Landmark Commission Minutes - 07/19/20014 . \l.
MINUTES
LANDMARK COMMISSION
July 19, 2001
PRESENT:
Lin Purtle, Chairperson
■ Members
Loraine Blackwood
■
Doug James
■
Andi Holland
■
Susan Koch
■
Jim Newsom
■
Dorothy Rhone
■
David A. Clark, Director of Community Development ■ City Staff
Steve Seese, Planning Administrator ■
Karen Montgomery- Gagne, Planner III ■
Marcia McCoy, Owner, Berry Brown House ■ Guests
Dawn Murer, interested citizen ■
ABSENT:
Dick Bundy ■ Members
Ken Dowdy ■
Arthur Bea Williams ■ Council Liaison
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairperson Newsom at 3:12 p.m. The Vice
Chairperson welcomed guests Ms. McCoy and Ms. Murer.
II. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 19, 2001 MEETING MINUTES
Vice Chairperson Newsom asked if there were any comments or changes to the April
Landmark Commission minutes. Ms. Koch asked if Ms. Cayce Cleary was appointed as
the acting curator or the curator of the Kell House Museum. Ms. Holland indicated that
Ms. Cleary was appointed by the Heritage Society to be the "acting curator" and the
minutes should reflect this correction. Ms. Blackwood introduced a motion to approve the
minutes as corrected. Ms. Koch seconded the motion. The motion was approved
unanimously.
III. DISCUSSION OF THE BERRY BROWN HOUSE LANDMARK
The Vice Chairperson introduced Ms. Marcia McCoy, owner of the Berry Brown House
Landmark located at 1400 Travis Street. Ms. McCoy thanked the Landmark Commission
members for allowing her to present information on the demise of a local Wichita Falls
Landmark Commission July 19, 2001 Page 1 of 2
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Landmark. Ms. Dawn Murer stated that she represented the Preservation Alliance (non-
profit organization which assists in historic preservation) and was interested in helping to
protect the Berry Brown house from continued threats of vandalism.
Ms. McCoy provided a written and verbal history of the Berry Brown house beginning in
the 1890's when first constructed through the 1940's when, her grandfather, Mr. Berry
Brown was a local City Council member to the present situation with Faith Mission located
across the street at 14th and Travis Streets. Ms. McCoy requested assistance from the
Landmark Commission to protect the Landmark building from continued destruction as a
result of vandalism due to the proximity of the Mission.
Mr. James, Ms. Koch and Ms. Purtle indicated that the Landmark Commission does not
have the authority from City Council to provide protection to the structure. Ms. Purtle
added that the Landmark Commission assists people in designating their properties, etc.
for Landmark status or as a historic district and approves /disproves proposals for any
exterior design alterations but does not have the ability to protect a property or prevent
vandalism. Ms. Purtle empathized with Ms. McCoy's situation since the Kemp Center for
the Arts (situated diagonally across the street from the Berry Brown house and the Faith
Mission) has dealt with numerous concerns and issues that have arisen as a result of the
activity at the Mission. However, the Landmark Commission doesn't have the authority to
enforce policies and City ordinances within neighborhoods.
The Landmark Commission members suggested that Ms. McCoy should contact the
media to help inform the community of the activities in the neighborhood as a result of the
Mission and individually write the Faith Mission Board of Directors requesting to meet with
them and discuss possible options for securing the area. Ms. Purtle noted that she would
discuss these concerns regarding the Berry Brown Landmark and loitering /property
damage with the Kemp Center for the Arts Board and that she was willing to also discuss
these same issues with members of the Faith Mission Board of Directors.
X. ADJOURN
The next meeting was scheduled for Friday, July 27th at 3:00 p.m. in order to discuss the
remainder of the agenda items. The Landmark Commission was adjourned at 4:24 p.m.
Lin Purtle, Chairperson Date
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