THE STATE OF TEXAS CITY OF BROWNSVILLE COUNTY OF CAMERON S MINUTES of the Public Meeting of the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION BOARD OF THE CITY OF BROWNSVILLE, held at the City Chambers, on the Second Floor of the Brownsville City Hall - Old Federal Building, located at 1001 E. Elizabeth St., Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas, 78520, on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., with the following members present: Voting Members Present Calvin Walker, Chairman Tara Putegnat, Vice Chair Fernando Balli, Board Member Martin Leal, Board Member Lawrence Lof, Board Member Reba Cardenas McNair, Board Member Joseph A. Rodriguez, Board Member Voting Members Absent City Staff Alyssa Castillion, Senior Assistant City Attorney (online) Lena Chaisson-Murioz, Assistant City Attorney Carlos Romero, Info Tech, Technician I Juan Vélez, Historic Preservation Officer (HPO) CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER With a quorum present, Chairman Calvin Walker called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m. AGENDA ITEM(S) 1) Approval of the Minutes: March 14, 2025 Board Member Martin Leal moved to approve the minutes with the correction. Board Member Tara Putegnat seconded the motion. Ayes: Tara Putegnat, Fernando Balli, Martin Leal, Lawrence Lof, Jose Antonio Rodriguez. Abstain: Reba Cardenas McNair. PUBLIC HEARING(S) and discussion with possible action regarding the following structures: 1) No Number - 701 E. Saint Charles St. - NEL-ROY APARTMENTS (1929) District D4 Downtown Edge (DE) Staff recommendation was as follows: The owneri is applyingfor. tax credits, sO the Certificate ofAppropriateness will align with the comments (Step 2 or B ofthe process) that the Texas Historical Commission (THC) makes. The. set ofplans presented is one of the most complete received. Therefore. 10 approve the itemfollowing must be me!: The owner musifill out a Building permit and COA applications The façades and their. features (single-hung one-over-one wood windows with non-linted glass, wood brackets, main! façade diamonds, brick sills and tile under the windows, brick openings in lower areas t0 allow) floors to breathe, etc.) should be preserved or pepPlabrparadPlbog the Secretary ofthe Interior 's Standards for Rehabilitation. Ifany element is replaced, it should be in kind (same building material, same sice and volume characteristics). The original canopy still has existing brackets that should be preserved, repaired, or replaced in kind (same building material, same sie and massing characieristics). lts slope and Spanish tiles on the canopies should be preserved. The interior transom doors, any existing original door, and the six-window openings facing the corridor should be preserved or appropriately repaired following the Secretary of the Interior 's Standards for Rehabilitation. Ifany element is replaced, it should be in kind (same building material, same size and volume characteristics). DI, DD-1, and DD-2 doors shouldhave the same appearance unless other major reasons can be presented (hurricanes) and approved by the THC. Landscaping 10 meet UDC Article +. Zoning Regulations 4.6. Zoning Development Standards B. Applicability and E. Minimum Landscaping Standards / 3. Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, and Nonresidential Development. A wrought irony fence painted black and/ facing E. 7th, St. and the alley might be 6feet. Ifit is a brick wall, in would have the same features but with a seiback on E. 7eh. St. The projeci must comply with UDC and IBC IRC 2018. The THC may provide subsequent comments to be incorporated into afollow-up COA. At the motion ofl Board member Fernando Balli and seconded by Board Member Member Martin Leal, it was unanimously approved to close the public hearing. Board Member Martin Leal moved to approve the item. The motion was seçonded by Board Member Fernando Balli and carried unanimously. 2) No Number - 705 E. Saint Charles St. - MARIA GOMILA & H. SHERWOOD HOUSE (1895) District D4 Downtown Edge (DE) Slaffrecommendation was as follows: The owner is applyingfor lax credits, 50 the Certificate ofAppropriateness will align with the comments (Step 2 or B ofu the process) that the Texas Historical Commission (THC) makes. Therefore, 10 approve the item following must be met: The owner must! fill out a Building permit and COA applications. Once the THC provides comments (Step 2 or B ofthe process). the signing COM will copy those comments sO that the COB is aligned with the gforementioned. state organization. The façades and their features (single-hung six-over-six wood windows with non-tinted glass) should be preserved or appropriately repairedjllowing the Secretary ofthe Interior 's Standards for Rehabilitation. Ifany element is replaced, it should be in kind (same building material, same size and volume characteristics). Please check the historic photographs aIs it only shows wo windows on the sides with. symmetrical disposition. They currently exist on the first) floor. One way 10 solve the window arrangement without compromising what is. seen in historical photographs is as follows: First Floor: The mutipurpose creu and breakroom would have one larger six-over-six window 10 avoid a non-historic third wi indow on each. side and thus allovr for proper ventilation and light. Second Floon: Each ofthe o rooms, facing the alley would only have one larger window ne.xt 10 the bed, near the halhray, 10 avoid a non-historic third window on each side and thus allow for proper ventilation and light. The exterior main door, light doors and transom door is original (l'iclorian style). h should be repaired following the Secretary ofthe Interior 's Standards for Rehabilitation, as it adds characier to the building. The current layout is probably not the original. Thus, the wooden boards ofthe first and second floor hallways look original. lt is strongly recommended not to change the position ofthe existing historical doors ofi the first floor, The proposed changes on the secondfloor are more dramatic., proposing wide entrances without doors. I is also highly recommended 10 replace large openings with an original double door, imitating the high-style houses of the time. There are, some original interior doors with their transom. They should be preserved or appropriaiely repairedollowing the Secretary ofthe Interior 's. Standards for Rehabilitation to add character to the building. Ifanye element is replaced, it should be in kind (same building material, same size and volume characteristics). Landscaping to meel UDC Article +. Zoning Regulations +.6. Zoning Development Standards B. Applicability and E. Minimum Landscaping Standards 3. Muti-Family, Mixed-Use, and Nonresidential Development. 2 The proposed brick wall runs along the rear. lt may extend as far as the sides ofthe mainy facade ofthe Sherwood Building. A 42"wrought ironfence painted black will be consiructed.facing E. Saint Charles Street and extending along boths sides of the facade. lfil is a brick wall, it would have the same characteristics as the wrought ironjence. The proposed shutters must cover the entire windows. The project must comply with UDC and IBC IRC 2018. The THC may provide subsequent comments t0 be incorporated into afollow-up COA. At the motion by Board Member Lawrence Lof and seconded by Board Member Fernando Balli, it was unanimously approved to close the public hearing. Board Member Fernando Balli moved to approve the item. The motion was seconded by Board Member Martin Leal and carried unanimously. WORK SHOP 1) Rehabilitations since 2018 District D+ Downtown Core (DC) The staff showed the rehabilitations completed since 2018 and a some with work in progress. ADJOURNMENT Board Member Fernado Balli moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Board Member Martin Leal and carried unanimously at 1:01 p.m. Approved on this day of APRN 2025 CALN CiK Calvin Walker Chairman Attest: Juan Vélez Historic Preservation Manager