PRECM 01-11-1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-6- MA: The building has been examined very closely by the City's Building Inspector, and one of the things we're talking about, we talked about it nearly a year ago, was the possibility of razing the building. Right now it's extremely hazardous and we're afraid that somebody's going to get hurt. The building has been set fire to on two different occasions and I would say it's probably ~-0 to 50 to 60~ destroyed. Almost the entire inside of the building has been gutted by fire most of the timbers have been burned through, again approximately 50/,The Building Inspector stated that the building is, well, theoretically possible to be renovated. I would be extremely expensive and it's my recommendation that we would not attempt to rehabilitate the building. I question whether or not it's quite that old. From what I've been told, it's not. It's somewhere more in the vacinity of 50 to 60 years old. -And it, I think, should be destroyed. I see no hope in renovating it. I don't know if we did succeed in renovating it how significant it would be in that particular site and expecially in its condition......we have approximately 3 years to go before we can go in and do any work on that site. We spent almost $2000 in an attempt to block it up with 6" concrete blocks and stell reinforced doors and within probably 12 months all the block was knocked out, the doors were broken down with crow bars, boulders, you name it. There's literally nothing left of what we did to try to secure that building. It's very dangerous. JS: Okay. If ther's no further questions from the Council, Mr. Simon is in the rear of the room standing. Ken, do you have any comments you'd like to make with regard to the Ramsey County section or the whole park2 KS: Well, I guess just a general comment. One of the issue .......was;:: whether or not the Council and the City wishes to see the park remain classified as a Regional Park. ......more or less agreed upon at one time when Metro Council identif ied it, both sites together, as a Regional Park. Its .........of significance...... capable of being classified as a Regional Park. To accept that classification you also accept the ..........that Metro feels should be in a Regirn al Park, such Regional Parks being located on ....a major body of water, a body of water that can facilitate active water recreation.....would have water access - fishing, swimming, canoing, those types of activity. The second classifi- tion also then for qualifying for receiving Metropolitan funds. Basically the development of the while facility as I recall is xomewhere between 1 and 2 million dollars. The County portion requires very little money for development.......a site that's not used very intensively. A nature center......the whole county park side is oriented to that nature center. And basically then will have a physical trail associated with it a camp ground. I know Councilman Werdeschegg ............about the term ball field, the term camp ground here has the same connotation, basically, an open area of grass where people would come and camp with thents and they would be under the supervision of the Director of the Nature Center. These areas work with the Nature Center on its programs, while they're at them as well as enjoy the educational benefits of being involved. So most of the money .......wil go to the-New Brighton City park side and I guess you have to then decide whether or not you want to qualify for Metropolitan funds. Whether or not you want to continue to