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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.hpc.20100623 ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2010 Vice- Chairperson, Sarah Broughton called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Commissioners in attendance: Jason Lasser, Aim Mullins, Jay Maytin, Jamie McLeod. Nora Berko, Michael Hoffman and Brian McNellis were excused. Staff present: Jim True, Special Counsel (excused) Amy Guthrie, Preservation Officer Sara Adams, Historic Preservation Planner Kathy Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk MOTION: Jamie moved to approve the minutes of May 26 as amended, second by Sarah. All in favor, motion carried. MOTION: Jason moved to approve June 9 minutes; second by Sarah. All in favor, motion carried. Jay did not vote. Jason pointed out that the sandwich boards are getting extreme in town especially the pedestrian malls. The pedestrian malls should be free of signage. It is our job to preserve the look of the town. Jamie said she feels part of the issue is enforcement. Amy pointed out that Planning & Zoning is reviewing the sign code and the updated information can be given to the board. Jay said we now allow Mustang to have tables and chairs in the mall. When that restaurant is not open they should not be allowed to store their tables and chairs and block the public right -of -way. They should be open if they are renting public space. Kathy said Mustang has a mall lease and staff can address the recommendation for 2011. WORK SESSION — HARRY TEAGUE PRESENTATION ON 100 E. FRANCIS STREET — GIVEN INSTITUTE Harry Teague introduced Bill Lipsy who was the supervising architect for the project on the Given institute. The Weese Family still exists and one of them lives in a house in the West End. The Paepcke's were also involved in 1 ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2010 this project. Aspen has a great inventory of mining era buildings but it also has an equally strong inventory of renowned individual architects and really amazing buildings. Aspen is a town that has a great tradition of really interesting architects doing work here. There were the Wright's, Fritz Benedict, Charlie Patterson, Robin Molny, Rob Roy and more who w ere adopting the right concept to mountain architecture and really created a unique form by itself. Then there were the modernist that the Paepcke's attracted from Chicago; Herbert Bayer, Marcel Breuer and photographer Ferenc Berko. Elizabeth Paepcke had gone to Cranbrook. She was one of the early supporters of the Design Conference. I addition to the Bauhaus modernist there were the individuals that came; Charles Moore, John Lortner, Victor Lundy and Harry Weese. Harry Weese was an architect in Chicago and a good friend of the Paepcke's. He went to MIT, Yale and Cranbrook. He was a skier and a sailor. Sailing influenced his architecture. He could top off a sketch in no time at all that would indicate immense amounts of landscape. Power point presentation on Harry Weese: Chicago water front etc. Harry said the original core of modernism in the Bauhaus had very strong social roots and humanitarian purpose. They wanted architecture that did not reflect the disparity of wealth and they removed all the ornamentation that was identified with the upper class at the time. In general the movement was idealistic. What happened over time as it became like a lot of movements, a style, and a thorough rigorous philosophy. Harry Weese was an architect who embraced the humanitarian of modernism and not as a style but as a process and philosophy and as a result things like the sun louvers were done in the minimal way. He designed very light and very sensible. Harry was very inventive. He was on the cover of Architectural magazine. He did a lot of rigorous geometry in his buildings. One of his most important works is the subway in Washington D.C. There is a house in Red Mountain that he designed on a 30 degree slope. It is a wood frame with saddle bags extended on each side. It taught me how to make a flat roof work in our climate which is to have internal draining in the middle of the roof. Given Institute: In 1970 we had the Aspen Institute which was here for almost 30 years, the Music Festival and the Center for Physics split off from the Music Festival. Walter Paepcke died in 1960. Elizabeth wanted to make her own mark in 2 ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2010 Aspen history. The Given Institute was a pet project of Elizabeth's. She donated a portion of the land over looking Hallam Lake for this. She was intimately involved in its program and purpose. She was a huge fan of Harry Weese's. Dr. King from CU set up the program at the Given Institute. The program at the Given was to have actual demonstrations and they would have a laboratory for medical experiments with cubicles around it. A lot of the skylights at the Given have been painted over because they were leaking. Harry Weese was very intent on being original. The Given is 12,000 square feet and was built for $33. a square foot. It was built for a summer building. It had heat and minimal insulation. Triangular geometry emerged throughout the design of the building. Bill Lipsy said Harry Weese was a very important figure at the time in United States and he started in Chicago. He did churches etc. throughout the country. He could design anything, even a college campus. Harry Weese was a very extraordinary person and was lively and great to work for. One of his basic principles included humanitarianism. The idea here is to recognize who he is. If someone wanted to tear down one of his buildings in Chicago there would be riots. We need to recognize his status in Chicago and transfer that understanding here in Aspen. This kind of presentation is very useful. Possibly the building could be a shared building with the university. Harry said this is the only structure that Colorado University has on the west of the divide. In the past we have talked to them about using the Given as an architectural school. It is a state university and there are a lot of politics and well meaning people involved. As a state owned property they have the right to do what they want with it. They don't want to do an unpopular political move. It is a terrific building surrounded by the huge pines and no one knows it's there unless you have been to a lecture there. If HPC gives a recognition or a statement of its importance that would be the first step. Amy said she has done the first draft and has gotten comments back from the state. It is like a thesis and it is an incredible story of the connections between Elizabeth Paepcke and the University. Les Holst, public: There are people that desire to save the Given and will contribute. It is a matter of doing it. Possibly have a movie from tonight's presentation and send it out. 3 ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2010 Face book has Save the Given and we have had 33,000 hits. Bill Lipsy, architect said some kind of PR campaign is needed that will weigh on the University in some way that maybe it won't stop them but it will make them think a little more. They don't want negative publicity. PR is very important in this situation. Ann said she sees two pieces that need to occur, first it is education of the City and Nationally. And secondly get a group of people together and start talking about what we can offer the university. Letters should be written to the editors and we need to get articles in magazines. Les Holst said we need a six month moratorium and find a partner for the university or sell the property. Sarah said the University is informed that we are pursuing landmark status. Bill Lipsy suggested connecting with the counterpart in preservation in Chicago who is aware of all his buildings. They would carry a lot of weight in writing a statement about Harry and his places in Chicago and his relationship with the Paepcke's and Aspen. Stan Clauson said there is probably a three part approach; education, legal work and finding a funding source. The Institute is a marvelous piece of open space in our community. Stan said he will bring up the Given Institute tomorrow at the chamber meeting. Stan also pointed out that the notion an institute is exempt from zoning and other regulations can be challenged. Amy said the deed had a 20 year term and Elizabeth Paepcke had authority over what could be built on the site but that has expired. There was nothing about the use of the site or anything. Jason said the potential buyer is putting the demolition term on the agreement and possibly we should be talking to them. Jay asked if council could rezone the land. Sarah said July 14 is coming up quickly. We need to organize quickly. 4 ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2010 Amy said she has been told that October 1 is the proposed demolition date. Amy said there is a new book coming out in September and Chicago Magazine has a new article that came out last week. Ann said people in Aspen are not aware of the importance of Harry Weese in Chicago etc. Bill Lipsy suggested council pass a resolution about Harry Weese, the land and building and how it all ties into Paepcke's. When you have something on the record about the face of Aspen and the importance of this building it might carry some weight with the University. Ann said nationally people need to be contacted. Amy said the National Trust is interested and concerned. ACRA meeting Chicago Historic Society Architectural magazine Preservation magazine American Institute of Architects Council /rezoning Local papers /July 14 meeting Amy said the programs that were held at the Given will be moved to the Aspen Institute. MOTION: Sarah moved to adjourn; second by Jason. All in favor, motion carried. Meetin adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk 5