collins Street Neighborhood Council.

Ms. Bernhard has administratively issued three certificates of appropriateness since the last meeting. Ms. Bernhard is still working with the owners of 23 S. Eastern Avenue.

b. Committee of the Whole (COW)

There was no discussion on this subject.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Candidates for future landmarks

Ms. Bernhard asked Ms. Merwin to talk about 214 Herkimer Street. Ms. Merwin gave an update. Ms. Johnson is still working on 20 S. Raynor Avenue. Ms. Bernhard said Ms. Johnson is still working on 417 Taylor Street.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Rescinding Local Historic District Designation for the Raynor’s Addition Local Historic District

Ms. Bernhard announced that she received a request from Councilwoman Quillman and her neighbors to bring up the desire to rescind the application for Raynor's Addition Local Historic District. Since the submittal deadline has passed, this subject will be discussed at future JHPC Committee of the Whole meetings. The Commissioners discussed the details of the homes located within the Raynor's Addition historic district. Ms. Johnson asked if there is a certain number of signatures that have to be obtained to remove the historic district status. She also asked about the reasoning for wanting to be removed. Ms. Merwin asked if there is criteria to be removed, similar to the criteria to be approved. Ms. Bernhard stated that de-designation follows the same process as designation. The process must start with at least six votes from the Historic Preservation Commission. Ms. Bernhard does not think this process will need signatures from all of the residents within the district. Ms. Bernhard said that the JHPC could ask for the owners to consent in the future. Mr. Mikottis asked if some of the non-conforming modifications done to homes within the district were completed before the designation or since the area received designation. Ms. Bernhard will be visiting the homes to review some of the modifications.

B. Urban Conservation Districts

There was no discussion on this subject.

C. Recognition programs and alternatives

There was no discussion on this subject.

D. Certificate of Appropriateness application

There was no discussion on this subject.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

PUBLIC COMMENT

This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding items listed on the agenda. Anyone speaking on an agenda item is entitled to speak for a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff and the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission do not generally respond to public comments. Please note speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Candace Johnson, seconded by Bill Habiger, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: Adamowski, Beth Gannon, Habiger, Johnson, Merwin, Mikottis, Stovall and Wright

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