Letter to the Editor: Let a contractor weigh in on what's possible, and affordable with Wayne Hotel

Note: The following letter continues the conversation in the local media between Kay Hegge, chair of the Prairie Skyline Preservation Board of Directors, and Crookston Mayor Dave Genereux and City Administrator Aaron Parrish, regarding the fate of the former Palace/Wayne Hotel building downtown.
   

Dear Mayor Genereux and City Administrator, Aaron Parrish: 
   

The analysis of the architect's estimate within your response of August 26, 2010 was incorrect.  Abatement of hazardous materials was clearly included, and related work, such as disposal, are assumed and included within the estimate.  We realize there are structural issues to be addressed, and an allowance was made for this.  Ultimately, further investigation will be required to refine an estimate.  However, based on the information currently available, we feel this is a very reasonable statement of the potential costs to stabilize the building.
   

As far as implementing the stabilization, we suggest leaving that up to experienced contractors.  Our question is why hasn’t the City Council and staff investigated thoroughly the costs on such an important anchor building as the Palace Hotel?
   

In addition to the above, the County Board just turned down an opportunity for a free engineer’s assessment as to the structural integrity of the Hotel Wayne.  The City could encourage the County to accept this offer from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the safety of the citizens.
   

For many of us fifteen and twenty-five years ago are like yesterday.  Those “old” twenty year old block grants were only to improve the image of the downtown, a first step toward revitalization and according to the economic development literature, a necessary step.  If people hoped that beautification alone would make a difference in the downtown economy, then they were misled.  Why the City proceeded to buy the former Crookston National Bank building, demolish the American Legion building and the one next to it and relocate businesses before having all the funding in place for the Wayne project is an old mystery.  Another mystery is why did the City give up the entire funding package when only one funder didn’t come through?   Why didn’t the City stay on track and complete their task?   We need to be more careful before tearing down buildings today and work on maintaining our unique downtown historic buildings for tomorrow. 
   

Since those past efforts, it appears that nothing else has been done downtown.  No new events have developed.  No effort toward creating investment incentives over the years despite many phone calls to staff.  There has been no grant writing, and no task force to improve the situation.  We know there have some efforts at planning over the years.    How will we grow downtown if we don’t do something right in the center of downtown?
  

Your letter states: “This next generation of uses cannot solely rely on non-income producing uses such as art centers, pavilions, government offices, and visitor centers.”  You are right. Please don’t imply that the ideas presented are the sole savior to downtown Crookston.  No one person or one idea will save downtown and that is why our first letter we suggested to go ahead and combine these ideas in any way that works for you.  The literature says that the “next generation” of ideas will come from the creative class and the spin-off businesses created by them. The ideas we presented have been successfully accomplished in other communities.  If the City does not do something now, Thief River Falls will grab onto the arts haven idea and beat Crookston to it.  Even McIntosh is planning an arts center.  So at the very least, include creative people like those that showed up at the Artspace visit in your “committee.”
   

The proposed “Artspace Market Survey” will show the correct number of housing units to build.  It may show that a partnership between Artspace and Metro Plains could be advantageous.
   

There are too many quiet voices in the community who have shared their opinions with our Board but are too afraid to speak out. We do our best to represent them.  I have expertise in marketing, housing, and economic development and I look forward to sharing these skills with the community now and in the future.