Historic Preservation Board - Regular Meeting

All right. No, first. Angelino. Angelino. Yes.

I'm sorry. Let me get the agenda. Yes, give me just a second. Let me get. Good evening. Today is Wednesday, May 21st, 2025. We are the Village Hall Council Chambers, and we're opening the board for meeting. If you do a call order, please.

Great. We have order for business, like any additions or corrections that anyone can add, please.

Okay, public comments. The board is now open for public comments. If anybody can just step in and have any general public comments, not related to any of the item of the agenda. Otherwise, we're going to go to item number five, which is the approval of minutes for April 16, 2025. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? Second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Approved.

Yes. So we have tonight two very interesting properties for certificate of appropriateness. The first one is going to be item number 6A, which is a certificate of appropriateness for a historic property located at 622 Northeast 98th Street. The presentation is now open to microphone, please.

And we have a question regarding that. Remember? About the staff. Yes.

What's going on here with this property?

Can you identify yourself, please, and name and address?

That would cover from the front of the property, the roof is flat. It's in the rear of the property. Okay, but from the front of the property, if you say that it's going to be higher, that will conceal.

How many, do you have how many, so the whole roof is going to be like this or just what?

But my question is, this is going to be used in the house?

And you know that there's an urban legend that if you have animal prints, it's good luck.

Okay. Before any question, I would like to show a small presentation I've done for each of the certificate we have tonight. And for the records, it's going to be on the village and for the public as well to, like, Educate or inform people general about these two properties that are very special for village for the village. Okay This property 622 Northeast 98th Street It's called the Lomas house because it was the first resident it actually was designed in 1929 not as public records indicate because Miami-Dade County property appraisers has a lot of not accurate But we found on the village, and

Yes, I know, I know. But from the front, go back again, please. So from the front, the only change is the gable roof on the left.

So what that was was... Okay, but I'm talking about the front. The change of the front mostly was going to be the roof.

No, but this is the actual one. The first one is the actual one.

And you know that we have tonight precisely the chairman at that time, Mr. Castellanos. And I read the files and everything. And I thought not only this, or was it a prior one? This is the second one. I know. I knew. I knew that there was first one that only was a flat roof and then they came up with an updated. Yes. Yes. Okay.

of the house. Can you go back to the original plans? Yes, there.

Correct. Correct. Yeah. Any other question from the board? I personally would like to give you my appreciation for all the applicants that really care about our historic properties that we really love. And we've been in a crusade to make the people really love the history and the legacy of Miami Shores because it's easy to create any modern house, but these houses made with the craftsmanship at that time was not easy. Not a regular person could own these beautiful villas. And now centennial years, you know, 100 years later, they look fantastic. And adapting it to the modern world, you have to

No, I know. Just for the record, what was approved with flat roof was the back addition, not the front.

I think those little details will make it even More perfect than it is right now.

That shows your appreciation for what you have in your hands. That's very good. Thank you very much.

So the motion was to approve the project with the condition explained and approved. Perfect. So all in favor? Thank you very much and good luck with your project. Thank you. Thank you. Oops, this pen is not good. May I have another one?

OK. Perfect. This is for them? So we move to item 6B, certificate of appropriateness for the property located at 501 NE 94th Street. The applicant, please say your name and address.

And can you do the next one, the presentation? So what's going on with?

Are you reading one of the copies or it's different what we have?

Okay, I'm looking for it. The first one, I don't see it.

No, but I want to see a rendering from the front. So we can go to the front, but this is the door. See how it's too narrow?

Ah, so it's not going to be the wooden doors on the front. No, no, the gates remain.

I don't mind about the white. I have my representation. Yeah, that's a great color. And the rest?

I thought it was black in your rendering.

The original plans of the house? Correct. Where were they? Because they're not online.

The last two sheets. Before any question, I would like to have the presentation of the house that I prepared. No, but I don't think it's finished.

I think the first one is more appropriate.

Okay. I just also prepared a small presentation about the relevance of this property, and I'm happy the owners are here because are you new residents in Miami, sir? Yes. Name and address, yes.

Why buy an old house if you like modern? Exactly. It's nonsense.

That's why the request is called certificate of Appropriateness we would like to advise what is appropriate for the original architecture of the property, you know after you can see completely disregard and respect for what we've done before, so that's why some houses like this one need to be protected. The property is a really unique property, and I'm going to explain you how and why. The house was, I think, I don't know if you knew that in March was designated the Historic House of the Month. I did.

And we make this like monthly award. And this year, last year we celebrated Centennial Homes, like the one we saw before. And this year, we're celebrating houses from the 30s and 40s. And this one was selected with only 12. And this one was of the houses selected. Every month, we change it. So this house also had a prominent resident, also had a prominent architect. and prominent architecture. The architect's name was Henry van der Linde, which also he designed several houses. And the owner was Renoir. I'm going to speak a little bit about him. Look at this house. This house has so many elemen

Until last year, it was there. Okay. Yes, it was original. You have decorative chimneys. You have exposed bricks. What about the bricks, Mr. Castellanos? It's not there. It's original. What about exposed bricks? Are you going to keep it? Yes, we will keep them.

We will keep them. uh and you also have a copper portico with an amazing patina okay that that that's really special because none of the two remaining houses have them and that has it already done the next one So Lucien Renoir was a member of a prominent Miami-Dade County business family which owned Renoir Construction Company in Coral Gables and Renoir Lumber Company, one of the few early industries in Miami Shores. The company was here for 40 years, from 1925 to 1965. Imagine the house you build for yourself if you want prominent construction, the best of the best. Imagine that. So he was al

This is the picture of the Renoir Construction Company, Coral Gables, and the Renoir family in Miami Shores. So it's relevant. The property has value. And that's why we always focus on preserve the most of it, OK? Understanding, of course, that you have to adapt the interiors, like the wonderful things you're proposing to make it livable inside, but the outside, we have to respect what it is, okay? So in the designation in 1983, you can see highlight, the house already had stained glass windows. The next one, please. And this is an actual picture of that 1983, and they did have stained glass w

landing here is very very dark and it's very very hard because there's not that's a two-door house that's a two-door house i understand um but uh you know the next one please so i just found this picture of a remodeled two-door modern house and they keep they kept the stained glass windows and it's black and white and it's all you know Remodel, but they kept all the stained glass windows. So this is a perfect example how can you just bring a Tudor house to the modern colors or design respecting the regional features like the stained glass windows. The next one, please. And this is the portico

Yes, they're keeping, and it costs a lot of money. So I saw in the rendering that it was painted in black, and I said, how come they want to paint it in black?

So it was in the renderings. And also, can you see the heraldic coat of arms? That's original from the house. I'm not an expert in heraldic, but if you make a research, I guarantee that's the Renoir last name, heraldic coat of arms. So imagine the elegance. Imagine the importance of that house. That... right now is under you know value to try to preserve the maximum possible getting you the commodities of a modern world in the interiors that respect the original house because it's valuable for the whole village it's not only for owners because You know what we are? We are only temporary owners

But yours has all. I agree. The portico, the copper, everything. Because it was done for a remarkable resident.

That is not anymore, Tudor. That is not the exact, I lost all characters. So why I do this, because it's not easy for us to, To say no to somebody that comes with all their, you know, love for the new house and all the passion to create something special for the family, but there's a reason. And I explain one by one the reasons we would like you to preserve some features of the house.

Exactly. Let's go there. That's your subject. But for me... Keeping all the stained glasses is a must. Keeping the copper portico, it's a must. And I like what else, the rest that you're doing, architectural structures can be adjusted, but I think for me, These features are non-negotiable. So you don't need new glasses when it could stand hurricanes for 90 years, whatever design it is. I know maybe it's not a white Miami and clear house, but This is a two-door house.

It's like a Victorian house. So if you buy a Victorian house, you have to enter with lanterns because it's all dark. But you purchase it. I know, of course.

What about the wood inside? Are you keeping the wood? You know what they do all the time? White. Let's paint all the... The first thing I was like, well, you know, Yes, solid, solid. They own a lumber company. Imagine what kind of wood is that.

You can you can keep the report and give it to all your guests and say hey This is what we have right now. So this was my opinion Now I open the board for comments and questions for both, please

I don't know what. I think that is there.

What about the railings? This is just for rendering purposes, right? Correct.

The iron work, of the Tudor house is just art. So you can have the opportunity to have some embellishment just with that balcony that people will say, wow, what a great art. You know, you have the same inside. But that's why I say no, it has to be rendered because it's too modern.

No, you proposed some picture you found online.

I like that. That's a common ground. I like that.

Maybe the same design but with clear glass.

The only window that we agree to change is the one above the stairs to be replaced with the same design but with clear glass.

This is sharpening a pencil for this house.

But this is a two-door house. There's never light. They're like this.

No, but keeping the same stained glass, but clear. Then you have a lot of glass. It's a good compromise.

That will give you time to decide what design you want, study several options and then come back, oh look, we decide this design, not make something rush right now.

It's not paper, is the actual? It's paper. No, that's not paper.

The last one, no. All the stained glass windows remain original except the one above the stairs that can be replaced with stained glass windows in clear.

Because you guys were asking if it's still there. The weather vane.

I'll be cool. You can you can find one in like the same thing. I have seen them.

Well, this was long because the house has great details. Yes. Every little corner is a detail.

Please, I think, please. While you change it, you know, it's a completely different house. The original two doors were white. Were white.

So I'm looking at him, he starts stepping on it, and I'm like, no, it's clay. No, mi amor, mira, no le cambiaron el pitch.

Just for your information, now that you're residents of a historic home, We would like to invite you to all the activities we have. This is a very active historic board like never before, like in 30 years. We do exhibits and walking tours that finishes with drinks and people. Yes, all the time. And we make friends, and we make a lot of friends. We are like a very neighbor community, and we just share all the experiences we have with our houses, Mediterranean and the other one, Mid-Center, and that creates like a conversational... Excellent friendship, and we are very, very involved to protect

But you got one of the best. He's doing a great job. He's worth it. He used to be chair of the school. He was the chair, yes.

Do we have a motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness for 501 Norris 94th Street with the conditions explained here? Second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Approve and good luck with your project.

Christmas. Christmas there. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Have a good night. Bye. Have a good night.

This house just took long because it was...

I'm here, okay. So number seven, discussion and possible discussion item, the Historic Preservation Board report. Do you all receive this report by the staff?

As soon as we have it, he can just like. Correct. Once it's ready, you let her know. I'll let Isabelle know because I would like to have, you know.

Exactly so to say who I would like to be exposing it as well with the powerpoint presentation like this I have it so it's gonna be

Can you summarize a whole year of hard work? Absolutely.

I think we're getting a nice email database with all the attendees for the past years. Yeah, so that database will be a great opportunity to keep increasing all the attendees every year for the events. And I read that you promised in November another activity.

Yes, I agree with you because once a year in May, it's like too long. Yeah. And we would like to have at least twice a year. November is nice. And November is cooler and people is not yet into December, you know, holidays. And there's a specific. No, we haven't decided nothing yet.

Okay, anyhow, if there's nothing to say. Okay, so do I have a motion to adjourn the meeting? All in favor? Aye. Meeting adjourned. Thank you. Jerefree. Jerefree. You're Jerefree. Look, Jerefree. Jerefree. I don't know why. Oh, Daniel doesn't either. Oh, my God. Bye, bye, bye. Bye.