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Maplewood preservation commission urges updated cultural resources survey, reviews possible National Register nominations
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Maplewood Heritage Preservation Commission recommended pursuing a new cultural resources survey to update a 2014 study and discussed candidate nominations including Forest Lawn Cemetery, the KSTP transmitter, JW Frost House and converted school properties; Forest Lawn remains on hold pending the property board’s decision.
Staff member said the commission should prioritize a complete cultural resources survey to update older work and clarify eligible properties. “One important next step the city could take would be to take a complete and, to complete a full cultural resources survey,” the staff member said, noting past Ramsey County and Maplewood surveys need updates.
The recommendation grew out of a request from Commissioner Carey to review pages 66–67 of the commission’s 2014 context study, which lists study recommendations and future actions. Staff described the survey as a large project that could be partly completed by volunteer teams under professional leadership.
Commissioners discussed several candidate properties for expanded National Register consideration. The staff member listed Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, the Seaholm P. Godfrey House at 800 East Shore Drive, the KSTP transmitter building, converted school properties at Edgerton and Carver Lake, the JW Frost House, and St. Paul’s Priory. The commission agreed to focus initially on Forest Lawn and to move to other candidates if that effort stalls.
The staff member also flagged a common obstacle: owner reluctance. “Part of it is the reluctance from the owners of the property,” the staff member said, noting privately owned buildings can be harder to nominate while publicly owned structures are easier to place on the register.
Commissioners considered outreach options, including contacting owners and the Maplewood Area Historical Society, and noted an upcoming city comprehensive plan process (the 2050 comp plan) could offer an opportunity to commission an updated historic context study. Staff said the commission is redoing its website and expects an interactive map and updated materials to be online by June–July.
The commission reviewed a two‑page annual report it filed with the State Historic Preservation Office on Oct. 30 and said next year’s report should be more substantial as work progresses. No formal local designations were approved at the meeting; staff said Forest Lawn remains on hold until the cemetery’s board confirms interest in applying for designation.
What’s next: staff will pursue owner outreach, continue work on the Forest Lawn nomination while keeping other candidate properties in reserve, and prepare web and mapping updates to support public information and nominations.
