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September 1, 1999
Survey ofhistoricpropertiesapprovedBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- Historic properties on the north side of town need only the approval of the city council, and they will be declared landmarks. The Heritage Preservation Commission members last week gave their approval for Hoisington Preservation Consultants of Roseville to conduct a survey of historic resources for New Ulm. The survey will cost $11,000. The recommendation will come before the City Council on Sept. 7. The commission chose Hoisington because, for the price, more time will be devoted to the project and there will be more valuable information available at project's conclusion. The commission members are also familiar with his work, commission member Jim Bodine said. "We never have the final say," Bodine said. "It is up to the city council, but we will recommend Hoisington for the project." Daniel Hoisington of Roseville, who submitted the proposal, has a basic understanding of the history of New Ulm and has three large binders filled with basic research information needed for the study. During the study, he has walked the north side streets to gather an understanding of the area under consideration. After the project begins, Hoisington will meet with officials and show slides of particular properties, allowing for input from audience members regarding past owners, changes and other events associated with the structures. In order to qualify for historic designation status, the building must be at least 50 years old. Included in the area being considered for the study is the Boesch-Hummel-Maltzahn block in downtown New Ulm, which has already been recognized by being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If approved by the city council, the field survey portion of the project will be completed as early as Nov. 1. The research portion will be completed by March 2000, and the final report ready by June 1, 2000, Hoisington said. The decision came during a meeting last week, when Jon Hartley of Lafayette, the owner of the Brown County Poor Farm property, approached the commission with a plan for how he intends to proceed with preservation and restoration of the building. Hartley's proposal was submitted to the state and approved by state preservation officials. The commission agreed to authorize the property for designation as a local landmark and will turn the matter over to the City Council for final approval. Bodine also reported that he is still in the process of locating a site for development of a library of research materials for buildings that have been declared landmarks or are on the proposed landmark designation list. There are two possible sites for the library. One is at the public library, in a special section set aside for that purpose, and the other location is at the Brown County Historical Society building. "The Historical Society would make sense, because that is where people visiting town would expect to find historic materials," Commission Member Pete McClurg said. "These materials are specifically related to research that have been conducted on current designated buildings and those that are proposed." During the meeting, City Councilor Joel Albrecht resigned as the council advisor for the Heritage Preservation Commission, because of a scheduling conflict. "It has nothing to do with the commission, its work, or any of the members," Albrecht said. "I helped start the commission and have been on it since it began. The meeting night conflicts with other obligations."
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