5.2 HPSR 07-16-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Elk River Jackson Street Water Tower Condition Assessment July 1,2015 CDG Project #15010.00 INTRODUCTION The Jackson Street Water Tower was built in 1920 by the Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company as part of a water works project that developed a fire protection program for the City of Elk River. The Water Tower consists of a 100,000 gallon tank on a four leg, lattice-girder trestle tower and stands approximately 129 feet tall. The Tower is currently coated with paint that is assumed to be lead-based, and displays a non-historic City of Elk River logo, which differs from the original silver tank and red conical roof. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 23, 2012. The City of Elk River and the Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission have plans to restore this structure. The intent of this Condition Assessment is to provide an understanding of the required restoration work, along with the associated costs. SCOPE OF REPORT Review of Documents Available documents regarding the Jackson Street Water Tower were limited, but the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form was reviewed to gain an understanding of the structure's construction and history. This paperwork informed us that kVi o besides cleaning and painting of the Water Tower, no alterations had been made to the structure since its construction. - F Discussions with City of Elk River Personnel The Jackson Street Water Tower is an iconic „"`Wi=t f t landmark, and provides an important piece of the identity and heritage of the City of Elk River. The historic paint colors were silver for • the main structure and tank, and red for the sloped roof. Simple black lettering spelled out "Elk River' on the side of the tank. , The water tank structure was constructed in 1920 by the Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Company. The tank was constructed initially ' as a response to the many fires that occurred in the downtown area. These fires were difficult to fight since the railroad line created a barrier between the downtown and the river. After the construction of newer water tanks in other locations, the Jackson Street Water Tower was de-commissioned in 1960. «. 2 `COLLABORATIVE I)esignGroup,;n�.