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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06112020 Historic Preservation Laydown-Dorene Lorenz on Jesse Lee Homed 3�` l l 07o a o L�yJawn.-- D01,e�2e Jessica Stallard From: Dorene M. Lorenz <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> L. C r e n Z 0" T e s s e Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2020 2:07 PM L e e 14 o Yn e To: cheryiseese@gmail.com Subject: Scheduled Tour Denied Entry On Friday, on the pretense that there were only two keys to the building and both of the holders were out-of-town, two state representatives, the Labor DC, one current city council member, three former city council members, five former and two current historic preservation commission members, two P&Z members, a historic preservation specialist architect, an engineer, a contractor, and three people who had worked with the contractors who conducted the hazmat assessment and the maintenance/stabilization, two members of the public, the local paper (not at my invitation) and myself were denied access. We had the wavers/hard hats required by the city for the previous decade on site. Both Representative Chris Tuck and Deputy Commissioner of Labor/Former State Representative Cathy Munoz talked to the city manager personally. A responding police officer advised us that the city manager sent out an email Friday morning advising that anyone who entered the JLH property should be arrested for trespassing, and although the locks were changed to make the site more secure they failed to mend a person -sized hole in the fence a few feet away from the gate. The next day I was asked to try again, so I requested assistance in conducting a tour for the Commissioner of Labor and both her deputies from all elected officials in Seward By noon the next day, the time we had requested, the public works department had located a key (quite a lag if first responders needed to put out a fire), a city council member who was the former executive assistant to the city manager volunteered to escort, but the city manager denied access. I received radio silence from the mayor. At 7:00 am, the vice mayor referred me to the city manager- referencing the key issue. By 8 am, I pressed the vice mayor that she was my representative and it was proper protocol for her to make the request. After 3 pm, the vice mayor sent me at a text that suggested her voice mail message to the city manager wasn't responded to. Shortly thereafter, I received an email from the city manager that was copied to the two assisting city council members but not the mayor/vice mayor. Attached below. The two responding city council members shared with me their concern that the new report is going to suggest the building be condemned and that will be the end -run around the public process. Dorene I Begin forwarded message: From: Scott Meszaros <smeszarosCcDcityofseward.net> Date: September 29, 2019 at 3:36:12 PM AKDT To: "dorenemlorenz(oaol.com" <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> Cc: Sharyl Seese <sseese(c)_cityofseward.net>, Suzanne Towsley <sztowsleyCc_cityofseward.net>, Brenda Ballou <bballou(a)cityofseward. net> Subject: Jesse Lee Home Access Ms. Lorenz: It is my understanding that Friends of the Jesse Lee Home may have attempted to give tours of the Home to members of the State of Alaska executive staff on Friday September 27, 2019 but were unable to access the property due to the steps the City had taken to secure the property. As a result, I wanted to reach out and provide the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home an update regarding the transfer of the property to the City and the City's preliminary plans for the property. Shortly after the transfer of the property to the City on August 31, 2019, the City secured insurance coverage for the property and conducted a preliminary inspection of the property. Upon our preliminary inspection, several substantial hazards and safety concerns on the property were identified. These hazards required the City to take immediate steps to secure the property and restrict access until the hazards can be identified, eliminated, and/or mitigated, as needed. To this end, the City secured insurance for the property, changed the locks on the gates, and initiated a more comprehensive inspection plan. The Jesse Lee Home Comprehensive Inspection Plan will allow the City to utilize grant funds to assess the condition and hazards existing on the property and draft an effective request for proposals for the mitigation of these hazards, which include, but are not limited to, structural vulnerabilities and asbestos exposure. While l realize the temporary restriction of access to the Jesse Lee Home may be frustrating for the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home and some members of the public, the temporary restriction of access pending completion of the Comprehensive Inspection Plan is necessary to protect the safety of the Seward public as well as any authorized site visitors. While the temporary restriction is necessary, the City is working diligently to secure the site and complete the Comprehensive Inspection Plan so that the Friends of Jesse Lee Home, and other interested parties, can safely visit the site. Currently, the Comprehensive Inspection Plan is already underway and scheduled to be completed before October 31, 2019. The inspection will incorporate visits from the Building Inspector and a consultant engineering firm. Upon completion of the inspection, I plan on delivering a report to the Seward City Council regarding the results of the inspection and the City Council's options moving forward as well as in drafting an RFP to solicit work to utilize grant funds the City has available to mitigate some of the remaining hazardous material clean up. The purpose of said report will be to provide Council with the information it needs to make a determination regarding the grant efforts towards the Jesse Lee home. In light of the Friends of Jesse Lee Home's commitment to the preservation of this historic site, I am hoping you and/or another representative of the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home would be willing to meet with administration after the completion of the final inspection report but before the Council meeting regarding that report. This will ensure that the recommended options City staff presents to Council incorporate Friends of Jesse Lee Home recommendations, concerns, and insights. Additionally, we can also schedule the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home as a presenter at the relevant Council meeting or work session. My staff will keep you updated regarding the projected Council meeting date so Friends of Jesse Lee Home has an opportunity to prepare a presentation expressing its position. Thank you for your understanding and concerns. If you have any follow up questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thanks again, Seward City Manager Scott W. Meszaros, CM Seward City Manager 410 Adams Street P.O. Box 167 Seward, Alaska 99664 Office (907) 224-4047 Direct (907) 224-4012 Fax (907) 224-4038 e-mail: smeszaros(a-cityofseward.net Jessica Stallard From: Dorene Lorenz <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 1:25 AM To: Cheryl Seese Subject: Seward City Manager Begin forwarded message: From: Dorene Lorenz <dorenemlorenzgaol.com> Date: June 8, 2020 at 9:34:20 PM AKDT To: "Dorene M. Lorenz" <dorenemlorenz(,Taol.com>, "smcclure(c cityofseward.net" <smcclurcgcityofseward.net>, "josenga[),cityofseward.net" <iosengagcityofseward.net>, "sseese cgcityofseward.net" <sseese(r cityofseward.net>, "christygeityofseward.net" <christy(&cityofseward.net>, "dbuttsgcityofseward.net" <dbuttsgcityofseward.net>, "jcrites(a7,cityofseward.net" <jcrites agcityofscward.net>, "tbaclaan(&cityofseward.net" <tbacl aangcityofseward. net>, "clerk(c-)cityofseward.net" <clerk(a)cityofseward.net> Cc: "senator. peter.miccichegakleg. gov" <senator.peter.miccichegakleg_gov>, "Re resentative.Ben.Ca enter akle ov" <Representative.Ben.CarpenterAakle ov> Subject: Seward City Manager As you are aware, at the 8 June Seward City Council meeting the City Manager publicly requested that the FJLH pay the due property taxes on the building for the last two years. The City of Seward has had the building in its possession for the last two years, although they have not change the title they have barred the FJLH from accessing the property under threat of trespass. We are confused as to why the city would be under the impression that FJLH is responsible for the property taxes on this property, and why the first time we would hear of it would be at a public meeting. The City of Seward is a founding member of the FJLH, an advisory group to the Alaska State Legislature, set up by an unanimous resolution. Why the COS continues to take a combative posture against this statewide volunteer group is very puzzling and unappreciated. Jessica Stallard From: Dorene M. Lorenz <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2020 1:57 PM To: cherylseese@gmail.com Subject: Jesse Lee Home/Treadwell -----Original Message ----- From: Dorene Lorenz <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> To: Marcia Hastings <mkhastings@gmail.com> Sent: Tue, Oct 8, 2019 2:06 am Subject: Jesse Lee Home/Treadwell The new mayor in Seward has asked that we make a proposal to the council on what to do with the State grant. In meeting with over a dozen Seward supporters last weekend, it was determined that they want to make a formal propose to the council that a local committee be called and directed to come up with a plan that allows the building to be preserved as best as possible as long as possible, waiting for viable opportunities/economy to present itself, using the State grant. The locals have determined two champions - a Mr. Jeffery Cobble who is a historic preservation architect recently retired from a Florida commercial firm, mostly hospitals and schools, and Mr. Edward Ward who is a retired British BP Engineer. Both are dynamic, well-spoken, credible, and have personally invested $100ks very visibly on HP projects in Seward which they are pursuing in their new "retired" years. Both have wives on the Seward HP commission. They are very strong defenders who have personally rehabilitated historic buildings in far worse shape than Jesse Lee, who haven't been in town long enough to have many enemies. I asked the mayor about them, she didn't know them but had heard a lot of good things about them. It was suggested that Seward Historian/zero-conflict Doug Capra provide the context of the importance of the building for the presentation. Doug agreed. The guys believe they will be proposing using the money to replace missing shingles on the roof, secure openings so the main buildings have airflow but are inaccessible, remove the asbestos, and shore up soft spots in floors. They are going to do a ballpark cost estimate once the city allows them back into the building (the architect has already toured and taken photos) The exterior fence would be removed unless the interm use included being a dog park, as the piles of rubble outside the building would also be removed. They are also wanting to incorporate the energy of the movement to turn the land into a park by taking the concept, cross applying what has recently been done at Treadwill (two other emails to you) and using the far arcade as an open community space with interpretative signage that tells the JLH story, adding bench seating inside and picnic tables outside, and opening up the footprint of Goode Hall to the group who wants to create a community garden. Themes discussed for interpretive signage included Alaska flag, the Alaska Native movement, tuberculosis, the role that the JLH's demonstration of Alaska's ability to offer Health & Human Services had in statehood efforts, leadership, and Fort Raymond/WW 2 This proposal keeps the building solid but allows folks to visit and have meaningful interactions in the space so a better understanding of its historical importance can be imparted. It is hoped this could be completed in 2020. Step two of this plan, one that former Rep resentativelcurrent Deputy Director Cathy Munoz - who attended the meeting - agrees could be easily accomplished, is to have the legislature pass a bill this session that pulls together a group to start planning the centennial of the Alaska state flag, which is a year after the centennial of the Jesse Lee Home. This will create statewide awareness and loosen up a small amount of funding for the JLH as there are designated state and local HP funds for this sort of celebratory event. These funds could create a review area that includes a new Balto statue, a new flag pole, an updated website, and an enhanced memorial - a space that could be a stop for visitors be inspired, and learn how they can help rehabilitate the buildings. _ I brought the concept to the Juneau Historic Resources Committee Friday, they were all over it. Most of the members also sit on various state HP boards and groups, the Museum lady was confident the Anchorage and State museums would do exhibits and our one -hour meeting actually went an hour -and -a -half over because everyone was so excited about the idea. The story they feel is important to tell ties in with a conflict that Juneau is currently experiencing - acknowledging the timeline of events in the journey for Alaska Native rights. As there are two letters in the possession of Doug Capra, one from Alaska Native Brotherhood and one from Representative William Paul (one of my committee members is his family member) tying Benny Benson, the Alaska State Flag and the Jesse Lee Home together in that timeline - greater awareness could be very helpful to our cause. It has been suggested, but several months to firm up, that all of the local and state HP committees, local and state museums, the It. governor, the FJLH, descendants of Benny Benson and William Paul (he was the first native to serve in the legislature), BBNCIChignik (Benny Benson), Chugach, and the American Legion (flag contest was their idea), cities of Juneau/Seward be included in the planning. Any comments, suggestions, recommendations? ©orene M. Lorenz 907.360.8815 Jessica Stallard From: Dorene M. Lorenz <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> Seat: Tuesday, June 09, 2020 2:00 PM To: cherylseese@gmail.com Subject: Treadwell rehabilitation before Dorene M. Lorenz 907.360.8815 -----Original Message ----- From: Dorene Lorenz <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> To: Marcia Hastings <mkhastings(agmail.com> Sent: Tue, Oct 8, 2019 2:07 am Subject: Treadwell rehabilitation before http://treadwellsociety.com/publications.i)hp y t,, 1, 1 y�,e Dorene M. Lorenz 907.360.8815 1 ,► f +i t ,�.+� y� t -„u x s " � x yA. y � i Y .... ry a+p.•J'ow`�x�TH'� w Yoh, �n 4s ..+n�.•r"^1A^M. 4 R �� .— .. .+ ,..o-mk _..o-�r _ ,� •. ,... #►�' """"'"'i'.w ° .sr . , , v.-,� Defelict No Mofe m . . ,. T ,,..,,�[r llilraYftl tlliiY! [7fJilYr 1C11i. �';1111�1� 111 e��f l c��1t 4'1 `��� 4PW yy 4 � 1 • 4 �I+ � �1' '?A'1i1 � � T�� A dry 1 R 8 Jessica Stallard From: Dorene M. Lorenz <dorenemlorenz@aol.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2020 1:59 PM To: cherylseese@gmail.com Subject: Treadwell after Dorene M. 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