Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Minutes of Past Meetings
Thursday, July 24, 2013
Location: Home of Keith & Linda Koch
Present: Keith Koch (President), Dave Eggler (Treasurer, Jim Dunne (Secretary), Jeanne Newlin, Gay Dunne, Julia Kasdorf, Philip Ruth, JoAnn & Dick Knupp, Joseph Griffin, Patrick North, Colina Seeley, Melady Kehm, Joanne Tosti-Vasey. Guests: Frank Halderman (IDA & Borough Council); Robert Keal (HARB consultant)
Minutes of 7/10/13: Approved ((Joanne, Jim)
Treasurer’s Report (see below): Of the $46,000, $16,000 is committed to Talley Rand Park Committee. The Gannon Fund is also restricted. About $30,000 is uncommitted. Approved (Gay, Joanne)
Frank Halderman, Borough Council, and BAIDA: Buddy is a long time supporter of Bellefonte and the Garman in its role as a movie theater, playhouse and again as a movie theater. Although he appreciates the BHCA efforts to preserve the Garman, he doesn’t feel it is the correct thing to do. Council is enthusiastic that the PDG proposal will use 3 blighted properties. Using Pennsylvania’s Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act, the Borough appointed the BAIDA as conservator for the Garman which then adopted the PDG plan to demolish it and build work force housing using the Garman site, the demolished DoDe site and the Cadillac Building. They felt that the PDG proposal was more financially feasible than the BHCA proposal. The PDG plan was recently denied funding. Buddy doesn’t feel the Judge ruling is operating within the framework of the Conservatorship Act.
What happens if BHCA gets the Garman in regards to DoDe ownership and the future of the Cadillac Building? The Borough doesn’t have funds to tear all three buildings down. The DoDe has a demolition order
Discussion
Parking for the Cadillac Building was at the old school at Bishop and Blanchard.
Could PDG demolish all three buildings and do nothing? No.
Various aspects of previous construction of Garman Hotel were discussed.
If I PDG pulls out, what is the IDA’s thought? Tear down DoDe & Cadillac, but no one wants to do that.
The Garman covenant. The Judge can dismiss it.
Parking requirement for work force parking? PDG plan has 32 units, but only 17 spaces allotted. How will that issue be resolved? Borough Council is ultimate decider. Can other plans receive similar generous accommodation? Same answer.
Robert Keal, HARB Consultant: He is very concerned about the loss of street facades with current PDG plan. He would like to see BHCA support the PDG plan but with façade preservation backed by the use of BHCA collected funds donated to the cause. We can offer financial support and advice. Restoration of Garman would get HARB approval. He would rather see a well designed modern building than a fake historical façade
Keith: We need to show the Judge:
1. Building is secure and safe. Richard Hughes will testify at the August 12 hearing that the Garman structure is safe front and back until the first snow. The sides need to be blocked from access, The roof must be replaced as soon as possible. Current roof replacement estimate is $130,000.
2. We need to present evidence of having raised that amount in donations, and pledges to make the building safe & secured.
3. Melady comment: the Judge in his ruling made no comment on the roof or covenant.
Planning Committee:
Gay: the committee recommends keeping the full façade (all the walls) and keep as much of the attributes of the theater apace as we can. Our long term goal is to establish a regional arts center.
Patrick: Architects will recommend an approach on the roof and hotel room floor. Is there enough structural integrity the current walls to support the hotel floor. Joanne asked if we wish to keep the hotel rooms and is it financially viable. Patrick presented the planning summary (attached).
1. Should we pay previous builder for blueprints?
2. Should we put on a permanent or temporary roof?
3. If the mold problem precludes rehabilitating current architectural features, would we still be able to get tax credits?
4. We still don’t have cost estimates.
5. Insurance estimates attached..
6. Stabilization with a roof could bring us to a holding pattern allowing us time.
7. What we need to present to the Judge is to focus on Phase one – stabilization.
8. We need to keep the size and footprint of the theater to qualify for tax credits.
9. Philip recommended we have examples successfully completed similar rehabilitation projects to present to the judge.
Financial Committee: Jeanne is writing thank you notes and keeping lists.. The committee is looking at different kinds of funding – grants, tax credits, corporate donations, Penn State connections. They need a budget to present to the larger donors. All fund raising efforts need to be coordinated with the finance committee and must be planned. 491 individual and 44 businesses received the fund raising letter. Colina suggested putting at least the BHCA officers names on future letters. JoAnn has ordered 100 “Save the Garman T-shirts which will be for sale at the Jazz Festival and the Arts Festival. The price of $10 was supported by the majority of the group.
Mary Vollero has a Save the Garman website on her personal website. She will work with Dave for its inclusion on the BHCA website.
Keith: Arts & Crafts Show Aug. 16. Hearing August 12. We need to present our plan to IDA before the hearing date.
Next Meeting: Wed., Aug 7, 7pm @ Nancy Noll's
176 East Linn St
Bellefonte, Pa 16823
Thanks again to Julia Kasdorf for taking minutes notes.
Jim Dunne, Secretary.
BHCA Financial Report
July 24, 2013
|
|
7/1/2010- 6/30/2011 |
7/1/2011- 6/30/2012 |
7/1/2012- 6/30/2013 |
7/1/2013- 7/24/13 |
2013-2014 FY Budget |
INCOME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest & dividends |
465 |
443 |
489 |
0 |
400 |
|
Other administration |
1,154 |
1,154 |
2,000 |
0 |
2,000 |
|
General fundraising |
3,862 |
3,125 |
3,281 |
0 |
3,500 |
|
Gallery at Gamble Mill |
1,405 |
80 |
158 |
0 |
1,000 |
|
Library Concerts |
1,546 |
1,205 |
279 |
0 |
1,050 |
|
Garman Project |
0 |
0 |
720 |
1,679 |
0 |
|
Big Bands |
7,101 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Summer Sounds |
1,714 |
2,993 |
2,491 |
622 |
2,000 |
|
Victorian Christmas |
6,100 |
8,555 |
9,125 |
375 |
8,000 |
|
Talleyrand Park Comm |
0 |
0 |
2,625 |
12,000 |
0 |
|
Other projects |
__860__ |
__200__ |
_0_ |
_0_ |
__50__ |
|
TOTAL |
24,207 |
17,755 |
21,168 |
14,676 |
18,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administration |
4,039 |
1,337 |
1,147 |
0 |
1,000 |
|
General fundraising |
647 |
137 |
251 |
0 |
250 |
|
Gallery at Gamble Mill |
1,577 |
675 |
775 |
0 |
1,500 |
|
Library Concerts |
2,211 |
3,108 |
3,045 |
0 |
3,000 |
|
Garman Project |
0 |
0 |
3,575 |
85 |
0 |
|
Big Bands |
6,629 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Summer Sounds |
2,659 |
2,670 |
2,943 |
900 |
2,700 |
|
Victorian Christmas |
3,427 |
4,222 |
4,686 |
0 |
4,000 |
|
Talleyrand Park Comm |
27 |
2,845 |
13 |
80 |
0 |
|
Other projects |
_86_ |
_0_ |
_0_ |
_0_ |
__50__ |
|
TOTAL |
21,302 |
14,994 |
16,435 |
1,065 |
12,500 |
ASSETS 7/24/2013
Checking 18,800 General BHCA 28,255
PO returned mail fund 50 Gannon Fund 1,731
MM Fund 8,102 Talleyrand Park 16,122
Post Office Fund 294 Perform Arts Fund 2,062
Vanguard Bond Fund 19,663 Garman Project (1,261)
TOTAL 46,909 TOTAL 46,909
Submitted: David H. Eggler, Treasurer