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TO: Historic Preservation Commission
FROM: Stacey Hageman
RE: Meeting of June 18, 2020
DATE: June 10, 2020
ITEM 5: Work at 3637 Holdrege Street
Mary Belka is completing work at her property at 3637 Holdrege Street in the East Campus
Landmark District. The Belkas have already replaced the cedar shake roof with asphalt shingles.
They plan to replace all the windows (except for one that’s already been replaced). They are creating
a basement entrance at the rear of the house and are restoring the original covered porch at the
northeast corner. The Belkas will also be installing egress windows along with extensive landscaping.
Plans, elevations, and renderings are attached. Also find two letters of support attached. Ms. Belka
will attend your meeting to describe their efforts in more detail.
Recommended finding: The proposed work is consistent with the preservation guidelines of
the District and benefits the preservation of this house.
Recommended action: Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness.
F:\Boards\HPC\HPCReports\REPORTS\2020\06_June\Item5_Memo.docx
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Stacey L. Hageman
From: Lisa Warren <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2020 12:33 PM
To: Stacey L. Hageman
Cc: Mary Belka
Subject: Mary Belka property
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
[CAUTION] This email comes from a sender outside your organization.
Hello Stacey,
My name is Lisa Warren and I have been a neighbor and friend of Mary Belka for many years. We grew up together on N. 37th
St. and still live across the street from one another as we both returned to our childhood homes about 12 years ago.
I am thrilled that Mary & Alan Belka purchased the property at the corner of N. 37th & Holdrege Sts. This property has been
neglected for over 10+ years. Within a week of their closing, you could already see drastic improvements in cleanup of the
exterior surroundings. I have not seen their comprehensive plan of the rehab, but don’t think I need to. I know they will do
right by the rehab of this house and follow all guidelines as best they can.
Below are some of the points that have formed my opinion:
• Mary is very protective of the East Campus neighborhood and wants to maintain its integrity to help provide a nice
neighborhood in which we live.
• Mary understands the importance of the Historic Preservation Commission and wants to adhere to their guidelines.
• Mary has rehabbed several properties in the East Campus area over the past few years and has done a stellar job in
trying to keep our neighborhood looking better and attracting new home owners.
• Mary was past President of the East Campus Community Organization (ECCO) and accomplished a lot for our
neighborhood. She currently holds the office of VP and continues her good work for our community.
Because our neighborhood is about 50% rental property, we are constantly trying to maintain a safe and lovely living
environment as we co-exist with rentals, many to students, who have absentee landlords. Often, the landlords
don’t maintain their properties, enforce the rules with their renters (example-many homes have more than 3
unrelated people living in 1 household,) don’t know about the loud music and parties we have to contend with ‘til
the wee hours of the morning, many cars parking in our neighborhood due to numerous tenants, etc.
• Mary has experience navigating the process of working positively with both homeowners & rental properties in our
neighborhood. She was a critical link when the AGR fraternity enlarged their frat house and parking lot about 8-9
years ago. It was a win/win for all parties due to Mary’s efforts. We lost several single-family homes so that AGR
could enlarge their parking lot, but we negotiated for a wall surrounding that parking lot which they gave ECCO, and
she also encouraged AGR to give us green space as a buffer to the property directly east of their frat house, which is
the home that Mary & Alan just purchased! I don’t doubt for a minute that AGR would have loved to purchase that
house to knock it down for an addition to their frat house or enlarge their parking lot. So, Mary & Alan are in
keeping with the Historic Preservation ideals of maintaining homes in our neighborhood.
I thoroughly support Mary & Alan’s preservation efforts as they restore this property. I have full confidence that they will abide
by the guidelines and give the ECCO neighborhood another great home in Central Lincoln.
Sincerely,
Lisa Warren
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P.S. The front sidewalk of this property has had a deep hole in one cement square for many years. I am surprised that no one
has broken an ankle, as I have tripped on it several times. If it is the city’s responsibility to maintain all city sidewalks in Lincoln,
this needs to be tended to as soon as possible.
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Stacey L. Hageman
From: Gale W <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2020 8:20 PM
To: Stacey L. Hageman
Subject: Belka Property at 3637 Holdrege St., Lincoln, NE 68503
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
[CAUTION] This email comes from a sender outside your organization.
Dear Stacey,
I am writing to give my professional opinion on the proposed work at the above property, recently purchased by Mary
and Alan Belka.
I have been a professional interior designer for the last 27 years in Los Angeles until returning to Lincoln in 2013,
where I practice today. While I am called an Interior Designer, my work includes exteriors, site improvements, color
consulting and historic residential buildings.
The plans to improve not only the residence listed above, but also enhance this Historic neighborhood, is in capable
hands. The Belkas jumped in and worked on landscaping that was harming the home. In addition, the Belkas and I
met to discuss the visual integrity of the exterior of the home, and I am thrilled they have "saved" this home. Each
decision has been considered to not only save the structure, but also bring the home back to its former glory, as this was
the private residence of the man who planned and built many homes in what is now called "Professor's Row".
I grew up in this neighborhood just a few houses down, and chose to return to this neighborhood because of its historic
significance and the general pride expressed in the way the homeowners care for their property. While I was not living
in Lincoln, Mary Eisenhart Belka worked tirelessly as a member of the East Campus Community Organization, as well
as her understanding and involvement in the Historic Preservation Commission.
My rule of thumb is to ask "What is the HOUSE asking for". The colors of the exterior, the new energy efficient
windows, the renovation of the original structure is what is needed. The Belkas are right on track.
Because the adjacency of this home to a Fraternity House and East Campus, it would be an easy mark for landlords
looking to crowd as many students inside a rental as possible, without a care about what the exterior looks like, as has
happened in this Historic neighborhood before.
I heartily support the decisions chosen and the work done thus far to save this home, and believe really is a "gateway"
to the neighborhood.
Thank you for your kind attention,
Gale Warren
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Stacey L. Hageman
From: Max Mueller <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2020 11:31 AM
To: Stacey L. Hageman
Subject: 3637 Holdrege Street
[CAUTION] This email comes from a sender outside your organization.
Dear Stacey L. Hageman--
I write to enthusiastically support Mary Eisenhart (Belka)'s proposal to restore and update 3637 Holdrege Street.
My wife, Anna Bromberg, and I live at 1411 N. 37th Street, across from Mary's primary residence.
I'm sure you know that there is no better booster and preservationist of the East Campus neighborhood than Mary. She grew up
on the street--and in the house that she currently lives and has made into the gem of the block. She isn't the only person to have
left the area, only to return to the neighborhood where she grew up and dedicate significant efforts (and money) to preserving
the historic character of the the neighborhood. The Warren sisters (Gale and Lisa) did so, too. I'm sure you'll hear from them,
too. Like Mary, the Warrens have made their homes beautiful and historic.
When we moved to the neighborhood in July 2016, Mary, Gale, Lisa, and all our neighbors welcomed us--thankful that a young
family had moved to the neighborhood to continue the tradition of raising families on this historic block and working to preserve
its historic value. Mary has served as a mentor and guide in this work, as my wife and I work to restore and improve our home,
inside and out. She also has an encyclopedic memory of all the histories of each of the houses on our block and the various
families who have lived there. She even knows the trees. One day last year, when she came over to my backyard to consult on
some planting I was doing in my garden, Mary told me that she remembered when the fir trees that currently rise 100 feet into
the sky between Gale Warren and our house were just seedlings! (Not to "date" Mary here. But to show how well she knows the
area).
We are honored to be part of this "caretaker" tradition.
Mary is the most important of the neighborhood caretakers and preservationists.
Without her, we'd likely have a parking lot at the south end of the block for Farmhouse. Without her, the house we live in would
have likely been turned into a college rental. Without her, the house to the north of us on our side of 37th street would have
remained a run-down rental. Instead, it's being lovingly updated by Brian and Catherine Lee.
And without her, the property in question 3637 Holdrege Street, would have also been turned into a parking lot for AGR--or at
least extreme pressure would have been put on perhaps even your office to allow that exemption.
Mary has shared with us her plans to restore and update the exterior of the home. Of course, I defer to you and your office's
expertise. But from what I see, Mary proposes changes that will restore the character of this great home for decades to come.
Without any reservation, and with heartfelt support, I ask you to approve the proposals.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.
Max Perry Mueller
and Anna Miriam Bromberg
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To help protect your privacy, Micro so ft Office prevented automatic download of
this pictu re from the In ternet.
Max Perry Mueller Assistant Professor | Undergraduate Advisor
Author, Race and the Making of the Mormon People (The University of North Carolina Press)
Co-founder, religionandpolitics.org
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Department of Classics & Religious Studies
331D Louise Pound Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0337
