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Home My WebLink About08202026 Historic Preservation Packet1963 1965 2005 kintual All-Amenca City 1 I I.. 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 Vice Chair Sue Ward Commissioner Mary Ann Benoit Commissioner Donna Walker Museum Curator Allison Stacy Commissioner Todd Mashlan City Clerk Kris Peck August 20, 2026, 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. City Administration Report C. Chair Report D. Other Reports and Announcements 1) HPC Facebook Report pg. 3 E. 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 April 23, 2026, HPC Meeting Minutes pg. 11 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Other Items Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda August 20 1 1 P a g e 1) Hoben Park Updates pg. 14 2) St. Peter's Updates 3) HPC Walking Tour Updates — Story Maps and GIS Mapping 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Other New Business 1) HPC Ordinance — Discuss Sponsoring an Ordinance to Expand Residency Requirements pg. 16 2) Selection of new Commission Chair and Vice Chair 3) Stewart House Research pg. 19 10. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required.) A. Reminder of Meetings 1) Regular Meeting and Work Session on December 3, 2026 pg. 24 a. All material will need to be submitted on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 B. Other Items 1) Historic Preservation Commission Budget pg. 26 2) Elected and Appointed Officials List as of August 2026 pg. 27 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 August 20 2 I P a g e Facebook Apr 1, 2026 - Jul 31, 2026 v O Content overview Posts Stories Views 1 3.0 K t 91,1° 2 1.5K 1K 500 O Top content by views 3OURNEY THROUGH TIM scr-. 31fltr :,Um l: Y. Up u sl..A--.1'auIIr11cyralSL travI .r 4rarn- !Whiny la. Yx Cc him I.10114 1wn, l .act Iln Intl rrr lf15f,FT4 {I.''A.Sr A Journey Through Time Our downtown... Reek Live 3-second views 0 Content interactions 1 4, 80 257 'h 1142% Views May 31 Watch time 7 .4 84.6% Jun 20 From organic From ads allruad Depot This building has �1luCl W'[4_Ly�I IIIArhhl�ll5 IJSIIIIYtfIIILx. l'11111117, IIr Inlulwryl kMiinwl ulhlnv Some of Seward's moved, adapted, and... most important... Jul10 Noldna Iw 41m Breakdown_ Organic/ads v Jul30 Views breakdown Apr 1-Jul 31 Total 12,955 91.1% From organic 12,955 91.1% From ads 0 •'; Viewers 5,737 "80.3% Boost content See all content - J ►i�ul ex it s IIktork Illnnllumr Looking for a historic walking tour map? Th... 55 3cpe11R0uf. f10rv.c1C h4F {M. IP-1;0 4141n Fcc crcu 1.1,1. a+.a ac1 . `1f aa.c cxSFF1Th Fr Fc rr cr oral Visit Seward's H istori Downtown Area.... U'.+ed Apr 29,10:01am Sur. 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Followers 0 Lifetime 1,424 Age& 0 gender 20% 15% 10% 5% Top cities Seward, AK Anchorage, AK Bear Creek, AK Wasilla, AK M 1.7% Soldotna, AK M 1.6% Horner, AK 1.5% Fairbanks, AK = 1.2% Kenai, AK = 1.2% Knik, AK • 0.9% Palmer, AK ■ 0.9% Trends Potential audience 18-24 25-34 6.6% 18% 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Women Men 63.5% 36.5% Top United iSta States 23.5% 101.8% Mexico 1 0.4% India 1 0.2% Philippines 1 0.2% Thailand 1 0.2% United Kingdom 1 0.2% Bangladesh 1 0.1% Brazil 1 0.1% France 1 0.1% Kenya 0.1% 4 Follows 0 3 2 y 40.7% 4 3 2 1 0 i Apr 1 Apr 21 May 11 May 31 Jun 20 Jul 10 Jul 3 Facebook follows 5 Content interactions 0 257 T 1142% 30 20 10 0 Apr l Apr 21 I I. t May 11 May 31 Jun 20 Content interactions 6 Jul 10 Jul 31 Link clicks 0 2 4, 60 /o 1 0 Apr 1 Apr 21 May 11 May 31 Jun 20 Jul 10 Jul 31 Facebook link clicks 7 Viewers 0 5.7K T 180.3% 2K 1.5K 1K 500 a Apr 1 Apr 21 May 11 May 31 Jun 20 Jul 10 Jul 3 Viewers 8 Views 0 13.OK T 91.1% 2K 1.5K 1K 500 0 Apr l Apr 21 It L May 11 May 31 Jun 20 Jul 10 Jul 3 Views 9 Visits 0 298 T 14.6% 40 30 Apr 21 May 11 May 31 Jun 20 Facebook visits 10 Jul 10 Jul 3 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2026 Volume 3, Page CALL TO ORDER The Thursday, April 23, 2026, meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chair Tanguy Libbrecht at 6:30 p.m. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Art LeMaster led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL There were present: Tanguy Libbrecht, presiding, and Sue Ward Mary Ann Benoit Dona Walker (arrived at 18:42) Art LeMaster Todd Mashlan comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Allison Stacy, Museum Curator Kris Peck, City Clerk Excused — Mashlan Absent — None Vacant — One CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Ward/Benoit) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approve the January 15, 2026, Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Proclamations and Awards — None 11 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2026 Volume 3, Page SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATION, AND REPORTS City Administration Report — None Chair Report Chair Tanguy Libbrecht provided a summary of the work session that was held prior to the meeting. He thanked Jamie Crocker Taylor Crocker for their respective presentations during the work session. All the collaborating was exciting and rewarding. Other Reports and Announcements Historic Preservation Commission Facebook Report Benoit had a lineup of graphics and posts ready to go for the remainder of the year. She provided statistics on the followers and their demographic locations. Libbrecht asked for the Historic Preservation budget to be included in informational items & reports section of the agenda. Commissioner Walker arrived at 6:42 pm UNFINISHED BUSINESS Hoben Park Updates Museum Curator Allison Stacy discussed the restoration of the Hoben Park railings which included sandblasting, zinc coating and protection for long term. She noted the total price of entire project and said it would also take longer than expected. Libbrecht suggested reach out to the State Historic Preservation Office. The Commission discussed city code and the current compliance of Hoben Park as well as safety concerns, railing, funding, lead paint removal, specific scope of the grant requirements. St. Peter's Updates Mashlan was actually in Wasilla, Alaska tonight presenting information on the St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Some of the current issues included carpet removal, issues with the heating system, pipes freezing, and ADA accessibility. The big issue was to get the grant to x-ray the building to make sure the building is stable. The bell tower in particular seems very unstable. There was hope that the church could become an emergency shelter for people who needed to get out of the cold. 12 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2026 Volume 3, Page NEW BUSINESS Historic Preservation Award Nominations The Commission discussed the schedule for upcoming City Council meetings and when the recipients could be present to receive the award from the Mayor. Review 2026 Priorities and Meeting Dates The Commission reviewed their 2026 priorities and meeting dates. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Regular Meeting and Work Session on August 20, 2026 CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Walker noted a correction on the date for the 1964 earthquake from a presentation during the work session. She recalled her earthquake experience living in Forest Acres. Ward was pleased to be working with the City of Seward. Benoit was happy for all the support and collaboration. LeMaster said it was important to work together. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m. Kris Peck City Clerk Tanguy Libbrecht Chair 13 Hoben Park Updates • The Grant Reimbursement is currently being processed. • Lilac Bushes have been planted. • HPC Notification Signs have been placed around the park and will remain out there until end September. 14 Hoben Park Restoration Project St. Peter's Updates (Mashlan) HPC Walking Tour Updates - Story Maps and GIS Mapping (Everyone) • Work Session Notes and Follow Up -Discussion 15 HPC Ordinance Sponsorship Memo — Draft for Commission Discussion MEMORANDUM Proposed Ordinance: Expanding Membership Eligibility for the Historic Preservation Commission TO: Seward City Council FROM: Seward Historic Preservation Commission RE: Sponsorship of an ordinance amending SCC 2.30.140 — HPC residency eligibility DATE: [Insert date] Purpose The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) respectfully requests that the City Council consider sponsoring an ordinance amending Seward City Code 2.30.140 to expand the geographic residency eligibility for HPC membership, and/or to create a limited exception allowing the Commission to retain members with demonstrated preservation expertise who fall outside the current boundary. Background Under SCC 2.30.140, HPC members must reside within the City of Seward or the general Seward area extending from Lowell Point to the Tern Lake Junction on the Seward Highway. This is the same standard applied to PACAB, and it is broader than the strict in -city -limits requirement that applies to the Planning & Zoning Commission. This standard was recently applied to disqualify a long -serving HPC Chair from continuing in that role, and from continuing as a member of the Commission at all, solely on the basis of his residence outside the defined boundary. This individual has served the Commission continuously and effectively, and his removal is unrelated to performance, conduct, or engagement — it is purely a function of where he lives. The Commission is bringing this forward now because of Tanguy Libbrecht's situation specifically, and would rather say so directly than talk around it. Council made the residency determination, reviewed his reapplication, and is aware of his letter requesting to continue serving. But the Commission's goal here is broader than this one case. It is to build a standard the Commission can rely on going forward — one that helps recruit and retain the kind of specialized preservation expertise this work requires, for this Chair and for whoever leads the Commission after him. Why This Matters • Recruitment is already difficult. HPC currently has only four of seven seats filled. Vacant seats have been publicly advertised with no applicants coming forward from within the eligible geographic area. • Historic preservation work requires specialized, often scarce expertise — familiarity with preservation standards, grant administration, archival research, and community history. That expertise does not always live within a narrow geographic boundary, particularly in a small community like Seward. • Losing an experienced, engaged Chair over a residency technicality — rather than any concern about performance — represents a real loss of institutional knowledge and continuity for the Commission's ongoing projects, including active grant -funded work. • The current boundary was presumably set with practical local governance in mind, but its rigid application can work against the Commission's actual mission: preserving Seward's history through the people best equipped to do that work. Proposed Options for Council Consideration The Commission offers the following options for Council's consideration, in ascending order of scope. Each is anchored to the same principle: eligibility outside the current boundary should be earned through a demonstrated connection and expertise relevant to Seward's preservation work, not granted on residency alone. These options are not mutually exclusive. Option A — Expand Eligible Residency, Anchored to Seward Historic Preservation Connection and Expertise 1 16 HPC Ordinance Sponsorship Memo — Draft for Commission Discussion Extend eligible residency beyond the current Lowell Point —Tern Lake Junction boundary to include the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the Municipality of Anchorage', but only for individuals with a documented, substantive connection to Seward's historic preservation work specifically — such as owning historic property in Seward, hands-on restoration or research work on a Seward historic property, sustained involvement in a Seward preservation project or organization, or demonstrated professional or academic expertise directly relevant to Seward's preservation efforts. This keeps the boundary expansion tied to the Commission's actual mission, rather than opening the seat to any Borough or Municipality of Anchorage resident regardless of relevance to that work. Proposed code language: "A historic preservation commission is hereby created, consisting of seven residents of the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the Municipality of Anchorage who have a demonstrated connection to Seward's historic preservation efforts, including but not limited to ownership of historic property within the City of Seward, hands-on restoration or research work on a Seward historic property (whether one's own or in assisting another owner), sustained involvement in a Seward historic preservation project or organization, or documented professional or academic expertise in historic preservation directly relevant to Seward, who shall be appointed by the council." Option B — Limited At -Large Seats for Demonstrated Seward Historic Preservation Connection and Expertise Keep the general Seward area as the default residency requirement, while allowing a limited number of seats (up to two of seven) to be filled by individuals from the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the Municipality of Anchorage who have a demonstrated connection to Seward's historic preservation work — the same standard proposed for Option A — rather than opening those seats to Borough or Municipality of Anchorage residents generally. Proposed code language: "A historic preservation commission is hereby created, consisting of seven residents, of whom at least five shall reside in the general Seward area spanning from Lowell Point to the Tern Lake Junction on the Seward Highway, and up to two of whom may reside elsewhere in the Kenai Peninsula Borough or in the Municipality of Anchorage if such individuals have a demonstrated connection to Seward's historic preservation efforts, including but not limited to ownership of historic property within the City of Seward, hands-on restoration or research work on a Seward historic property (whether one's own or in assisting another owner), sustained involvement in a Seward historic preservation project or organization, or documented professional or academic expertise in historic preservation directly relevant to Seward, who shall be appointed by the council." Option C — Continuity for Members with Demonstrated Seward Historic Preservation Connection and Performance Allow an incumbent member who was eligible at original appointment to remain eligible for reappointment through Council's existing reappointment process, so long as they continue to maintain the same demonstrated Seward historic preservation connection or expertise described in Option A. Unlike Options A and B, this does not change who counts as eligible in general — it only adds one narrow exception for someone already serving. Proposed code language (add to SCC 2.30.140, current language unchanged): "...provided that an incumbent member who resided within such area at the time of original appointment may continue to be considered for reappointment, subject to the council's ordinary reappointment process, notwithstanding a subsequent change of residence to the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the Municipality of Anchorage, so long as such member maintains the demonstrated connection to Seward's historic preservation efforts described in Option A." Commission Recommendation: Option C most directly addresses the situation the Commission is currently facing, and the Commission recommends it be adopted at minimum. Option A or Option B — both now tied to demonstrated Seward historic preservation connection and expertise, not residency alone — are worth pairing with it to open eligibility to future members with real, relevant expertise who happen to live in the Borough or the Municipality of Anchorage. The difference between them is scope: Option A allows any of the seven seats to be filled this way, while Option B caps it at two of seven, keeping a Seward -area majority guaranteed. The Commission leans toward Option B for that reason, but offers both for Council's consideration. Precedent in Other Municipalities iThe Municipality of Anchorage is a consolidated city -borough that includes Girdwood, Chugiak, Eagle River, and Indian in addition to the Anchorage urban core. This term is used throughout to avoid ambiguity about whether these communities are included. 2 17 HPC Ordinance Sponsorship Memo — Draft for Commission Discussion The Commission is not proposing an untested approach. Comparable municipalities have adopted similar flexibility for specialized or geographically -broad commissions: • Bloomington, Indiana's Sustainability Commission allows up to four of twelve members to reside outside city limits (within the surrounding county), reasoning explicitly that "sustainability issues reach beyond the typical boundaries of corporate city limits" — a capped, expertise -adjacent structure similar to what this memo proposes. • Bloomington also exempted city employees with specialized skills or training from its residency requirement "if there are no suitable applicants" locally — the same underlying logic applied to staffing rather than a board. • Minnesota state law requires municipal heritage preservation commission members to have "demonstrated interest and expertise in historic preservation," establishing expertise as a recognized, formal qualification standard for this exact type of commission. • Texas enacted a statute specifically allowing small municipalities (population 1,000 or less) to appoint board members from outside city limits, citing the documented difficulty small communities have finding enough qualified residents to fill civic boards — directly validating the recruitment challenge described above. Current Code Language, For Reference SCC 2.30.140 (current): "A historic preservation commission is hereby created, consisting of seven residents of the City of Seward, and general Seward area spanning from Lowell Point to the Tern Lake Junction on the Seward Highway, who shall be appointed by the council." Proposed language for each option above is offered as a starting point for drafting, not final legal language. The Commission recommends this be reviewed and finalized by the City Attorney's office before introduction. Next Steps • Commission discussion and vote on whether to formally sponsor this ordinance for Council's agenda. • If sponsored, referral to the City Attorney for formal drafting and legal review. • Placement on an upcoming Council agenda, per the City Clerk's confirmation that this route is available. Prepared for Commission discussion — not yet adopted or formally sponsored. Research Summary: Stewart House, 411 Third Avenue, Seward, Alaska Prepared by Mary Ann Benoit 6-29-26. Property Identification • Address: 411 Third Avenue, Seward, Alaska • Also known as: Stewart (Duncan) House • Legal description: Lots 14 and 15, Block 25, Original Townsite of Seward • Tax Parcel: 14807010 • Property type: Single-family residence • Owner of record (as of 2017 Historic Preservation Plan): Bryant, Mary Construction and Historic Context The Stewart House is a historic single-family residence built in 1905 on Millionaires' Row, the name given to the 400 block of Third Avenue in Seward. According to City of Seward Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No. 99-07 (April 21, 1999), the Stewart House was constructed in 1905 by Alaska Central Railway Treasurer F.H. Stewart, and is located within a group of six homes built in 1905 by and for Alaska Central Railway department heads. According to architectural historian Alison K. Hoagland in Buildings of Alaska (Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 115), all the houses on this block were built in 1905 for prominent citizens connected to the Alaska Central Railroad. Hoagland describes them as "one-story cottages with porches and bay windows" and notes that they have "a modest bearing, compared to the houses in the Lower 48, that belies their nickname." The other named houses on Millionaires' Row, all built simultaneously in 1905, include the Ballaine House (437 Third Ave., listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978), the Hale House, the Cameron House, the Holland House, and the Winter House. All remain standing today. A circa-1905 photograph by Evans & Anderson (held in the Stauter-Mongin Photograph Collection, University of Alaska digital archives, vilda.alaska.edu) shows the Stewart House as part of the original Millionaires' Row streetscape, confirming its presence from the earliest days of Seward's development. Original Owner: F.H. Stewart F.H. Stewart was Treasurer of the Alaska Central Railway, as confirmed by City of Seward Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No. 99-07. Mary J. Barry, in Seward, Alaska: A 19 History of the Gateway City, Volume One: Prehistory to 1914 (1986), p. 63, further identifies Stewart as having served as Treasurer of the Tanana Construction Company and Assistant Treasurer of the Alaska Central Railroad, succeeding W.G. Poland on all business matters for the railroad. He was therefore a senior financial officer of the very enterprise that founded Seward and built the railroad. The Seward Gateway newspaper lists Stewart as the Recorder for the Arctic Brotherhood in 1908, indicating he was an active member of Seward's civic community during his time in Seward. Barry also notes (p. 73) that in 1911, Stewart was indicted in connection with illegal coal entries in the Matanuska Coal Company case, tied to the management of the Alaska Central Railroad. Note: The historical record documents the indictment only. Whether Stewart was ever convicted is not known from the sources available, and this question remains unresolved in the research to date. After the railroad went bankrupt in 1908, Stewart remained in Seward: Barry (p. 114) records that he became the local agent for a Northwest Steamship Company. Subsequent Owner: Duncan The 2017 City of Seward Historic Preservation Plan lists the property as the "Stewart (Duncan) House," indicating that a person named Duncan was a subsequent owner of significance — possibly the second owner after Stewart. The 1999 historic register nomination (Resolution No. 99-07) refers to the property only as the Stewart House. The identity of Duncan, his occupation, and the dates of his ownership have not been confirmed in the research conducted to date. If this information is important to establishing the full ownership history of the property, the following sources are recommended for follow-up: • Seward Community Library and Museum — contact Colleen Kelly. The library holds a published index to the Seward Gateway newspaper, 1904-1910 (compiled by Mike Stallings, 1983), organized by people, vessels, geography, and subjects. A search of the people section under "Duncan" would identify any Seward resident by that name during the early period. • FamilySearch.org — Alaska, Seward, Property Transactions 1901-1958. This free, publicly accessible collection would show the full deed transfer history for Lots 14 and 15, Block 25, Original Townsite, including exactly when and to whom the property passed from Stewart. • Ancestry.com —1910 Alaska Census, Third Judicial District. Seward falls within this district. A search for "Duncan" would identify any resident by that name and show their occupation and household. • Kenai Peninsula Borough Assessor — title search on parcel 14807010. A full title search would confirm the complete chain of ownership from 1905 to the present. 20 Historic Register Status On April 21, 1999, the Seward Historic Preservation Commission passed Resolution No. 99-07, placing the Stewart House on the Seward Register of Historic Places. The resolution was passed unanimously (5 ayes, 0 noes) and signed by Commission Chairman Jeanne Galvano and attested by City Clerk Patrick Reilly. The Seward Register of Historic Places was established by City Council Ordinance No. 95-10 to locally recognize properties important in Seward's history. The resolution formally states that the Stewart House is significant "for its association with the founding of Seward, and the development of the Alaska Central Railway," and recognizes it as "a property associated with historic events or persons of local and state significance." The house is also listed in the City of Seward's 2017 Historic Preservation Plan (item #66, Stewart/Duncan House) as a contributing structure on Millionaires' Row. The property is not currently listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places, though the 400 block of Third Avenue as a whole is discussed in peer -reviewed national architectural literature. The neighboring Ballaine House at 437 Third Avenue is individually listed on the National Register. Architectural Significance The Stewart House and the Cameron House on Millionaires' Row are both highlighted in Alison K. Hoagland's Buildings of Alaska (Society of Architectural Historians / Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 115). This is a peer -reviewed architectural history series published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Architectural Historians the national scholarly organization devoted to the study and preservation of the built environment. Buildings selected for inclusion were chosen specifically because they illustrate significant and identifiable points in American architectural history. Inclusion is a meaningful mark of distinction. The architectural significance of the Stewart House rests on three interconnected points: Railroad officer housing as an architectural pattern. Hoagland's work throughout Buildings of Alaska identifies the practice of railroad officers building their own housing as a recurring and historically important pattern in Alaska's development. The Millionaires' Row houses in Seward, built in 1905 by the Alaska Central Railway's senior department heads for their own use, are among the earliest surviving examples of this pattern in the state. When the Alaska Railroad later established its headquarters in Anchorage in 1916, it built a nearly identical cluster of cottages for its own officials — demonstrating that the Seward houses represent the founding model for this type of railroad -era residential development in Alaska. 21 Americans building familiar domestic forms on the frontier. A central thesis of Hoagland's book is that Americans on the Alaska frontier were, as she writes, "possessed by the idea of the frontier even as they pretended to ignore it by building houses in forms familiar back home." The Millionaires' Row houses are a clear illustration of this phenomenon railroad executives from the Lower 48 transplanted familiar cottage architecture directly into a remote frontier town, constructing domestic spaces that would have looked at home in any American city of the era. Early Craftsman cottage style in Alaska. Hoagland describes the Millionaires' Row houses as "one-story cottages with porches and bay windows," placing them in the early Craftsman and cottage tradition dominant across the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. In the Alaska context of 1905, building in this style represented an ambitious effort to establish the material standards of American middle-class domestic life in an extremely remote setting. The fact that these houses survive intact makes them rare physical records of that era's domestic architecture in Southcentral Alaska. Taken together, these points make the Stewart House as part of the 400 block of Third Avenue — one of the most legible surviving examples of early American settlement architecture in Alaska. That it remains a private residence after 120 years adds to rather than diminishes its significance. The Historic Preservation Commission listed this property as a potential place for a future historic walking tour sign if grant funding became available based on interest by the current owner, who Commissioner Benoit spoke to by phone. Sources Consulted • City of Seward Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No. 99-07, April 21, 1999. (Copy on file.) • Barry, Mary J. Seward, Alaska: A History of the Gateway City, Volume One: Prehistory to 1914. 1986. Pages 63, 73, 114. • Hoagland, Alison K. Buildings of Alaska. Society of Architectural Historians / Oxford University Press, 1993. Page 115. Also accessible via SAH Archipedia: sah- archipedia.org/buildings/AK-01-SC057. • City of Seward. 2017 Historic Preservation Plan. Item #66, Stewart (Duncan) House. • City of Seward Historic Preservation Resolution 1999-07. • Evans & Anderson photograph, ca. 1905. Stauter-Mongin Photograph Collection, University of Alaska digital archives, vilda.alaska.edu. • Capra, Doug. The Spaces Between. Researched — no specific reference to the Stewart House found. • Alaska Architectural Style Guide. Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Office of History and Archaeology. dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/StyleGuide.pdf. • SAH Archipedia, "Alaska Engineering Commission Cottages," Anchorage, Alaska. sah- archipedia.org/buildings/AK-01-SC015. 22 • Stallings, Mike. Index to the Seward Gateway, A Newspaper, 1904-1910. Seward Community Library, 1983. (Not directly consulted; identified as a recommended resource.) Research conducted June 2026 by Mary Ann Benoit, Seward Historic Preservation Commission. Additional primary source research recommended before listing. 23 2026 Historic _ Priorities and Preservation Meeting Commission Schedule Updated on 2/20/2026 DATES WS-MTG Business Priorities Results Jan. 5 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 15-Jan WS - Community Development Presentation on Comprehensive Plan - Plan, reflect, & discuss successful completion/growth of HPC by 2030 Great discussion with Community Development - awareness, national register listings, education are all key. Potential to update commission plan. MTG Facebook Page Report; Approve September Meeting Minutes; Share Historic Register Plaque Awards; Hoben Park Updates; St. Peter's Updates; Historic Preservation Award Nominations; Review and Confirm HPC 2026 Meeting Dates & Priorities - Plan & Coordinate completion of Hoben Park Update - Admin to begin 2025 CLG Report - Upload new Social Posts and Engagement via Facebook Awards deferred to next meeting. Discuss HPA Nominations next meeting to present in month of May. Apr. 8 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 23-Apr WS Presentations Discuss Community Development GIS Mapping & Historic Lamp Posts 24 MTG - Facebook Report; Discuss Hoben Park Updates; St. Peter's Updates; Approve January 2025 Minutes - Updates on CLG Movements, Any Ongoing or Potential Grants SUMMER No Work Session or Meeting Hiatus Aug. 5 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 20-Aug WS Final plans and completion of Hoben Park Restoration Project MTG Approve April Minutes; Facebook Page Report; Hoben Park Summary; St. Peter's Updates - Ongoing Grant Project Updates Nov. 18 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 3-Dec WS - Draft 2027 HPC Priorities and Meetings MTG Approve August Minutes - Finalize and select 2026 CLG Project - Work on Annual Report 25 Run: 8/13/2026 at 4:40 PM Total Expenditures Monthly Budget -to -Actual Expenditure Report by Department City of Seward General Fund Historic Preservation Commission For 12/31/2026 Variance Actual Y-T-D Annual (Over)/Under % of Annual Month Actual Budget Budget Budget Personnel Costs: 6000 Salaries 0.00 0.00 8,400 8,400 0.00% 6100 Medicare 0.00 0.00 122 122 0.00% 6102 Workers' Compensation 0.00 0.00 50 50 0.00% Total Personnel Costs: $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 8,572 $ 8,572 $ 0.00% Non -Personnel Costs: 7004 Insurance 7009 Contracted Services 7215 Operating Supplies 7302 Travel & Subsistence 7303 Education & Training Total Non -Personnel Costs: Total Expenditures 0.00 0.00 630 630 0.00% 0.00 20.00 0 (20) 0.00% 0.00 0.00 130 130 0.00% 0.00 0.00 500 500 0.00% 0.00 0.00 750 750 0.00% $ 0.00 $ 20.00 $ 2,010 $ 1,990 $ 1.00% $ 0.00 $ 20.00 $ 10,582 $ 10,562 $ 0.19% Page: 1 26 City of Seward Elected & Appointed Officials List Last Updated August 4, 2026 Name/Title Term Exp City Council Sue McClure - Mayor Oct 2028 John Osenga - Vice Mayor Oct 2027 Robert Barnwell Oct 2026 Julie Crites Oct 2026 Casie Warner Oct 2027 Lori Draper Oct 2028 Mike Calhoon Oct 2028 Planning & Zoning Commission Clare Sullivan - Chair Feb 2029 Brenan Hornseth - Vice Chair Feb 2028 Nathaniel Charbonneau Feb 2027 Vanessa Verhey Feb 2029 Rhonda Hubbard Feb 2028 Andrew Wilder Feb 2027 Tyna Siptrott Feb 2028 Port & Commerce Advisory Board Vacant Jan 2029 Dwayne Atwood - Vice Chair Jan 2028 Jesse Groom Jan 2027 Norm Regis Jan 2027 Darian Draper Jan 2028 Lynda Paquette Jan 2029 Vacant Jan 2029 Historic Preservation Commission Vacant May 2029 Sue Ward - Vice Chair May 2029 Mary Ann Benoit May 2027 Dona Walker May 2027 Todd Mashlan May 2028 Vacant May 2028 Vacant May 2029 27