Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Nomination of the Trueman and Virginia Schmidt House for the Olympia Heritage Register
Recommended Action
Move to recommend the Trueman and Virginia Schmidt House of 2932 Maringo Road SE for the Olympia Heritage Register under the specified designation criteria/criterion.
Report
Issue:
The Heritage Commission will hold a public hearing to consider whether to make a recommendation to the City Council to add the Trueman and Virginia Schmidt House to the Olympia Heritage Register.
Staff Contact:
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8031
Presenter(s):
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer
Background and Analysis:
Lauren and David Danner, owners of the property at 2932 Maringo Road SE, have proposed their home for the Olympia Heritage Register (Register). The historical name proposed for the property is the "Trueman and Virginia Schmidt House". Application materials are provided in Attachment 1.
The Heritage Review Committee conducted a site visit to the property to begin the formal assessment of the application. This meeting took place on May 1, 2015. Based on this visual inspection, the Committee recommended the property be considered for listing on the Register.
In assessing whether the property is eligible for the Register, the Heritage Commission will consider the designation criteria as described in OMC 18.12.080 (Attachment 2). Following a review of the code, City staff suggests that the property appears to meet:
1. The general requirement that the building has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, as determined by the other requirements below;
2. The age eligibility requirement of being at least fifty (50) years old, since all documentation indicates that it was constructed 65 years ago in 1950;
3. The integrity requirement since, as revealed during the May 1st Heritage Review Committee meeting, it appears to possess all elements of integrity rather than just the two (2) required by code. These types of integrity are: location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship;
4. The condition requirement, since, as noted during the Heritage Review Committee meeting, the property appears to have been maintained in excellent condition; and
5. The category requirement, since the documentation provided indicates that the property may satisfy one, some, or all of the following categories as outlined in OMC 18.12.080:
B. Embodies the distinctive architectural characteristics of post-war, Modern construction,
C. Is an outstanding work of the firm of Wohleb & Wohleb, particularly firm associate Gordon Stacey Bennett, and/or
E. Is significantly connected with the lives of Trueman Leopold and Virginia Aetzel Schmidt, both well-known members of prominent local families.
As a result, staff recommends that the Heritage Commission recommend approval of the proposed designation under the criteria category or categories that they believe best reflect the property's significance.
The Heritage Commission previously considered this property for heritage designation at its January 28, 2015 meeting, when the Commission was consulted by the Department of Archaeology and Historic Places (DAHP) on its nomination for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). As a result of that discussion, the Commission made a recommendation to DAHP that the property be listed on the NRHP. Also as a result of the group's appreciation of her initiative and scholarship in submitting Olympia's first-ever NRHP nomination for a mid-century residence, the Commission presented Ms. Danner with a 2015 Preservation Award at the May 19, 2015 meeting of the City Council.
Following tonight's public hearing, the Heritage Commission's recommendation will be presented to the City Council at its June 16, 2015 meeting.