9.b Version3_SHA_City Proposal slidesThe Water Tower Barn
SCANDIA ARTS & HERITAGE CENTER
Proposal to the City of Scandia
By the Scandia Heritage Alliance
Scandia Heritage Alliance (SHA)
•Board: Susan Rodsjo (President), Leila
Denecke, John Herman, Christine
Maefsky, Sarah Porubcansky, Pam Smith
•Metro State Capstone Student, Public &
Nonprofit Administration: Kelly Knapp
Who are we?
2016
SHA was initiated
March 2018
SHA was Incorporated
March 2019
SHA’s 501(c)(3) status is
approved
•Advocate for preservation
and renovation of historic
structures and landscapes
•Educate the community
about our cultural heritage
•Promote arts and culture
•Foster appreciation for our history
and cultural heritage:
•First Swedish immigrants
•Ties to St. Croix River
•Early center of immigrant agriculture
and mercantile business
Scandia Heritage Alliance
Mission
A site to celebrate the arts & cultural
heritage of Scandia by providing an
inclusive center and amphitheater that will
host arts and heritage exhibitions, provide
stage space for small productions, and be
available as a gathering space.
The Water Tower Barn:
Scandia Arts & Heritage Center
The Water Tower Barn: Scandia Arts & Heritage Center
Proposed Location: “South Community Commons”
Presentation Overview
Susan Rodsjo, SHA Board President
•Proposed location
•Future vision for Scandia
•Scandia’s current assets
John Herman, Esq., SHA Board Member
•How to make community arts & heritage
amenities a reality
Peter Hilger, AIA –Architect
•Report on site assessments and draft site plan
Susan Rodsjo, SHA Board President
•Project Phases
•Request to City Council
•Why this project?
Vision for Scandia and
our current assets
Susan Rodsjo, SHA Board President
Vision for Scandia
•Our Comprehensive Plan –
4 overarching goals
•SHA Support
•Scandia will grow –how?
•Establishing a
“Sense of Place” –
Community Character
Vision: Community Character
IS THIS A TOWN
YOU WOULD LIKE
TO VISIT –or CALL
HOME??
Vision: Community Character
The Goal:
Change that
preserves and
reinforces our
rural character
and enhances
the livability of
our community
Scandia, MN
Population approx. 4,000
Scandia
Gammelgården Museum
Scandia
Historic sites
Scandia
Historic Mercantile
Scandia –Historic churches and cemetery
Nuts and bolts:
How to make community arts
& heritage amenities a reality
John Herman, Esq.,
Herman Real Estate Advisors
Scandia’s attributes
45 minutes from both downtowns
Unspoiled rural character
Unique historical offerings
Extraordinary outdoor recreation
Beyond sewer extension boundary for 4-5
decades –limits density
2019 legislative success: Changing state law to
allow for earlier development of Gateway Trail
The Goal:
Change that
preserves and
reinforces our
rural character
and enhances
the livability of
our community
Why haven’t we seen more cultural and
recreational development, downtown
vitality, tourism services, and B&Bs?
How can a small city make things happen?
LEARN FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES
The Goal:
Change that
preserves and
reinforces our
rural character
and enhances
the livability of
our community
So…
Learning from other cities
Lanesboro, MN –population 732
A largely vacant downtown & declining
population in the 1970s
Root River Trail built in early 1980s
Now --a regional tourist draw with a
revitalized downtown, community
playhouse, multiple restaurants & shops,
over 30 B&Bs, & a community art center
Small city in Otter Tail
County
Once a declining
population and no identity
Now -An art and cultural
center and Finnish farm
museum has made it a
destination
Learning from other cities:
New York Mills, MN –population 1,224
Tools to make it happen
Grant programs balance funding between large & small cities
Regional collar cities are consistent grant funding recipients
Land contribution can count as a city funding match
Private funding sources exist
Public funding typically competitive. Here are examples:
Funding Options
Metropolitan Council Livable Communities for local placemaking,
such as connectivity, streetscaping, community gathering places,
$100-$500,000
Land and Water Conservation funding for local parks, recently
reauthorized by Congress
Legacy Funding –Minnesota Grants for the arts and for historical
preservation and interpretation –a few thousand for planning
to over $100,000 for restoration
Local foundations, such as the Hugh J. Andersen
Foundation focusing on the St. Croix River Valley
Funding Options
Community Innovation Grants –e.g., Bush Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts grants
Special state legislative appropriations:
•Trail funding line item (bonding or general fund) to provide key
linkages in the City
•State Bonding for historical redevelopment costs
Architect’s Report &
Recommendations
Peter Hilger, AIA
A. Peter Hilger, AIA -Architect
Faculty Director, U of M College of Continuing and Professional Studies, Construction
and Facility Management Program, April 2011-Present
Principal, Rylaur LLC, 2006 –Present
President and Architect, Rosewood/Portfolio, 1991 –2006
Founded the firm in 1991 for the purpose of providing Design/Build services for
commercial,industrial, educational and childcare clients across the country, with
offices in St. Paul, Eau Claire,and Wausau, Wisconsin
Related Experience: Planned the historic James J. Hill North Oaks Farm restoration:
Included restoring historic Creamery and preparing a wide-ranging Park and
Recreation master plan for the North Oaks Homeowners’ Association
Possible Sites: Lion’s Park at Hay Lake
Pros: Adequate Space for Water Tower Barn & near existing historic
assets
Cons: Long distance to village center, dimensions and location are
better suited for T-ball, U12 soccer, or lacrosse, could better serve a
recreational need
Possible Sites: Old Fire Hall
Pros: Connection to future Gateway Trail, adaptive re-use of
building as the arts center, proximity to Community Center
Cons: Loss of real estate asset for other uses, proximity to
Meister’s and residential area (noise, parking), views of Water
Tower Barn would be blocked by the old Fire Hall in front
Possible Sites: Oakhill T-Ball Field
Pros: Close to
Community Center
(via trail)
Cons: Elevation issues
causing poor visibility of
historic building, close
proximity to adjacent
residences (if used for
amphitheater site).
Possible Sites: Community Center
Pros: Proximity to Community Center and parking, best views
of tower, access to Gammelgården
Cons: Relocation of skating rink and warming house
(expense), limits potential expansion of Community Center,
hard to place all assets of the project within this area
Possible Sites: South Olinda Ballfield –
“South Commons”
Pros: Proximity to Community Center and Gammelgården,
excellent visibility of tower from all angles, ideal landscape for
amphitheater, screened by tall hill, natural beauty
Cons: Possible need to relocate baseball field, surrounded by
wetlands (mosquitos?),
some woodland
thinning needed,
need to test soils
South Commons: The Ideal Site
Visibility of Tower
One location for barn and amphitheater
Access to the Scandia Community Center & Gammelgården
Access to the future
Gateway Trail
Adequate distance and
screening from residential
properties
Close proximity and same
street as original barn site
ideal topography and
scenic landscape for an
amphitheater
Issues to Resolve First
Potential relocation of ballfield
Soil testing to determine if location is suitable for:
Building support
Storm-water management
Septic system installation
Proposed Site Plan
Site Proposal: Water Tower Barn (#1)
Site Proposal: Water Tower Barn (#1)
Site Proposal: Amphitheater (#2) & Berm (#3)
Site Proposal: Arts & Visitor Center (#4)
Site Proposal: Parking (#5)
•Utilize existing curb-cut access
•Wind driveway to a curved parking area
•Accommodate 26-30 cars
•Consider pervious pavement for runoff
•Consider setbacks from the wetland --may
affect final layout.
•Additional parking available at the Community
center
Site Proposal: Trails, Vistas and Linkages (#6, #7, #8)
Site Proposal: Sidewalk and Crosswalk to Gammelgården
Site Proposal: Other Amenities to Consider
Ballfield Options
Lion’s Park Barton Johnson Park T-ball Field Expansion
Next Steps
To determine feasibility, the next steps in order:
1.Order a soil test to determine buildability, storm water management
capability, and septic system capability. If all are acceptable, then:
2.Have the wetlands classified and delineated and a survey of the property
created
3.Explore environmentally viable alternatives to protecting the south wetland
within a 75’ setback, with the aim of reducing the setback, if possible
4.Complete a more precise master plan of the site that can be used for
planning and fundraising.
Phases
Susan Rodsjo, SHA Board President
Phase 1
•Soil testing
•Architectural
and site
planning
•Fundraising
•Build
Amphitheater –
PRC funding?
Phase 2
•Raise the
historic water
tower barn
Phase 3
•Construct new
building to
serve as the Arts
& Heritage
Center /
Welcome
Center
PHASES
Request to the City of
Scandia
Request to City of Scandia
50-year lease on property @ $1/year
Commitment followed by lease as soon as can be drafted
(ability to demonstrate site control to funders and begin feasibility tests)
Agree to submit State Bond Finance Request for 2021/22 (MN Statute 16A.695)
Period of 5 years to initiate project
•1 year: Investigate and determine site viability (soil testing, site survey and final site plan,
preliminary architectural design)
•5 years: Demonstrate fundraising for initial restoration of Water Tower Barn and submit
business plan for operational independence
Ballfield to remain intact for at least 1 year
No City funding or operating assistance requested.
Land lease value can be a match for fundraising purposes.
How Will this Project Benefit Scandia?
The Water Tower Barn: Scandia Arts & Heritage Center
located at the South Commons area:
•Promotes Scandia arts, culture, and history
•Restores and protects part of our history --a historic Scandia building
•Protects and enhances a scenic landscape
•Provides a gathering place for the community
•Preserves and reinforces our rural character
•Enhances the livability of our community
•Enhances tourism
SPECIAL THANK YOU
Special thanks to Peter Hilger for pro-bono work
to assess sites, provide a report, and create a
preliminary site plan
THANK YOU
Thank you to the City Council for your
consideration of this important project!
DELETED SLIDES
Slides removed from main deck
Project Objectives
Pride in the history of Scandia and its Swedish heritage
Value in the arts and cultural heritage
Value in the broad recreational opportunities within the community
Desire to maintain the rural character of the community, but also
maintain a vital and vibrant town center area
Desire to boost tourism and economic vitality within the community
“A site seen is a sight visited” --meaning a visible site is more likely to
be visited
Program Requirements
Visible site for raising the Water Tower Barn
Perpendicular to street for historic context
Co-located with a small amphitheater, indoor/outdoor
community space, arts and history exhibit space, and/or
interpretive space for the history of Scandia and the Water
Tower Barn
Connection to “community centric” spaces