HomeMy WebLinkAbout09182025 Historic Preservation Packet1963 1965 2005
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The City of Seward, Alaska
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers, 410 Adams Street
Please silence all cell phones and devices during the meeting
Chair Tanguy Libbrecht
Vice Chair Sue Ward
Commissioner Mary Ann Benoit
Commissioner Donna Walker
Commissioner Art LeMaster
Commissioner Todd Mashlan
Museum Curator Allison Stacy
City Clerk Kris Peck
September 18, 2025, Immediately Following Work Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT (Those who have signed in will be given the first
opportunity to speak. Time is limited to 3 minutes per speaker and 36 minutes total time for this agenda item.)
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA (Approval of Consent Agenda passes all
routine items listed under Item 7. Consent Agenda items are not considered separately unless a commission
member requests. In the event of such a request, the item is returned to the Regular Agenda. Marked with *)
6. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS
A. Proclamations and Awards
1) Seward Historic Register Plaque Awards: Urbach's, Standard Oil House, and Alaska's
Point of View
B. Proclamation
C. City Administration Report
D. Chair Report
E. Other Reports and Announcements
1) Report on Historic Preservation Facebook Page pg. 3
F. Presentations (Presentations are limited to ten minutes each, excluding Q&A, and are limited to two per
meeting unless increased by council.)
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes of Preceding Meeting
1)* Approve January 30, 2025, HPC Meeting Minutes pg.8
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda DATE 1 1 P a g e
A. Other Items
1) Hoben Park Updates ...pg. 13
2) St. Peter's Updates pg. 15
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Other New Business
1) Enhancing the Historic Walking Tour pg. 22
10. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required.)
A. Reminder of Meetings
1) Regular Meeting and Work Session on November 13, 2025 pg. 23
a. All material will need to be submitted Wednesday, October 24.
B. Other Items
1) None
11. CITIZEN COMMENTS (There is no sign in for this comment period. Time is limited to five (5) minutes
per speaker.)
12. COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
13. ADJOURNMENT
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda DATE 2 1 P a g e
Facebook Page Report
May 22, 2025 HPC Meeting
Mary Ann Benoit
Overview
This report covers Seward Historic Preservation Commission's Facebook page activity from January to May 2025.
- Page Views: Approximately 3,700, up from 3,000 in the previous period.
- Page Reach: Notable increase, indicating broader audience exposure.
- New Followers: +28, bringing the total to 1,051.
- Post Interactions: Up from the last report, with stronger engagement across storytelling, local history, and event posts.
- Audience Demographics: Still primarily women aged 25+, mostly from Seward and Anchorage.
Visual Summary
Figure 1: Page Performance Overview Figure 2: Audience & Interaction Breakdown
Views 0
6.1K T17.8%
400
300
200
100
0 :f
Jan 22
Mar 3 Mar 23 Apr 12 May 2
Reach 0
1.2 K 7.5%
200
150
100
50
0
Jan 22
A
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Feb 11 Mar 3 Mar 23
Apr 12
1
May 2
Content Highlights
- Note there is a full year of posts presented here.
- Topics include historic homes, preservation success stories, heritage tourism, and educational highlights on the value of preservation.
- Posts tied to events (Historic Preservation Month, Founders Day, Seward's Day) saw notable engagement.
- A mix of emotional storytelling, historic facts, and modern relevance continues to resonate with followers.
Engagement Trends
- Higher seasonal engagement is beginning, as expected in spring/summer.
- Posts with visual appeal and personal stories perform best.
- The Historic Walking Tour remains one of the most shared and visited resources.
Looking Ahead
We are scheduled with previously presented content through November. The strategy of combining history, emotion, and community relevance
continues to be effective.
Commissioners are welcome to suggest additional content themes or share historic photos and stories for future features.
The following posts will be scheduled through November 2025. Any additions from commissioners?
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See the beautiful old 1943 Norway Maple at 420 Third Ave, one of the
sites on the Historic Walking Tour. Mrs. Amend bought this beautiful
tree through the Sears catalog in the late 1930s and planted it as a
sapling. It may be the largest Norway Maple tree in Alaska. Photo by
Carol Griswold.
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Historic preservation adds character and charm to a community and
emphasizes its uniqueness.
Our old buildings make Seward unique, and give Seward a lot of
character and charm that attracts tourists and attracted many of us to
move here. Businesses in our old buildings, such as Zudy's and Primrose
Provisions in the old train station, often provide a unique experience
that attract locals and visitors alike.
WHY I?N(:OURAGE
IT CAN
COMMUNITY.
HIISTORIC PRESERVATION?
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ADD CHARACTER AND/OR CHARM TO A
AND EMPHASIZE ITS UNIQUENESS.
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If Walls Could Talk- The Malloy House-
313 Sixth Ave
Named for its original owner, Bessie M. Malloy, this house had a
previous life on a hill above Second Avenue. After avalanches buried
some of the neighboring houses, Malloy purchased this lot for $250 and
moved the house here.
This house has seen a lot, including an influx of more than 3,200 soldiers
in Seward during World War II,
Alaska statehood in 1959, and the most exciting of all: the 1964 Good
Friday Earthquake. During the earthquake, the Anderson family (who
lived in the house at the time) had to run for their lives, leaving the front
door wide open as the Standard Oil tanks a block away exploded and the
earth shook.
In 1970, the National Research Council described the devastation of that
day by saying, "probably nowhere in south central Alaska on March 27,
1964, were there more hairbreadth escapes than among the 2,300
inhabitants of the seaport town of Seward...".
Owner Susie Anderson White was 9 years old when she wrote, "All of a
sudden everything broke loose, and we were shaking real bad. I started
to scream, and my sister Sharon told me I didn't stop screaming. We saw
a huge explosion. It was the Standard Oil tanks going up in flames. When
we went past the boat harbor, we could see boats being lifted up by the
tidal wave." Her father, Val Anderson, wrote, "We spent the night
listening to the Standard Oil tanks exploding, the tidal waves coming in
and watching the great red glare of the fire lighting the skies and
mountainsides. We didn't think there was a chance in the world our
house could survive."
But the house did survive and kept adapting to changing times. Today
Seward depends more on tourism, and this house offers nightly lodging
to these travelers. It hears their stories, and now they hear its story.
WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION?
_.-_
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It can add character and/or charm to a community, and emphasize its
uniqueness. The preservation of old buildings, neighborhoods, and
landscapes can determine the look of a community, and may be an
attraction for tourists as well. If these elements are historically
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significant or unusual, they can also be a source of community pride,
and lead to other improvements.
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IT CAN ADD CHARACTER AND/OR CHARM TO A
COMMUNITY, AND EMPHASIZE ITS UNIQUENESS.
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How Can You Preserve History.
Historic preservation includes four possible activities:
Preservation is preserving a place as it is in the present
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Rehabilitation fixes up a deteriorated historic property, often for a use
other than its original one
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Restoration means putting a building or landscape back the way it was
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originally, or at a historically significant time in its past
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Reconstruction is the creation of a historically accurate copy of either a
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specific historic property that no longer exists or an example of one
from a chosen historical period.
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Preservation,
Rehabilitation, Restoration, Rceonslruclio
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CALL TO ORDER
The January 30, 2025, regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to
order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Tanguy Libbrecht.
OPENING CEREMONY
Commissioner Laura Erickson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Tanguy Libbrecht, presiding, and
Sue Ward
Mary Ann Benoit
Dona Walker
Art LeMaster
Laura Erickson
Todd Mashlan
comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Allison Stacy, Museum Curator
Kris Peck, City Clerk
Ashleigh Lipsey, Executive Admin to the City Manager
Excused — None
Absent — LeMaster
Vacant — None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT — None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Ward/Mashlan) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Approval of November 14, 2024, Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
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Proclamations and Awards — None
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATION, AND REPORTS
City Administration Report — None
Chair Report
Chair Tanguy Libbrecht summarized the work session and discussed a new nomination to the
local historic register, and the CLG grant for Hoben Park. Three Seward Historic Register plaques
will be presented over the next few months. He encouraged nominations for historic properties and
for the Historic Preservation Award.
Other Reports and Announcements
Historic Preservation Facebook Page Report
Benoit summarized the Facebook statistics and noted 14 new followers for a 1,023 total. She was
open to suggestions for new posts.
Presentations
Presentation by the City Clerk on City Website and E-Notifications by Kris Peck
Presentation on City Manager Newsletter by Ashleigh Lipsey
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Other Unfinished Business
Hoben Park Updates - None
Stucco Johnson Homesite Sign
Benoit updated the commission on the Stucco Johnson Homesite sign.
Rotary Park Interpretation Sign
Benoit explained a grant extension for a whale sculpture to be installed at Rotary Park. By the end
of May or early June would be a public presentation for the whale sculpture.
Booklet on Jan Van Empel Update
Benoit said the St. Peter's Episcopal Church had paid for the publishing cost. Local author Doug
Capra would also be working on the booklet.
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Mashlan said there would be a launch party and Capra would enjoy the opportunity to present his
contributions to the project.
St Peter's Updates
Mashlan provided information on a survey for what was expected to be 2 to 3 year -long
preservation project which included both the church and rectory.
Museum Curator Allison Stacy said Alaska Remote Imaging (ARI) did a full 3-D model scan of
the library & museum. This scan would become a virtual tour of the museum. ARI was interested
in doing historic preservation work including St. Peters Episcopal Church. The quote was around
$4,000 to scan St. Peters. ARI also expressed interest in a virtual historic walking tour.
NEW BUSINESS —None
Other New Business
Select Chair and Vice Chair for 2025
Benoit nominated Tanguy Libbrecht to be Chair for 2025.
Motion (Benoit/Walker) Select Tanguy Libbrecht as Chair for 2025
Motion Passed Unanimous
Libbrecht nominated Sue Ward to be Vice Chair for 2025.
Motion (Libbrecht/Benoit) Select Sue Ward as Vice Chair for 2025
Motion Passed Unanimous
Nancy Drew and Mystery of the Half Moon Painting
The commission discussed the businesses downtown where the painting was last sighted. This
item was still a mystery. It was possible that the painting was located in the Tufted Puffin building.
2025 CLG Grant Application
Libbrecht summarized the priorities for the CLG application. The Hoben Park fencing was a
project worthy of consideration. He described the bent and twisted condition of the historic fencing
that was currently in storage. There would be a lot of work involved in restoring the fence.
Libbrecht also mentioned the rose bushes and lilacs as historic plants that were needed to return
Hoben Park to its original glory.
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Seward Local Register Nomination Review
Benoit said the applicant was Flamingo Lounge. They submitted an application to be considered
for the Seward Historic Register as a commemorative property. She reviewed the application and
read verbatim from the application letter. The commission discussed the name of the business as
it had operated under the names of: Gil's Lounge, Thorn's Showcase Lounge, and Flamingo
Lounge.
Motion (Libbrecht/Ward)
Place Gil's Lounge/Thorn's Showcase
Lounge/Flamingo Lounge On The Local
Register Of Seward Historic Places
Motion Passed Unanimous
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
Reminder of Meetings
Regular Meeting and Work Session on April 10, 2025
CITIZEN COMMENTS -None
COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Peck encouraged the commission to submit photos of historic sites to go into the meeting packets.
Lipsey thanked the commission and encouraged everyone to subscribe to the City Manager's
Newsletter.
Stacy thanked the commission for being open minded about Alaska Remote Imaging.
Erickson was excited about all the modern technology that was available. She really enjoyed
working with her fellow commissioners.
Walker echoed previous comments.
Ward said the commission was a great group and was excited about all the interesting projects out
there.
Libbrecht thanked Stacy for the preparation and work that goes into the meetings. He also thanked
the city clerk and each of his fellow commissioners.
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Benoit was happy with the meeting. She thanked Libbrecht for the CLG grant updates and the two
presentations that showcased modern technology. She was excited that a local business submitted
an application to be on the historic register. She was also excited about the idea of a virtual Historic
Walking Tour. Lastly, she thanked Mashlan for his work on St. Peter's Episcopal Church.
Mashlan wished everyone a good night.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Kris Peck
City Clerk
(City Seal)
Tanguy Libbrecht
Chair
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• Hoben Park Restoration Project Updates (Stacy)
o We were awarded the CLG Grant for Hoben Park! Everything is
signed and the first report is due Nov. 25.
o Mel Hauze and I met to discuss purchases, priorities, and
planting.
Behind Xmas Tree
Position of Lilac Bushes
Position of Rose Bushes
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Top priority: Steps and a railing
• TO DO
o Contacted Zudy's Cafe owners. Setting up a sit-down meeting to
discuss the project and potential planting for Lilac bushes.
o Met with Mel Hauze and discussed Parks & Rec to purchase
flower bushes, dome for fountain, and new bench.
o Need HPC assistance in getting in contact with Storm
Chasers!!
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St. Peter's Preservation Plan
Todd Mashlan
Parish Lay leader
Contact: tmashlan@kent.edu
Allison Stacy
City Admin for Historic Preservation
Contact: 907-224-4045 (0)
astacy@cityofseward.net
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Overview
• History & Today
• Current Condition
• Goals
• Timelines & Funding
• Community Effort
• Questions
History
• Built between 1905 - 1906
The first Episcopal Church built on the Kenai Peninsula.
• 1925 "Resurrection" Mural painted by Dutch artist Jan
Van Empel.
• Church and Rectory were listed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1979.
Today
- Active parish today, credit to Todd.
Friday & Saturday Prayer Service
AA & NA Weekly Meetings
Annual Events: 1964 Earthquake Memorial Service &
National Historic Preservation Month Presentations
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Current Condition: Exterior Damage
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Current Condition: Interior Undercroft
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Goals
Historic Preservation
Level I Historic American
Building Survey (HABS)
with TrueNorth Solutions
Complete Exterior
Restoration Project
(buttresses, staircases,
landscape, gutter
system, shingles, window
panels)
TN
true north solutions
Community
Add a Greenhouse
Restore the Interior
Undercroft and
Community Meeting
Space
Establish a tourist
season docent program
to return Church tours
Destination Shelter
Long Term Maintenance
3D Remote
Scanning/Sensing Map with
Alaska Remote Imaging
Install a Security Alarm
Work with City of Seward
Emergency Responders to
create an Emergency Action
Plan
API
I M A G INC
SURVEYING
DRAFTING
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Timeline & Funding
Sept. 2025
Episcopal
Diocese to
submit
Community
Support
Rasmuson Tier II
Grant
Application of
$100,000
Jan/Feb 2026
Seward Historic
Preservation
Commission to
submit a
Certified Local
Government
Grant
Application — up
to $50,000
March 2026
Episcopal
Diocese to
submit a
National
Preservation
Trust Fund for
Sacred Places
Grant
Application — up
to $500,000
Spring &
Summer 2026
Historic
American
Building Survey
with True North
Alaska Remote
Imaging 3D Scan
Assemble Green
House
Spring/Summer
2027
Begin
Restoration
Projects —
working with
local
contractors.
Begin Public
Programming
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New Business: Enhancing the Historic Walking Tour with Audio Narratives
M. Benoit
I propose enriching our Historic Walking Tour by creating audio recordings for each of the 26
signs. This addition aims to bring Seward's history to life, offering visitors a more immersive
experience.
Jim and June Pemberton, both seasoned radio professionals and current volunteers at the
Seward station, have graciously offered to narrate the main content of each sign. Their voices
will add a familiar and engaging touch to the tour.
To delve deeper into our rich history, we suggest adding a "Rest of the Story" segment for each
location. These brief narratives will explore why specific stories were chosen and share
intriguing historical details that couldn't fit on the signs. Commissioners can record these
segments using their phones, providing a personal and authentic perspective.
The audio content could be accessible through our city's website, so people doing the walking
tour and scanning the QR code could find it. It could also be added to our Facebook posts.
Looking ahead, this could lay the groundwork for a comprehensive audio walking tour.
Additionally, the local radio station has expressed interest in featuring these stories as part of
their "History Notes" series, further extending our reach.
This project not only broadens the reach of our historical narratives but also fosters a deeper
connection between our community and its rich heritage.
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2025 Historic
_ Priorities
Preservation
and Meeting
Commission
Schedule
Updated on 9/8/2025
DATES
WS-MTG
Business
Priorities
Results
Jan. 15 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin.
Jan. 30
WS
- Discuss properties for Seward Local Register
Nomination: Flamingo Lounge
- Review of CLG Grant Application to SHPO: Hoben
Park
- Enhance and educate on Historic Preservation (FB
Posts and Potential Events).
MTG
Facebook Page Report; Approve November Meeting
Minutes; Share Historic Register Plaque Awards;
Nominate Chair & Vice Chair; St. Peter's Updates;
Painting Discussion; Hoben Park Updates; Stucco
Johnson Sign; Rotary Park Interp Sign; Booklet on Jan
Van Empel
- Submit CLG Application
- Admin to begin 2024 CLG Report
- Upload new Social Posts and Engagement via
Facebook
Flamingo Lounge is approved.
Benoit to notify owners; CLG Grant
submitted for Hoben Park
Restoration Project.
12-May HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin.
22-May
WS
Presentation from Alaska Remote Imaging
Potential working with ARI and enhancing Historic
Preservation Tour
MEETING CANCELLED
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MTG
- Present Seward Historic Register Awards; Facebook
Report; Discuss Hoben Park Updates; St. Peter's
Updates; Approve January 2025 Minutes
- Updates on CLG Grant Application
MEETING CANCELLED
SUMMER No Work Session or Meeting Hiatus
Sept. 3 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin.
Sept. 18
WS
- Updates on CLG Grant Project
- Discuss potential projects for CLG Grant 2026
MTG
Approve January Minutes; Seward Historic Register
Plaque Awards; Facebook Page Report; Hoben Park
Summary; St. Peter's Updates; Enhancing the Historic
Walking Tour
- St. Peter's Updates
- Ongoing Grant Project Updates
Oct. 24 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin.
Nov. 13
WS
- Draft 2026 HPC Priorities and Meetings
MTG
Approve September Minutes
- Finalize and select 2026 CLG Project
- Work on Annual Report
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