Kane County Reporter

City of Aurora Historic Preservation Commission met Oct. 17.

Here is the minutes provided by the commission:

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

2nd Floor Council Chambers

44 East Downer Place

Aurora, Illinois 60505 www.aurora-il.org

The following Preservation Commission members were present: Justyn Arnold, Fernando Castrejon, Jen Del Debbio, Amber Foster, Kristin Ludwig, Dan Miller, Simon Munoz, Al Signorelli and Mike Walker. Seth Hoffman called in and excused himself from the meeting. Mike Lord was absent.

OTHERS PRESENT

The following staff members were present: Jill Morgan. Others Present: Golden Huang (716 Cornwall Circle).

None.

PUBLIC COMMENT

AGENDA

19-0947

Certificate of Appropriateness to replace only specific windows with wood windows and install a frame around the lattice in order to cure the violation at 515 Oak Avenue (HPI Investment - 19-0947 - AU15/3-19.208-COA/HP – Ward 6)

Mrs. Morgan said we spoke briefly last week, so they are coming in officially for review. As noted, this is a violation. Let me bring up the photos. I’ll bring up the current photos first. These were just taken this week. These are the only pre-photos I was able to find. This one is from 2009, so you can see the original wood windows, the little half-light window and the window in the attic still remaining. This is a picture from the interior from 2009. It is a bay window. This is from 2012. Again, if you kind of zoom in, you can see the original wood window. The small one is pretty clear. That center bay one, I think, is pretty clear about the wood. If you see in the back, most of them are 1 over 1. That back looks like it was a 3 over 2. The front window, the picture window, we discussed what it had looked like. It looks like it was just one pane of glass. That’s possible that was changed out before the district. For a little bit of background on the property, this is in the Tanner Historic District. It was built circa 1902 in the Queen Anne style. A 2000 survey of the building noted 1 over 1 double hung wood windows, wood storm windows, fanlight on the second story and a decorative window in the attic. In general, the applicant wants to cure the violation in order to sell the property. The property has a violation for all new vinyl windows. The original violation dates to 2016. It was re-cited again here recently in July 2019 for the same violation as well as the lattice on the house as well, which is a minor violation compared to the others. The windows appears to have been 1 over 1 wood double hung as I pointed out. You can see the lattice and what we’re talking about is along the bottom of the porch that encloses the gap underneath the porch. You can see the frame, the diamonds are still there, but the frame that is typically around the edge of those has been removed.

Mr. Signorelli said now that frame would be all around all four sides, correct?

Mrs. Morgan said yes. You can kind of partly see it in one of the pre-photos. You can see the top of the frame, so it would have continued on the bottom too.

Chairman Miller said I walked by the property again today and it looks to me like the original lattice is actually still there. There is plastic they attached to the frame with like staples or something like that. It is a plastic lattice which should be removed. The remains may be in poor repair, the original lattice. It appeared to still be under there. Of course, I can’t see it that well with the plastic attached on top of it.

Mrs. Morgan said so for the windows, there does seem to be a few original left besides the fanlight and that quarter window. There seems to be one, at least, in the rear that might give you an idea of some of the dimensions of the original windows. That window was a 3 over 2, so not the 1 over 1 that seem to be predominant on the house. Staff just notes that we have in the past approved the Marvin Wood Ultimate Double Hung windows in previous violations. Those windows we approved were with a combined frame and sash dimension of about 3 inches on both sides, so that’s sash and frame. Aluminum clad wood windows may be possible if they can find them in similar dimensions to reflect the historic windows as the Commission approved in

clarifications about last year, though at this time there’s none that have come forward for staff’s recommendations for people to look at, but that is an option if anyone wanted to research that. I note that particular attention should be placed on finding a new wood window insert with as small frame as small as possible as the window glass is already going to be made smaller because you are inserting a new pocket frame window into a kind of existing frame. That change has already been, the size of the glass, so if we can try to get a small of a frame as possible so we can keep as much glass. I can go into some recommendations. We did talk about how we could try to work with the applicant. I think we mentioned this at the last meeting, obviously the front façade is the main focus. Also we have in the past allowed kind of the sides, if they are set back, a little more flexibility with that. Staff kind of felt that the bay is kind of a feature of the Queen Anne style, so maybe from that point kind of forward on the one side and then maybe just that one window potentially that’s the most visible on the other side. I’ll bring up the applicant to kind of discuss as well.

Hi. My name is Golden Huang. I think I met all of you last week. First of all, I’d really like to thank the Commission for convening this meeting and allowing us to discuss this. I apologize for bringing you out on an evening like this. I think I already discussed and talked about the circumstances regarding this property. We’ve had the property for about 10 years. As you can see there, our intention with the property was always to try to make the neighborhood better, not worse. We put in significant investment when we first got the property. This was not just to flip the house. We found a stable tenant in there that was a good tenant, and a good neighborhood to be in there. We have continued to invest in the property, not just when we flipped the house, but while the tenant was in there. We put in a brand new driveway, as you can see, about 5 years ago. About 4 years ago, when they complained about the windows, we put in brand new windows. These new windows, as you can see, are not cheap windows. These are the same windows that we have at our house. It was never our intention to be a slum lord or make this place into a place that’s not a place that you can be proud of to live in. After we put in the windows, of course, then we found out that we were in violation of the historic code, which we did not know at the time and hindsight is 20/20, but we just went by what was installed in other places around the neighborhood. As you can see here, they don’t look bad. If you look at the historic pictures of it, our tenants liked the windows much better than what was in there before and the buyers right now like the windows a lot as well. They are modern windows. I understand where the Historic Commission is coming from. Just keep in mind we would like you to consider that we already put, I can honestly say for this property we probably have lost money over the years. We haven’t made a cent off of this property. We put everything in rent and more back into the property to make it a good property for our tenants. Now we are at the point where the tenants have moved out and so when they wanted us to replace all the windows, quite frankly we didn’t have the funds to be able to do that. Now we need to replace them and I understand that. That’s something that we have to do. What we are asking, and keep in mind also that we don’t qualify for any funding to be able to try to replace any of this with historic funds. These are all coming out of our own personal funds. Keeping that in mind, we understand that the front needs to be replaced, but beyond the front, we are hoping that the city is willing to bend a bit on the sides. I understand that front window, that first front side window that you see right there, I understand that that’s visible from the street. I can kind of see that one. On the other side, we would respectfully ask the Commission if we can forgo the bay windows, which are considerable cost to be able to replace those bay windows. If you look at the historic on the wood paneling there with the bay windows, I really don’t think you are going to see that was better. Does it look better? I don’t know, but maybe I could ask Commissioner Miller when you went by the property, did it look bad?

Chairman Miller said I would not say your property looks bad. I think it is an attractive house. That may or may not be relevant from what we are talking about here. My tastes are not necessarily relevant. I don’t care for plastic windows. Again, my tastes don’t really matter here.

Mr. Huang said I’m just asking if the Commission could consider when they walk by the house, if they would consider that maybe we can replace maybe that first window on the right side of the house, but exclude the bay window. It is considerable cost for us to be able to do the bay windows as well. We are willing to work with Jill’s recommendations as far as who installs the windows. We, of course, will get that all approved as far as which windows will get installed and everything like that, but we are asking just to consider where we’re coming from and try to minimize the amount of changes that we are required to make.

Ms. Ludwig said I would have thought, on the other picture if you go back Jill, if he just goes for that one window, now it doesn’t match the rest of the side. Wouldn’t it be better on that side just to leave it be and focus more on the front and then have a debate more about whether or not on the bay just for consistency? I don’t know what you guys think because I haven’t live on the street and I don’t know if that front window looks significantly different from the rest. I feel like if we are giving him some leniency on sides and back as general principle, to then take one on the side and make it different from the rest, I worry that that might even call it out worse. Just looking at the pictures that was the only thing I saw.

Chairman Miller said the one there right on the corner is a lot more visible from the street.

Ms. Ludwig said it is, okay. I haven’t seen it live.

Chairman Miller said if you stop, as I did, you can look down the sides and you can see the others too.

Mr. Arnold said would it help if we put in something that still adheres to what is required, but make is as similar as possible to the rest of the windows?

Ms. Ludwig said I guess I was just wondering if that needs to be included in changed windows or not based on what you saw live.

Chairman Miller said I thought staff’s recommendation was a fair one. Ms. Ludwig said you feel like that’s part of the visual really.

Chairman Miller said yes.

Mr. Signorelli said I don’t necessarily have that much issue with that one particular window, the one on the one side. I’m more concerned about the bay on the other side since it extends out from the property. I have less issue with that one window and if the bay has to be redone, letting that window be as somewhat of a compromise.

Ms. Ludwig said that’s what I’m wondering if it helps to contribute more to the cost of the bay. How much cost is that when we say it is very expensive? What’s very expensive? Do you have a quote on what it would take to turn the bay back?

Mr. Huang said we are working on a quote. They wanted to know how many windows we needed replaced before they would give us a solid quote. Of course, that quote probably will have to be adjusted based on what is approved by the Commission as far as the outside.

Ms. Ludwig said what makes a bay more expensive than other windows to turn it back? Mr. Signorelli said well for one thing, there are 3 windows in it.

Ms. Ludwig said other than being 3 windows.

Mrs. Del Debbio said well I know with our bay window, each window is a different size.

Mr. Huang said will all of these, they are different sizes. The other windows are somewhat standard. That bay was difficult. Even putting in new windows, it was difficult for the bay.

Mrs. Morgan said just to note, staff’s recommendation did also include those 2 front windows, like the bay forward because if you are going to do the bay, I think you would need to do everything kind of least forward of the bay if you are going to do the bay.

Chairman Miller said I agree too.

Mr. Signorelli said then it kind of matches.

Mr. Castrejon said could you go back to the newer picture? I agree with Jill that from the bay forward the smaller one and then the top creates more of the front symmetry.

Ms. Ludwig said if you are looking from that perspective then I can see what you are saying about the other side as well for that consistency.

Mrs. Del Debbio said I would agree too because the addition on the side, the small windows that were replaced by the 1 over 1, I think they call it a shed addition with a step, even the step doesn’t look, it is just concrete with a metal rail. That could be excluded I would think and even the top window above it, but anything that really defines the character of the house. I think everything on the first floor from the bay and I would even say on the other side of the driveway because if you replace one window, it will throw the whole side of the house off the driveway. It’s going to stick out. Maybe the top floor, that the two are matching. With the aluminum, or whatever the siding is, it is just a big expanse between the two so you are drawn to the two windows. There is a lot of negative space and then you see these windows.

Mr. Huang said is it the white that is drawing it out? We’d be happy to paint them if you want us to paint them.

Chairman Miller said the shiny vinyl finish.

Mr. Signorelli said and the color. It makes them stick out.

Chairman Miller said I don’t know that they are paintable.

Ms. Ludwig said you have to do a special primer on it. It doesn’t last forever.

Mr. Signorelli said with the right prep and the right paint you can paint almost anything.

Ms. Ludwig said I would say kind of the way that you paint on top of like a vinyl siding. They have a special primer that you use and then you can paint on top of it. I did that down at 655 W. Downer. That’s when I went from yellow to grey. It is still the same siding and everything.

Chairman Miller said to summarize what I’m hearing so far it sounds like the Commission wishes to stick with staff’s recommendation of the bay on the south side of the house. Then the driveway side of the house there was some discussion about how to handle that. I have no experience with painting vinyl windows. I don’t even know how long paint would last on there.

Ms. Ludwig said I can look up what I used on the vinyl siding. I’m not sure why it would be different for a vinyl frame versus vinyl siding. I think it would be the same. When I did it, it lasted, I painted that 8 years ago. Now they are tearing it down, but it stuck.

Mrs. Del Debbio said do you have central air? Do you see anybody putting a window A/C in there either?

Mr. Huang said I think at one time the tenants did put an A/C unit in the top one right there, but I think it was removed.

Ms. Ludwig said even outside of the ones he is replacing, even the ones that are left behind, let’s say he did that front one on the side and painted the ones toward the back, at least then you wouldn’t have like you go from green to white, that even if that got the full replacement, that kind of wrap that we are describing, would go back and instead of doing the whole side of the house then after first window then try to paint on the vinyl.

Chairman Miller said what are you proposing then? Do you still require replacement of the first window or somehow leaving all three of those on that side attempting to mask that they are vinyl?

Ms. Ludwig said definitely mask the vinyl behind the first window, whether or not you replace that first one, I would leave that to you guys and what you guys think.

Mrs. Del Debbio said you can’t replace one without the other.

Ms. Ludwig said so if you want to try to give them a little bit more money to contribute on the bay side, I guess then you would paint all the vinyl on that side, everything.

Mrs. Morgan said can we paint all of them, like even the ones on this side that are not being replaced?

Ms. Ludwig said it is not hard to do and it is cheap. I would recommend it.

Chairman Miller said recommendation does not require replacing the windows on the second above the bay?

Mrs. Morgan said it didn’t. I was on the fence about that.

Chairman Miller said if we were playing around with paint, we could just say try painting those on the second floor above the bay so all the windows would appear to be the same color.

Mrs. Morgan said I would go back. If you are going to paint that one, I would say paint that rear top one too. The little enclosure thing is different anyway.

Ms. Ludwig it would give it more back to that original look.

Chairman Miller said it is a good compromise. It would be less obvious that there are vinyl windows there.

Ms. Ludwig said and I’d be happy to look up the products that I used because like I said, it lasted at least 8 years and now they are ripping it down. They just replaced it completely. I don’t know how much longer it would have lasted, but it was significant.

Chairman Miller said would it be acceptable to everyone if we are speaking of the one window in staff’s recommendation to replace there on the driveway side that’s very close to the side, if we are going to talk about paint, which is new to me. I don’t really have experience with painting vinyl windows.

Mr. Signorelli said so are we suggesting that the side window closest to the front porch on the side we are viewing here now and the driveway side would be the bay and the window coming this way for replacement, so it would be the bay and the little window on the driveway side.

Chairman Miller said this is not the driveway side. It’s the other side. This is the opposite side with the bay and staff is recommending replacement of the windows in the bay.

Mr. Signorelli said in the bay and the little one.

Chairman Miller said and these two windows that are forward of the bay. There’s one on the second floor that’s probably a stairway and there’s this little window that we can see clearly.

Mr. Signorelli said and then the one window on the opposite that’s closest to the front? Chairman Miller said yes.

Mr. Castrejon said no.

Chairman Miller said that was the staff’s recommendation. I was asking if we are playing around with paint then add on why don’t you attempt to paint and cover up the vinyl on the remaining. Would we consider allowing that one window on the driveway side that’s very forward if we’re not requiring all the vinyl windows on that side of the house to be replaced? Staff’s recommendation is really only the one that’s right close to the street. Would we consider allowing them to keep that one and just try to cover it up with paint or something? That would take staff’s recommendation, but allowing one more window that they can keep.

Mrs. Del Debbio said it is too forward. I would like to see a price probably. Once you get a price in your head then you can start to negotiate different windows. That has balance. The one window, you can’t replace it. I don’t think they should not replace it. You can see it and it is part of the front of the house because it is right there. Maybe both windows.

Ms. Ludwig said so replace it and then paint back from there.

Mrs. Morgan said you are wanting to replace both the first floor?

Ms. Ludwig said you say.

Mrs. Del Debbio said both. They go together. They are a pair.

Ms. Ludwig said and the one above, what would you do with the one above?

Mrs. Del Debbio said no, that’s the second floor and I think the second floor would be to (inaudible).

Ms. Ludwig said I see what you are saying. I say whatever you do, it should be consistent, either replace them both or paint them both, but not do one or the other.

Mr. Signorelli said well except if they were painted it wouldn’t look weird. We are talking about a situation where the guidelines tell us that those windows are not the correct windows. That is not in dispute. But I think if they were painted they would blend and you would have consistency there. I would be okay with painting out the white vinyl and replacing all of the windows in the front.

Chairman Miller said would you include the bay?

Mr. Signorelli said well I do have an issue, as I said before, with the bay since it is a bump-out. It sticks out. It makes it more prominent, but in trying to keep the cost down for the homeowner, I don’t know. Would we be satisfied if that was left with those windows that are already there, but painted?

Mrs. Morgan said Jen you mentioned the second story you feel is not as significant. Would it be better to keep the bay, not the second story on this side, the small window, which is also on the first story, and then do the 2 windows on the first story of the other side? Then you are doing first story, which is more visible when you are walking.

Mrs. Del Debbio said what just kind of came to my mind too is if is this is a stairway window, is it fixed or is it a double hung?

Mrs. Morgan said I think it is a double hung.

Mrs. Del Debbio said is it a stairway window?

Mr. Huang said I believe it is, yes.

Mrs. Del Debbio said could he make it a fixed pane rather than double hung? Who has a double hung window in their stairway?

Chairman Miller said I do.

Mrs. Morgan said they are usually smaller.

Chairman Miller said some styles of homes will have a smaller decorative window that might be like a stained glass or a leaded glass or something. It just looks like a regular double hung window, which is fine. I don’t think I would want a fixed pane.

Ms. Ludwig said if we incorporate any form of painting into any of the recommendation, we are going to have to give them some time because you have to wash those really well with TSP. You have to sand them down with like a 220 grid. Then you have to use a vinyl primer on it and then you are going to need a couple of coats of paint. So it is pretty labor intensive, so while it is going to save you on the cost of materials, you are going to be out there sanding some stuff. So just think about the weather and where the weather might turn. You need a lot of drying time between coats. You might need to give them into the spring. Unless we get a really nice Indian summer break in the fall, it might be too late in the season for them to paint. I just want to bring that into the picture.

Chairman Miller said he is attempting to complete a transaction now.

Mr. Castrejon said when is the intended closing on the house?

Mr. Huang said it has already passed. We are trying to work out something where we can hold something in escrow to be able to close on the house. Even with the new windows, by the time it is approved and we get it in and things like that, it may be next spring anyway. We don’t know if it can be done this year. Like you said, if the weather permits we might be able to do it this year, but just given that we are kind of late in the season here, it may be next spring before we can even put new ones in. We are trying to work something out there. That’s where we are with that right now.

Ms. Ludwig said it could be a weather dependent kind of thing. Mr. Huang said right.

Chairman Miller said well we need to come to a conclusion. The Petitioner has been very patient.

Mr. Huang said and I appreciate it. I appreciate you all coming out like this.

Mr. Signorelli said it was just occurring to me rather than possibly going through the process that you were talking about, what if the rest of the window color was changed to blend in with the white or possibly all white?

Mrs. Morgan said you mean paint the trim?

Mr. Signorelli said yes, around the vinyl rather than changing the vinyl itself.

Mr. Huang said we could do that as well.

Mr. Signorelli said that seems to make more sense. It certainly would be less labor intensive.

Ms. Ludwig said it would be a lot less labor intensive.

Mr. Signorelli said that would be my recommendation.

Mrs. Morgan said so are we thinking do the 2 on the driveway side on the first floor, do the bay on the first floor, the small window on the first floor, leave the second floor and then paint all 3 sides. We are not dealing with the rear. I would say if we are going to go to white, you would need to paint all the window trims.

Mr. Signorelli said yes.

Mrs. Morgan said on all 3 sides.

Mr. Huang said I’m sorry, it is going back and forth. Are we saying that we have to now replace both windows on the driveway side?

Mrs. Morgan said instead of doing just the one, we are saying two, but then we would be giving up on the, the staff’s recommendation was the second story in front of the bay, we would give that one up. It would still end up being the bay, 2 windows and the small window plus the front façade, but instead of the second story on the one side, you would do the first story on the other. So you are still replacing seven 1 over 1 sash, that one small 1 over 1 plus the large picture window.

Chairman Miller said is that what the Commission wants?

Mrs. Morgan said so when we did it for 202 N. View Street, they replaced the second story. That was 3. They replaced 2 on the side, so that was 5. I think we made them replace about 6. That was a corner property.

Chairman Miller said we didn’t make them replace everything on the side.

Mrs. Morgan said the interior side we did not. Those were probably, I would say, more costly possibly since they had simulated divided light. Those were the ones that did the Marvin. They were $500 to $600 a piece.

Chairman Miller said there were some fancy custom windows there. Mrs. Morgan said they had multi-panes over one.

Chairman Miller said is what Jill just stated, is that what the Commission is recommending? Does anyone have a different opinion?

Mrs. Morgan said so it is going to be replacing the 2 windows on the first story on the driveway side, the double window on the second story of the front façade, the large picture window on the first story of the front façade, and then on the other elevation the small 1 over 1 window closest to the porch and the 3 bay windows and then paint all the trim on all 3 sides white.

Ms. Ludwig said well do we need to do all the painting if he’s replacing all those highly visual windows?

Mrs. Morgan said the second story would stick out more.

Chairman Miller said we can see the second story windows. You could paint all around the windows white or do as Kristin had originally recommended that you paint the windows themselves so they all would appear to match.

Mrs. Morgan said either one.

Chairman Miller said either on should work.

Ms. Ludwig said unfortunately it is one where as much brainstorming as we did around it, we are still here to interpret the guidelines and the guidelines are pretty clear on that.

Chairman Miller said they are.

Mr. Signorelli said that’s where the issues comes in. We are bound by the guidelines. It isn’t arbitrary as to just simply what we as individuals decided we like or don’t like. We are bound by the guidelines. We are bound by the law. What our issue is here is we are trying to come up with a compromise that won’t bankrupt you, but will follow the law and the guidelines as closely and fairly as we possibly can.

Mr. Huang said I understand and I appreciate the Commission’s consideration. Mr. Castrejon said do you recall what the cost per window was ballpark?

Mr. Huang said it was a lot. It was about 4 years ago, but I remember to replace all the windows it was well over $12,000. It is a really old house. It wasn’t just replacing the window, but it was all the wood around the window as well. It was drafty. There was draft coming into the house. We bit the bullet and really fixed it up. As you can see, it doesn’t look bad. What is being suggested here tonight, I understand for those that are, I guess, passionate about the historic district, which the Commission, you are, I can understand that. From a homeowner practical point of view just to rip out perfectly good windows for aesthetic view is hard to swallow. I’m not here to argue that. I’m just here to try to work with the city.

Chairman Miller said I appreciate your cooperation. There was at least one other homeowner across the street from me. Unfortunately, ripping out the original windows across the street fromme isn’t the best idea.

Mrs. Morgan said we are just trying to be fair and consistent with what we’ve done in the past.

Chairman Miller said we showed some leeway on that one too, but it was still so expensive.

Mrs. Morgan said does anyone have any comments on what I just kind of summarized?

Chairman Miller said I think that was fair. I don’t know if we need to clarify some wording on that lattice work. I would say simply that that plastic.

Mr. Huang said yes please. I wasn’t even quite sure what you wanted.

Chairman Miller said about the plastic that has been attached. I think the frame is there.

Mr. Huang said you just want a wood thing around it?

Mrs. Morgan said it needs to be wood too.

Chairman Miller said the original frame is underneath, at least part of it.

Mr. Huang said there were critters getting inside and they chewed through it.

Chairman Miller said the plastic lattice that is there will need to be removed.

Mrs. Morgan said the design is fine. It would be the material.

Chairman Miller said it appears the frame is still under there. I can’t really tell the condition.

Mr. Huang said it was not good. That’s why replaced it.

Mr. Signorelli said well you would need to replace the plastic with wooden lattice and it would have to have boards around all 4 sides to finish it off.

Chairman Miller said it looks like the frame might still be under there.

Mrs. Morgan said you may be able to reuse it. I haven’t had a lot of people who have had trouble with finding a new wood lattice.

Chairman Miller said when I did mine, a carpenter just made it.

Ms. Ludwig said if the painting becomes something that ends up being considered for the other windows or whatever, I’d be happy to type up some instructions and some suggested materials of how to paint on vinyl.

Mrs. Morgan said yes. If you could send that to me and then I can forward it if they decide they want to do that as opposed to painting the trim.

Mr. Huang said we’ll ask which one would be easier.

Chairman Miller said I’m also happy the 2 really unique windows on the front, original ones, still remain in the attic.

Mr. Huang said those didn’t need replacing because those never opened and nobody complained about a draft coming into those, especially the one in the attic. Nobody cares about that one. It was all the other ones.

Chairman Miller said I don’t know of another one like that in our district. It is totally unique.

Mrs. Morgan said do we have a motion to approve the COA with the amended conditions.

Mrs. Del Debbio said I would like to make a motion that the recommendations that we’ve come to today, the amendments to the condition of the original, or his COA go forward.

Mr. Castrejon said can we add a timeline?

Mrs. Morgan said we could do a timeline by June. That gives you all the way through the spring.

Mr. Huang said that would be plenty of time.

Chairman Miller said I think he has plenty of motivation on his own since he is trying to sell the property.

Mrs. Morgan said depending on how you end up working that out with the buyer, if they are taking over the ownership and the responsibility to cure the violation, we have a form that we ask them to sign saying that they are aware there is a violation. But if

you are taking care of that privately, just let me know.

Mr. Huang said no problem. We probably need something from the city anyway or their lender to be able to accept it with a condition on the house.

Mrs. Morgan said we might even want to have them sign that form. I can even alter it that there is a private agreement that you guys are taking the ownership to cure it even if it is after they purchase it.

Mr. Huang said I’m sure the lender will have plenty of paperwork in regard to that condition.

Mrs. Morgan said or maybe just for staff to see that. We just want to make sure there is no confusion. We did end up adding a fine to it that we will waive once you come in for the permit. We do it just to flag it to make sure that a new owner should be aware before they purchase, but we will waive that fine once it comes in for permit.

Mr. Huang said thank you very much.

Chairman Miller said I believe the presence of a fine would show up on a title search so that no one is able to pass off something to a buyer without being aware.

MOTION OF APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS WAS MADE BY: Jen Del Debbio MOTION SECONDED BY: Al Signorelli

AYES: Justyn Arnold, Fernando Castrejon, Jen Del Debbio, Amber Foster, Kristin Ludwig, Dan Miller, Simon Munoz, Al Signorelli, Mike Walker

A motion was made by Mrs. Del Debbio, seconded by Mr. Signorelli, that this agenda item be approved. The motion carried.

PENDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

A) Grants - Dan Miller, Chariman

No report.

B) Near Eastside Historic District - Jennifer Baird-del Debbio, Chairperson

No report.

C) Riddle Highlands Historic District - Fernando Castrejon, Chairperson

No report.

D) Public Awareness - Mike Walker, Chariman

No report.

E) Landmarks - Al Signorelli, Chariman

No report.

F) FoxWalk Design Review - Fernando Castrejon, Chairperson

No report.

G) Tanner/Palace Historic District Committee - Justyn Arnold, Chairperson

No report.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mr. Signorelli said when was the last time we sent something out to the districts outlining guidelines?

Mrs. Morgan said when we sent out the grant notification postcards, there was also a little don’t’ forget you need HCOA’s. When we had the Mayor’s awards, I sent out a page reminding people in the district plus a page about the Mayor’s awards. So far this year, there’s been 2 reminders.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Signorelli, seconded by Mr. Castrejon, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried by voice vote. Chairman Miller adjourned the meeting at 7:51 p.m.

https://www.aurora-il.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11142019-2083