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City to buy Kirkbride for a buck
Clock will tick on development
Originally published 08:57 a.m., June 19, 2007
Updated 08:57 a.m., June 20, 2007
Fergus Falls will take ownership of the rest of the Kirkbride RTC campus by the end of this month, leaving the door open for re-use of the historic facility — provided that development begins in the next 18 months.
The City Council voted unanimously Monday to purchase for $1 the Kirkbride building, the park land in front of it that includes State Highway 297, and six buildings to the southeast. Target date for closing is June 27, City Administrator Mark Sievert said.
The Department of Human Services will provide the city $1 million to maintain the campus until a developer is identified — but that money would only last through next year. “If a developer does not take over the buildings (by Dec. 31, 2008), or there is no significant agreement, then we’ll have to go to demolition,” Sievert said.
“Dec. 31 is a line drawn in the sand,” said attorney Kent Mattson, the city’s Kirkbride-RTC project consultant. “We’ll find a way to make the $1 million stretch farther until then.”
The state wants the city to take title to the buildings before July 1 so the state can transfer its operating funds to the city before the Department of Human Services fiscal year ends. The city will receive $500,000 up front and lease payments each month from the state for 2007-08 operating costs. The state plans to move into its new off-campus chemical dependency facility by June 30, 2008.
If the buildings must be demolished, the state would provide an additional $7.5 million for that work. About $4 million of that could be used for redevelopment of the main Kirkbride building, if the city finds a use for the structure.
“Where’s the quicksand in this agreement?” council member Hal Leland asked.
“I’ve been dealing with (the state) since 2001,” Mattson said. “I’m confident that with some tweaking this agreement is fairly bulletproof.”
The most recent proposal for using the Kirkbride building called for a cross-cultural school and dorm for students from China and the United States.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by smiley55 (anonymous) on June 19, 2007 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHY NOT TURN AT LEAST SOME OF THE BUILDING INTO A CITY RUN CENTER FOR KIDS? THERES NOTHING IN THIS CITY FOR KIDS TO DO. MOST OF THE KIDS ARE BORED STUPID HERE. A POOL HALL WITH VIDEO MACHINES FOR KIDS TO PAY AND PLAY ON? HOW ABOUT A INDOOR ROLLER RINK? OR EVEN A INDOOR SWIMMING POOL. THE CITY WOULD RUN IT THUS THE CITY WOULD PROFIT FROM IT AND IN THE PROCESS CRIME MAY DROP IN THE CITY. CITY BONDING COULD COVER THE COSTS IN THE BEGINNING UNTILL PROFITS BEGIN TO PAY FOR IT.
PLUS THINK OF HOW MANY KIDS AND THEIR FAMILY'S WOULD COME FROM SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS WOULD COME HERE. THIS WOULD BE GOOD FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INCREASE TAX REVENUE IN THE CITY HAS WELL. IT'S JUST A THOUGHT.
Posted by redshoe (anonymous) on June 20, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What about renovating the former nurses cottages into condos? The character in that building is amazing and the view looking out over the city is specatular. It could be a very unique, prime real estate oportunity. Kirkbride could also become apartments or maybe a destination hotel/conference center? Part of the building could also be specialty retail that caters to tenants/visitors/tourists generating operating revenue.
In the meantime, it would be nice if the facility tours that are open to the public, could be offered on weekends. As a native of Fergus, I would love to take the tour, but I am only able to visit on the weekends and there are never tours available then. Weekend tours is a prime time to spark visiting tourists interest as well. Surveying these tourists when they take a tour could provide valuable development input.
Posted by Kurtisishere (anonymous) on June 26, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I completely agree that providing tours on the weekend would do a tremendous job of sparking public input. If volunteers are required to provide tours on weekends, I would be more than willing to give of my time. I would also not be opposed to paying for a tour.
There are so many great buildings, and such great history there, I hope that the buildings are around in some form or fashion for quite some time!
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