HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-04 Historic Preservation Commission
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Greenmead Historical Park
20501 Newburgh Road
Maureen Miller Brosnan
MAYOR
Livonia, Michigan 48152
(248) 477-7375
Fax (248) 426-8568
Mark Taormina
DIRECTOR
Emily Tchorz-Fielder
Planning Department
PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
33000 Civic Center Drive
Livonia, Michigan 48154
(734) 466-2290
Livonia Historic Preservation Commission
Voting Meeting
Minutes of August 4, 2021
Called to order at 6:08 PM
Present: Kathy Johnson-Bartshe, Betsy Calhoun, Kathie Glynn, Kelly Victor-Burke,
Emily Tchorz-Fielder
Excused absence: Kristen Waterbury
Absent: Cindy Immonen
Review of Minutes
8.1 Unanimously approved May meeting minutes as printed (Calhoun made motion,
Victor-Burke seconded).
New/Old Business
New roof at 38528 8 Mile- Simmons House (COA previously approved): work is
finished; looks the same as before.
Cemetery Stone Repair at Clarenceville: Dave Carter is continuing to restore markers
with the HPC's budgeted funds. Six people are signed up so far (20 maximum
attendance) for the Cemetery workshop he'll teach on August 14.
Briggs Cemetery at 6 Mile and 275: Parks and Rec employees and HPC/LHC
commissioners and other volunteers did a brush cleanout on June 19.
EMU Historic Preservation Students/WSU Humanities students are making fine
progress on Newburg and Clarenceville cemetery gravestone assessment and photos.
Greenmead 360: draft issued with an assessment of the Judge Blue Office, Simmons
South Barn, and Nankin Mills/ Ford schoolhouse; outside assessment only of rest of
structures. Contractor notes about several buildings that "Exterior paint scheme should
consider multi-color solution". While this seems like an innocuous and fun
recommendation on the surface, commissioners expressed some concern that the City
might latch onto it as a course of action without exploring actual historic paint analysis of
each structure in relation to its represented historical time period. Greenmead exists
not only to preserve the built environment and accomplishments of our community, but
also to educate our populace about genuine historical practices, not present a sanitized
and decorated-to-modern-tastes version of history.
Fundraisers
Happily Ever After: Sadly, this fundraising event while so popular in its pre-Covid format
(a speaker and heavy hors d'oevres), only drew about 40 people. It served the
important purpose of providing public access to the historical collections at Greenmead.
The commissioners and Greenmead staff worked hard on the exhibit.
Civil War Tea Sept. 25, 2021: After cancellation in 2020, we are planning to bring back
this well attended educational and fundraising event ($30 a ticket). Judy Coebly is the
featured speaker; Diann Dupuis will provide tea sandwiches, which will be plated in the
kitchen. Three bean salad possible addition; also milk and jam. We have enough
vintage flatware to set tables with; Kathy Bartshe-Johnson will make lavender sachets
for attendees to take home. We can set up the Friday afternoon prior. Need to
advertise among Civil War groups; the Michigan Historic Preservation Facebook page
has wide readership as well.
Betsy will touch bases with the two Lawrence Tech professors this week about setting
an October date and time for their Gunnar Birkerts presentation.
Budget 2020-2021 $5300
Current Issues
Certified Local Government update: the Chair (Kathy) will call to see if it has gotten the
required City/mayoral signature to be submitted to the Michigan SHPO.
Adjourned at 7:40 PM (Kathie Glynn moved, Betsy Calhoun seconded)
Submitted by Betsy Calhoun
Planning meetings: Sept. 1, Nov. 3, Dec. 1
Voting meeting: Oct 6