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An Alternative Proposal to Save St. Paul’s. Presented to the Garden City Board of Trustees By the Committee to Save St. Paul’s & The Garden City Historical Society 6/29/2010. A reasonable and affordable plan to preserve St. Paul’s for public use. Why Save St. Paul’s?.
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An Alternative Proposal to Save St. Paul’s Presented to the Garden City Board of Trustees By the Committee to Save St. Paul’s & The Garden City Historical Society 6/29/2010
A reasonable and affordable plan to preserve St. Paul’s for public use
Why Save St. Paul’s? • Most significant real estate in GC • Ruled by the courts a “public trust” • Cost to average taxpayer for demo approx $120/yr • What does Village get in return? • DEIS states –“Unless the Proposed Action were abandoned, there would be an unavoidable “significant adverse impact” on • Historic resources • Aesthetic resources • Community character • Cluett Hall • More consultant $$
Our Mission • To develop a reasonable, realistic and affordable plan for preservation of St. Paul’s under the following conditions: • Maintain public control • Stabilize the building • Preserve historic features where possible • Public use within the building • Prove financially acceptable to majority • Full compliance with Village Building Code • Annual cost to average taxpayer no greater than demo
Outline of Plan • Building turned over to Conservancy • Board composition to reflect entire Village • Conservancy issues 15-year bonds • Bonds backed by lease payments from Village • Basic Plan = $8,000,000 (same as demo +) • Provision for operating costs = $2,000,000 • Total = $10,000,000 • Annual cost to taxpayer less than or equal to demo
Resources Employed • Hired Bill Sullivan, formerly of Sullivan and Nickel • Respected building consultant • Intimately familiar with building • Limit basic plan to $8 million • Consulted with public finance experts and experts in municipal law • Hired architect well-versed in historic preservation and code compliance • Consulted with The Garden City Historical Society and other community groups
Our Plan • Complete preservation of exterior of building • Roof, windows, pointing and masonry where necessary • Fire protection and sprinklers throughout the building • Hazmat abatement • Rehabilitation of major rooms on first floor • Rehabilitation of the chapel • Seal off upper floors for possible future use • Full compliance with all building codes – • The Existing Building Code of NYS, 2007 (EBC) • The Building Code of NYS, 2007 (BC) • The Fire Code of NYS, 2007 (FC) • All other applicable documents
Construction Schematics & Costs Bill Sullivan
Questions re Construction Costs • Current figures vs August 2004 • Difference between private vs Village • Ellis Hall • Timeline
Structure and Financing Frank McDonough
Outline of Financial Plan • Establish Conservancy • Transfer of building ownership • Village owns land • Assumptions on demo cost $5.8 + $2.2= $8 • Demo finance period – 10 years(see chart) • Reduced scope restoration (see chart) • Restoration + Operating Costs(see chart) • Prior Experience and Meeting with HDW
Benefits of Conservancy • Speed of procurement • Significant cost savings – 15% - 30% • Rapid start up • Tax deductible contributions • Access to multiple grants
Other Considerations • Private fundraising • Grant Opportunities • Ellis Hall • Possible Uses and additional funds • “The Garden City Community Arts & Recreation Center”
A viable plan to preserve St. Paul’s • Protects the structure for current & future use • Maintains Village control • Provides for public use • Costs no more than demolition • adaptive re-use for an historic building • Preserves a priceless treasure • Let’s get info out on Websites • QUESTIONS
If we all join together …we can make this work… and the residents will embrace it!