Heritage commission approves siding work at 3120 Third Avenue South with conditions

The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission on Oct. 14 approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing removal of nonhistoric asbestos siding and conditional replacement work at the house at 3120 Third Avenue South in the Healy Block Historic District.

City planning staff recommended approval with five conditions intended to document and, where possible, retain or repair original wood siding found under the asbestos. The commission voted unanimously, 9-0, to approve the certificate of appropriateness subject to those conditions.

Erin Kaye, senior city planner in the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development(CPED), told the commission that permit records show asbestos siding was added in 1941 and that original wood lap siding remains beneath it. Kaye said staffsupports removal of the nonhistoric asbestos siding but recommended steps to protect historic materials: photo documentation of the exposed wood, retention and in-kind repair of intact siding, replacement of deteriorated boards in-kind with matching wood, inspection for historic trim under the aluminum trim, and coordination with preservation staff as the work proceeds.

Kaye noted the applicant proposes to install 7-inch-wide LP SmartSide engineered wood siding; she said that choice does not match the original 4-inch board width and that the project therefore departs from the commissiondesign guidelines on siding width and on retaining historic materials when present.

Jared Sense of Cello Roofing, the applicant present at the meeting, said he agreed with the staff recommendations: "I agree with everything that she just said. Good enough," he told the commission, and provided his Saint Louis Park business address for the record.

Two nearby property owners spoke during public comment urging retention or careful restoration of the historic wood siding. Anders Christiansen, who said he lives on Garfield Avenue South and recently removed asbestos siding at a nearby Healy house, said, "we found that probably 90% of the fabric of the house was there," arguing that significant original material may survive beneath the asbestos.

Madeline Douglas, owner of a nearby Healy house on Second Avenue South, opposed use of engineered or aluminum trim and argued for natural wood repair or replacement. "Any process using LP SmartSide or any other engineered, chemically created, faux siding would destroy the historic character of 3120 Third," Douglas said, and urged the commission to require wood siding and avoid aluminum soffit, fascia and window trim.

Commissioners discussed the staff recommendations briefly. Commissioner Wallace and Commissioner Hare said they supported stafffindings and the five conditions intended to prioritize repair and in-kind replacement. Hare moved approval of the certificate of appropriateness subject to the five conditions listed in the staff report; Wallace seconded the motion. The clerk called the roll; all nine commissioners present voted "aye." The motion passed.

The five conditions in the staff report require: removal of nonhistoric asbestos siding; retention of original wood siding when intact; photographic documentation of the condition of wood siding after asbestos removal; repair-first approach and in-kind replacement of deteriorated siding to match original dimensions and appearance; and inspection for historic trim under nonhistoric aluminum trim with documentation provided to preservation staff. The applicant indicated agreement with the conditions.

Staff noted three written public comments supporting retention of original elements and cited other neighborhood examples where asbestos siding covered wood siding. The commission did not change staff conditions. The decision concludes the public hearing on the item; CPED staff will monitor compliance with the documentation and repair conditions as the work proceeds.

Votes at a glance: Certificate of appropriateness for 3120 Third Avenue South (Healy Block Historic District) Motion: Approve COA to remove nonhistoric asbestos siding and proceed with siding replacement subject to five staff conditions (as published). Mover: Commissioner Hare. Second: Commissioner Wallace. Vote: Aye — Commissioners Alexander, Booty, Hare, Corrado, Rodriguez, Thomas, Wallace, Vice Chair Masten, Chair Marie Bjornberg (9-0).