Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 06/10/2021

Home

Sustaining Our Legacy The Future of Ramsey Town Hall RETROFIT RETROFIT: OTH REMAINS AT CURRENT LOCATION Keeping the Old Ramsey Town Hall in its current location has benefits and drawbacks By remaining where it is, the OTH can remain on the National Register, connect Ramsey to ((=.its rural past, and potentially contribute to a thriving business community. However, 1 the location is developed on all sides, leaving no room for expansion or parking. it Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings.ff —Jane Jacobs, author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities PRECEDENTS Weaver Schoolhouse Weaver, MN — Residential Formerly a one -room schoolhouse serving Weaver and the surrounding area, the building was renovated in 2008 and turned into a private residence. The adaptive reuse of the building won a Stewardship Award at the Minnesota Preservation Awards for its efforts. it drive by the Old Town Hall every day, and I think that building is so awesome and I want to see life. ff —Shannon Potter Emy Frentz Arts Guild Mankato, MN — Community A historic local church was renovated and turned into the Emy Frentz Arts Guild. The building serves as the home of a local arts nonprofit, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts, and provides gallery and rental space for community events. "The historical significance of the property is something that we would like to display. History is always something that should be remembered. ff —Tara Gattner Anoka State Hospital Anoka, MN - Public Housing Formerly a state mental health campus, the old buildings have been abandoned for years. A plan to begin renovation of the property for adaptive reuse as housing for homeless veterans began this fall and will continue over a ten-year period. BENEFITS ono Stays on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) By remaining where it is, the building stays on the National Register. This means that the building is eligible for state and federal grant funding and tax benefits that it would lose access to if moved. The following resources are available for building=: on the NRHP. Most stipulated work has to follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. • MN Historic Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit • Preservation Alliance of MN Heritage Partnershi Program • MN Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants • Certified Local Government Grants through the Historic Preservation Fund Location St. Francis Boulevard is a busy arterial road. The building will have prime access to clients when the building is re -purposed. The area is zoned for small business developments, keeping the surrounding businesses on a similar scale. Connection to Ramsey's rural roots The current location is near Ramsey's border with Anoka; the school served families from both communities. Keeping the building here helps explain how early -twentieth-century rural communities depended on each other. Save money With no relocation costs to consider, the city will only need to cover the costs of renovation and maintenance. Foster a thriving local business community Old spaces are key to fostering new creative endeavors in communities. Nonprofits, startup businesses, and arts communities all create spaces where creative ideas can grow and flourish. Ramsey has the ability to capitalize on that. VS DRAWBACKS Lack of parking The site has no space for added parking. It is surrounded by businesses on either side and a busy highway to which it has only indirect access. A private driveway and a large wetland further constrain parking options. The lack of parking makes finding a business that would be able to thrive more difficult. • Funding constraints Being on the National Register means there are constraints on what may be done to the building. For example, changing the outward appearance of the building would not be permitted. Signage added to the building for business purposes would have to be freestanding and not affect the facade of the building. No room for expansion The site constraints mean there is no possibility of expansion or growth. Any future occupant would be locked into using the building as is. Taking into account these considerations, there are still many opportunities for the property to be put to good use. With a few business proposals already received by the City, we will explore possibilities for the property in its current location. PA521 1: Land Use Planning / Instructor: Fernando Burga PhD. Mary Cutrufello, Katriona Molasky, Amy Van Gessel t.N. N.�.ev,tf o:r :a w [Ppm.., City of RAMSEY