Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2015

Preservation Station, Bonnie Anderson, presiding. Start Time: 6:30 PM

Board Member Attendance:

Term ending August 2016		Term ending August 2015
Anderson, Bonnie	x	Karafonda, Mary	x
Boyd, Joe	x	Carson, Ann	x
Ben Sturge	x	Grassel, Kathy	x
Gonzalez, Moisés		McGivern, Elaine	x
Grant, Steve		Sam Kochansky	x
Spittler, Lee	x	Thornton, Karla
		Trefethen, Salley	x

April minutes were read and approved.

Guests:   Angela Murray, Sean Gilligan, Francisca

412 Lead SE (between Edith and Arno)—Jonathan and Angela Murray, who live at Huning Gardens condos at Lead and High SE, wish to build a house on the vacant lot at 412 Lead SE, and had requested to pass their ideas through the neighborhood association before they submitted plans for the June LUCC review. Bonnie, Ann, and Kathy held a preliminary meeting with them and their builder Sean Gilligan last week. The house will be contemporary, and Ann had some suggestions to make it more complementary to historic Huning Highlands. Angela attended the board meeting and presented the modified plans incorporating Ann’s recommendations. Discussion ensued, with Sam Kochansky opposed to such a modern structure in a historic neighborhood. Other board members argued in favor, saying it was good for the economy and melded well with the generally eclectic mix of existing homes. Salley Trefethen moved that the board express support for the plans at the LUCC meeting. Motion passed with Sam opposed.

Arno house to be moved—Ann Carson, preservationist, and Vince DiGregory, developer, have negotiated a solution to save the little white house behind the Standard Diner. Ann has found a vacant lot to place the 130-year-old house, thanks to Victoria and Dennis Maietta who said they would have room on their property on Arno. Vince has agreed to manage moving permits, construction design, and labor.

Liquor license for Standard Diner—Vince DiGregory is applying for a full liquor license. The Standard Diner already serves beer and wine, but needs approval from zoning because the diner is within 300 feet of the Lutheran church and school. The Artichoke Café lies within that same radius and has a full liquor license, so there is a precedent. Sam made a motion to support; Bonnie will write a letter to Vince for him to present at the zoning hearing.

119 High St. SE—Burned and vacant 119 High SE has next-door owner David Blanc steamed and he’s wanting to board to pressure the owners to clean it up or tear it down. Much discussion ensued about how far the board should be expected to get involved at all, and what should be the nature of that involvement. Salley said that we should take a measured approach and talk to the owner(s), yet to be positively identified, and offer to help. The issue centers around the board’s ambivalence to take sides in a dispute among neighbors. Bonnie is reluctant to ask the board to go on record against Holy Cow and Gravy, who have made considerable investments in, and improvements to, the neighborhood. No action recommended pending further fact-finding.

Highland Park playground and parking—Former board member Greg Bloom reports finding needles, broken bottles and trash in the kids’ playground. Supposedly the park is being renovated. As for the parking issue, the Press Club and City Parks Department, with considerable input from Huning Highland neighborhood association, had agreed to a tree-lined plaza that on occasion could be used for overflow parking during Press Club events. All that has changed. The Press Club went to the Mayor and made a back-door agreement leaving out the neighbors. Ben Sturge, who attended all the meetings leading up to the supposed compromise agreement, will pen a letter for Bonnie to put on letterhead to send to the City.

Tree project—Tree locations have been chalked. Planting to begin after Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day home tour—Some last-minute details re greeters need attention, but all else is generally in place for a successful event next week.

Miscellaneous

(1)  Ann Carson reported that Bill Hoch has died. He was one of the crusading pioneers beginning in the 1970s to clean up historic Huning Highlands, which at the time was swarming with derelicts and hookers. Our beautiful and peaceful neighborhood today owes thanks to his untiring efforts. RIP.

(2)  The board gave Ann Carson an ovation as the recipient of the esteemed L. Bradford Prince Award for Significant Work in the Field of Historic Preservation bestowed by the New Mexico Historical Society of New Mexico.

Meeting adjourned at 7:32. Next meeting is Wed., June 3, 2015.