MTSU study says Blue building worth saving

If the choice is demolition or renovation, save the Franklin P. Blue building! That’s the recommendation from the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University. ‘Given its prime location in the heart of McMinnville, the history of the Blue Building and its role in the life and times of many Warren County residents, and the general overall well-maintained and good condition of the building, the staff of the Center for Historic Preser-vation recommends that this building be given every opportunity to continue to contribute to the sense of place and the everyday life of McMinnville.’ That statement was among several in a detailed booklet outlining the center’s findings of the building’s current situation and possible future. In January, MTSU was invited to perform a comprehensive study on the condition of the building. The study would provide recommendations on preservation and restoration methods, funding sources, and a list of possible uses for the building. After an evaluation done in February by a preservation group, a list of immediate preservation needs was sent in March to the city by Michael Thomas Gavin, preservation specialist. Before making the renovation/ demolition decision, officials are encouraged to consider economic and environmental impacts: ‘ Energy saving – A large amount of energy, from both natural resources and labor, was expended when the building was originally constructed and remains embodied in that building. Removal would waste the energy and replacing it would use additional resources. ‘ Waste disposal – Demolition produces a huge amount of solid waste which must be gathered and transported to a landfill. ‘ Urban sprawl – Space that can be redeveloped and reused downtown is space that does not have to be built anew in suburban areas. ‘ Utilization of existing resources – A considerable amount of public funds already have been expended for water and sewer lines; telephone, electric, and cable systems; streets, sidewalks, and parking; and other related infrastructure. Unused buildings and empty lots waste these publicly owned assets. ‘ Time saving – Time is money, and new construction means many dollars have to be spent long before any return can be realized. ‘ Increased property values – Real estate does not exist in a vacuum; it is an interrelated asset. Much of its value comes from its association with other properties. Reinvestment in historic buildings reinforces the value of existing real estate. ‘ Heritage Tourism – Tourists are attracted by unique and interesting places. Historic structures help to sustain and create the sense of place so desired by heritage tourists that they will drive miles to experience it. ‘ Increased tax dollars – Tourism is central to the state’s economic growth. The revenues generated by visitors are substantial and include sales, gasoline, hotel room, amusement, liquor, cigarette, and other taxes. With all this in mind, everyone benefits from renovation – merchants, property owners, financial institutions, professionals and service businesses, Chamber of Commerce, residents, local government, community partners, schools, businesses outside the commercial district and industry. When it comes to uses for the building, listed were several communities in Tennessee who have taken old school buildings and given them new uses. Two of those include: ‘ Murfreesboro – Bradley Academy served as an educational center since the early 1800s. The current school building, dating to 1917, remained open as a school for African American children until 1955. In 1990, almost 40 years after the school closed, the building was restored. It now holds exhibits dedicated to honoring the history of Rutherford County and its African American citizens, as well as rental facilities for special events and meetings. ‘ Paris – Robert E. Lee School was built in 1848 as a private academy. In 1893, it was enlarged and began serving as a public school for Henry County. The school closed in 1975 and stood vacant. Currently, the school is being reused as an arts center. The Robert E. Lee Academy for the Arts now offers a variety of classes in painting, drawing, dance, and music while still preserving the history of the Lee School. MTSU included a list of funding sources as well as a few specific sources of funding that could be explored for this project. A few of those include: ‘ A Grantseekers Guide to Tennessee Funders – This publication is a powerful tool an organization can use to put them in touch with more funding sources. ‘ Fundsnet – Provides a comprehensive directory of foundations and funding organizations on the web. ‘ The Foundation Finder – A database that can be searched for private foundations, corporate grant makers, grant making public charities, and community foundations. ‘ Humanities Tennessee – Offers Tennessee Community Heritage grants, which provide support for community-based education programs on the history and cultural life of Tennessee communities. Among the information, was this question and reminder: ‘With the recent loss of the opera house to fire, does McMinnville and Warren County willingly, in this case, choose to destroy another piece of its history? ‘Once a building is gone, it is too late to reconsider what might have been and how that building could have continued to play a vital role in the economy, lifestyle, overall appearance, and sense of place that sets one community apart from another.’ ‘The staff of the Center for Historic Preservation recommends that this building be given every opportunity to continue to contribute to the sense of place and the everyday life of McMinnville.’