Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

TO:	Mike Wildgen David Corliss Debbie Van Saun
FROM:	Lynne Braddock Zollner
CC:	Linda Finger Sheila Stogsdill
Date:	August 11, 2005
RE:	August 16, 2005 Agenda Item

Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the August 16^th meeting.

Save America’s Treasures Grant, Project #20-04-ML-0021 As part of the Federal Save America’s Treasures initiative to preserve significant historic properties and collections, the City of Lawrence has been awarded a matching grant award of $98,768 for preservation work at the Carnegie Library (200 W. 9^th Street).

Project History. The Lawrence City “Carnegie” Library was constructed in 1904 with a $25,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. The architect was George A. Berlinghof of Beatrice, Nebraska and the general contractor was George A Shaul of Seneca, Kansas. The structure continued to be used as the city library until 1972 when a larger city library was constructed. After significant evaluation and public involvement, the Lawrence Arts Center was established in the structure. The Lawrence City Library was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Old City Library in 1975. When the activities and collection of the Lawrence Arts Center grew too large for the existing Carnegie structure, an evaluation was completed by the City of Lawrence to identify alternatives to adjust the structure for the needed extra space. At that time, the City of Lawrence decided that the additional space needed by the Arts Center would dramatically alter the existing structure. It was decided by the community that the preservation of the existing structure was important to the community at large and that the expansion needed by the Arts Center was best addressed with a new facility. In 2002, the Lawrence Arts Center opened and the “Old” Lawrence City “Carnegie” Library was left vacant. Because the structure is so significant and important to the community, the City of Lawrence hired a team of consultants to complete a facilities evaluation. This evaluation, completed by GLPM Architects in September, 2002, analyzed the existing conditions of the structure, identified a stabilization plan, and outlined preliminary utilization plans. The project was divided into two phases: Phase One – Building Stabilization (completed in 2004) and Phase Two – Interior Rehabilitation for Community Use.

In 2003, Mark Kaplan and the Hobbs Park Memorial Fund solicited aid from Congressman Moore to acquire funding to restore the Murphy-Bromelsick House located in Hobbs Park. Congressman Moore succeeded in obtaining an earmark appropriation for a Save America’s Treasures grant administered by the National Park Service. Unfortunately, the Murphy-Bromelsick House was not listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was therefore, not eligible to receive the funds. The earmark was shifted to the Carnegie Library in late 2004. Since that time, City staff has been working with the NPS to draft a project agreement for the allocation of the grant funds.

Project Status, The City has submitted a completed Project Information work plan summarizing what will be accomplished with this grant and matching share, as well as a budget outlining the proposed expenditure of these funds and required nonfederal matching share. The required nonfederal matching share of $98,768 must come from nonfederal sources, and must be expended during the grant period for work on this project. Activities to be supported by the grant must be those which are directly related to and necessary for the repair and preservation of the historic property as identified in the Appropriation Act.

Project Details. This project includes Phase Two of the Carnegie Library Project – the interior rehabilitation for a community use. This rehabilitation must include the preparation of design and technical specifications to address the structure’s deficiencies with modern building codes and accessibility standards. This project will also include the interior finishes required to make the building habitable for a new use for the community. The project will require special attention to the specifications to ensure appropriate protection of the historic structure. All work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Project Funding. The SAT Grant requires a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match, which can be cash, donated services, or use of equipment. The grant ($98,768) and the non-Federal match ($98,768) must be used during the grant period. The project budget includes the overall cost of the rehabilitation for the project; however, this budget can be adjusted during the grant cycle to reflect the final project design. The project agreement for the Carnegie Library identifies the grant period from August 1, 2005 to August 31, 2007.

Action Request. In order to receive these funds, staff requests approval from the City Commission to authorize Project Agreement #20-04-ML-0021.