HPC Meeting Date: June 4, 2025
To: Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission
From: Mathias Hughey, Associate City Planner
Title
Certificate of Appropriateness for Painting the Façade at 305, 307, and 309 Water St. - Ebel Block
Body
Action Requested:
The Heritage Preservation Commission is asked to review and approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for painting the façade at 305, 307, and 309 Water St. - Ebel Block
Summary Report:
The applicant and owner, David Hvistendahl, is applying for a Certificate of Appropriateness to paint the historic storefronts of the Ebel Block.
The existing storefronts are constructed from wood, with brick and metal columns. The applicant has used a variety of varnishes and stains on the wood over the years but feels that these products have not held up well and would like to paint these portions of the façade using a shade of off-white from Benjamin Moore named “White Down” and a pale yellow from Clark + Kensington called “Shine Through,” which will match the adjacent (and connected) State Bank Building (311 Water St. S.).
The repainting of 311 Water St. S. - the State Bank Building - was previously approved by staff. Because the colors are not changing, the repainting met the definition of Minor Work in the city code.
The storefronts are not original, although they likely contain some original material, specifically, the metal and brick columns. The doors on 305 and 309 were replaced in 2005 with doors taken from St. Olaf’s Ytterboe Hall, and the door at 307 was moved there from 305 at that time. The bulkheads on the three buildings were also replaced at that time.
Of the seven criteria to be considered by the HPC, the required finding is met, two are not applicable, and four are met.
Attached is a draft resolution for the HPC to review. HPC members can contact staff in advance to make edits if there are any proposed changes.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the COA.
Alternative Options:
The HPC could approve the COA with conditions or deny the COA. Both options would require modifying the resolution to provide additional justifications and findings.
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
NA