Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 11 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Is there a Kirkbride compromise?
Published Tuesday, August 12, 2008
I sincerely hope that the Kirkbride property can someday become a Chinese cultural learning center. It would be quite a feather in the cap of those who fight for its existence.
And I do hope someday a movie could be made on that same property. The landscape alone is priceless in that part of town.
But there's a third scenario to consider: We stand a good chance of losing both. What happens then?
Sooner or later, the taxpayer will be left holding the bag on an increasingly old building that will eventually beg for demolition. Nothing lasts forever no matter how hard you wish it to be.
The Kirkbride property is indeed an awesome structure. But there isn't an architect dead or alive that builds their buildings with the hopes that someone will preserve their efforts as a testImony to their
talents. None would be more happy than another architect with a chance to begin again.
Perhaps it's time to consider that the property is worth more real estate-wise than as a hopeful business venture with long term maintainence problems.
One only has to look at the senior high school to see that older buildings never last. Even after you modernize an 80-year-old structure what you have left is still an 80-year old structure. You'll never get your long-term money out of the deal.
In my opinion, the best bet would have been to demolish the buildings and start from scratch. Starting from scratch is exactly what the early citizens of this city did back in the day when the Kirkbride was still only a dream.
The bane of Fergus Falls' existence has always been its reluctance to change. We even leave old abandoned flour elevators stand smack dab in the middle of town because leadership is lacking to take it down.
We love hanging on to the past so much that we strangle the future. It's time to stop trying to save every old building that comes along and start thinking about building new buildings and relationships (the Chinese, perhaps?).
Rule No. one in real estate is “Location, Location, Location.” You always buy the property first and then design your building. Rarely do you do it the other way around. And how does an 80-year-old building fit into the landscape on the north side of Fergus? It doesn't and anyone who says it does merely stands to benefit from it somewhere down the line.
The efforts to save the Kirkbride is admirable. There are indeed some structures worth saving once in awhile. But let's try expanding our range of thinking for a moment.
What if we ask the Chinese if they'd like to become joint developers in building a new world class learning center? We already have the property. Can we get the state (or even Washington) to commit resources to build something truly amazing without putting our hind ends so far out in the breeze? We can't even get new schools built much less an outdoor pool area. And we're thinking about doing this?
As tough as it may be, it's time to put emotions aside and see if there's a compromise with the Kirkbride property. And it should be done with the least amount of exposure to the taxpayer but with the greatest amount of integrity behind the decision.
Let's take the blinders off and start using our peripheral vision. Otherwise, we'll end up with another tall structure going to seed like our flour elevator downtown.
Tom Schultz - Fergus Falls
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 Clara (anonymous) on August 12, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! Finally somebody who can eloquently tell it like it is! You are right on the money with the statement that Fergus Falls lives in the past. 'Nuff said.
Posted by richan (anonymous) on August 12, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I so strongly concur. with this Opinion. none of Us like to see our icons altered. the old house We grew up in was an old house 50 years ago when our parents could afford it. now it is twice as old. and falling in on itself. and so is the Kirkbride building. it is time to move along. Ned Jimmerson, Underwood.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 13, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When the Leaning Tower of Pisa is taken down on purpose, I still won't agree with the above letters.
Posted by TomS (anonymous) on August 13, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Tower of Pisa is known only because it leans a little and nothing more.
Unless of course the the Kirkbride (and the downtown flour mill for that matter) is Fergus' version of a tourist attraction.
Posted by Jerry (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Architects consider most homes as 100 year structures, the Kirkbride is considered a 500 year structure, so I would guess at least part of it could be useful for quite some time.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My compromise on the Kirbride would be to carefully remove the new parts and restore it to it original look.
Posted by Jerry (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If we do not maintain some of our structures such as the Kirkbride, soon our nation will look like one large Walmart. I have toured both the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Kirkbride and what the Tower means to Pisa, I would say the Kirkbride means to Fergus Falls.
Posted by olson736 (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is wrong with the high school. Earlier referendums presented sighted high water and other deficiencies only to find out that after further tests none of those issues existed. The thought that a building is a throw away is just crazy. Some of the greatest universities in the world have excellent older buildings and they embrace them. Education is not about buildings but the teachers and students. To think we can improve education because you build a new building does not stand up and Fergus Falls building project was all about Statutory Operating Debt. The district was in effect bankrupt and with the referendum they refinanced.
The RTC can and will be refurbished into a university and the residents of Fergus Falls will not be left holding the bag. Anybody that invests millions will have investors and financial institutions involved and it will never go back to the city under any circumstance.
The comment that they are protecting the general public is nothing more then political posturing. No investment group will ever allow any provision in a contract that would allow the city to take it back. No financial institution would ever lend money unless they are in first position to protect their loan.
"What if we ask the Chinese if they'd like to become joint developers in building a new world class learning center? We already have the property. "
Where have you been? This is exactly what the situation is today. The Chinese universities are partnering with area colleges to build a world class learning center. This isn't going to get done by any city or government. It takes a group like CGD to think big and devote tons of time and money to develop a big idea.
I just hope our small minded city managers and city council give them the time to complete their task. Plus be smart enough to recognize that a horror film in the dormitories is not a selling point for students to attend.
Nobody thinks this is important but when you send your college student to a town that you are not familiar with. You will research that community and find out about the movie.
Maybe the only people that see the movie are potential students and parents but that is not the commercial I want them to see about our community and this college.
Posted by ottergrad (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since we have all decided that there never has been a rumor about a chinese buyout but a partnership between US and Chinese universities. With investment from the universities and the local development group.
That the movie will be of more concern to the parents of students that pay the bills for this university. They have high degree of interest about Fergus Falls because you could be a family from China or the United States and will research this community if your son or daughter is considering attending this college.
As a teacher and resident of this community I am embarrassed to see the comments about this situation. I think the damage is already done because the city council did not protect the long term university project at the RTC.
Shame on Mark Sievert for not providing the description to the movie so the council could make a informed decision. How stupid of our elected officials for not requesting the information and acting decisively before this turned into a stupid, mostly ignorant blog full of totally false posts.
Without a doubt the residents needs to know if this information was made available to the city administrator and he has some questions to answer. Why would he advise the CVB to move forward and potentially hurt the College. Why would he not provide the information to the council when he had it in his possession. How can they make a decision without all the information.
If he withheld information from the council then he should resign or be asked to resign.
He has clearly shown a total disregard to how city government is suppose to work and time and time again thinks this is a dictatorship. His kingdom that he will micromanage.
The city should not just hold a election for city council they should decide if Mark Sievert over stepped his bounds once again. Withholding information from the council is wrong and this does jeopardize the rtc project.
It is time the council steps up and tell Sievert that they run the city and they should take charge and make decisions. It has been said that there are people that run this city.
You are right and it is the city manager who dictates to the council to vote his way or they are in trouble. If you want things done and have our council listen to the citizens needs, then they need to make their own decisions not bow down to Mark Sievert.
Rick Wilson is Mark's boy and he will follow Sievert's lead. Thank goodness he is running for county commissioner where he will have his hat handed to him and he is out of any decision making process. I do not want to see a "yes" boy in the county also.
As for Sievert, he will try find somebody else to carry his water.
I do believe this next city council will take charge and let him know who really runs this city. It is the voting public.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While it's historic significance is not in question I worry about the influence a very wealthy investment group will have over my hometown. If they are willing to spend millions on this new learning center then what exactly are they going to want in return? Are they going to have a major say in how things are run in town? Don't get me wrong, I am in favor of anthing that will bring money and prosperity to Fergus, I just want to make sure we don't lose too much in the process.
Posted by ZRIS (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Kirkbride building has been known for the last 100 years as the Minnesota State Hospital for the Insane and more recently as the Nut Hut.
You ask any person over the age of 20 to 90 and they will tell you that the building doesn’t have the greatest of reputations. Many a horror stories have been told and retold for over the last 75 years, from escapees roaming the city & tunnels to some that even now, as ghosts, roam the tunnels that run underneath the entire building complex.
As one who has roamed those tunnels before, wasting countless hours while my friend’s laundry was washing and drying, I have heard many, many stories. This was back in the mid 80’s when my friend’s dorm room was above these tunnels as he attended the FFCC.
Many people had keys to various rooms as well as Master Keys that were countlessly copied. I’ve first hand witnessed a dirt floor room, an elevator that went down farther, steel barred cells and bricked up rooms and miles of dripping and hissing steam pipes. Far off the beaten path of a "guided" tour.
A Psycho thriller movie would not tarnish the State Hospitals already dark past nor tarnish its history of shock therapy and lobotomies. The records of hundreds perhaps thousands of “clients” have been spirited away and hide from the public’s eye. I have paged through a few of these huge hardcover books and have peered back in time past the first marbled page to countless names & dates and procedures that were tried to alleviate anger and madness.
The Kirkbride is and ever shall be a beautiful building with a dark past, for at the time, it was mankind’s only solution in trying to help & understand their fellow mans problems, thus the term, “practice”.
While I’m not an avid psycho drama film fan, I see no ill in letting the Fergus Falls State Hospital be the location of one. In fact, it might bring tourism and help surrounding businesses. Does not the city own the building and are in control of it?
Then there is the proposal of it being a Chinese Cultural Learning Center. What evidence are we presented with? Papers with plans & signatures? What’s the time frame and how long has this been “negotiated” on?? How long till they find out we are desperate enough to give them free taxes, water and electricity, and the entire building for FREE!? And if they agree, then what? We will have our own little “China Town” in conservative Fergus Falls where we don’t speak their language as they shop, work and live in Fergus Falls. Other then diseases they bring over, what other surprises will we NOT be ready for? Will they want to conform to our rules, or us to theirs? What will they truly learn from us?? Also as important, what will we learn from them?
Time for the City Council to take the reins and decide to drive forward into the future, now.
My suggestion; turn it into the Fergus Falls Museum. It has the History for it.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)