5.1 HPSR 01-16-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jackson Street Water Tower • The Jackson Street Water Tower (circa 1920) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Since that time, the HPC has worked to increase public awareness of this historical structure with a 3D model and printed materials of the tower's history at schools, environmental workshops,messaging on the city website and at city open house events. The HPC is actively seeking funds to restore the tower. The surface assessment indicated the presence of lead paint which would have to be removed prior to repainting. The Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants office indicated that a structural assessment would also be required to determine its structural stability. Repainting and correcting any structural and/or safety code issues is n estimated to be in excess of$400,000. The HPC needs to determine if this is a feasible project and if so,what each phase of the restoration process will include. Mississippi Connections Redevelopment Framework As reported last year, E ' cer began planning for future develo. of its a , - 4 2006 The�itouncil c a Talk Force to creat€�� lan for th do , . .ter °• � \ \ % \.. ii// ./iii/ The mission statement of- Task Fx'• ;: 'rce is: To develop g,comprehensz? lan that will redefine% `greater downtown area to reserve zt historical character wh," ro ang the fu. viability of the comsuIdnity. The Mississippi Connectzins Study�ea'sumsariies the ob"ves,f ose and znte of the Plan. ,,, �%i It iS the cornerstone of the co ununity. The Re relop. t Framewo les the blueprint for r III creating an enviro esesnt and culture that enco es nvadfreinvestment. This will be characterized by robust busu ess clime, strong affordab jre 7g l neigh rhoods, diverse recreational opportunities, an agreed upon transportation franiewor ,ecognit on of its historical place, and enl jcing opportunities for commun. connection. s 0146 , /Y Thy.p P e�udes a histc� .,, section , Itch includes prese ,, g the history of Elk Ri �and its building to further communicate our link to the past. Other sections in the plan discuss preservation of the "Brick Block", the Jackson Street Water Tower, establishment of historic residential neighborhood districts, and the development of interpretive signage highlighting historic occurrences along the Mississippi and Elk River trail system. The plan was approved by the City Council in November 2012 and is currently being incorporated into the 2014 Comprehensive Plan update. History Day The HPC held a History Day Celebration on June 15, 2013, in conjunction with ArtSoup, a local art appreciation event hosted by the Elk River Area Arts Alliance, and the archaeological dig at Bailey Point Nature Reserve. The event was coordinated to provide a fun and interactive educational opportunity for all ages to learn about history of Elk River. Held at the historic Handke Pit, the day included a Civil War reenactment, a fashion show, a parade and the sale of memorial bricks to help fund the Elk River 411 Water Tower Restoration Project. 3