Blue Building set to become historical project-MTSU to evaluate possibilities for building when city hall leaves
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The vote allows the city to join with Heritage Alliance, the Citizens Who Care Committee, and Main Street McMinnville in sending the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation a letter requesting its assistance in analyzing the building and making recommendations regarding its future.
MTSU’s center is a research and public service institute recognized nationally and internationally for its innovative approaches and partnerships to further heritage preservation. The center responds to individuals, agencies, and organizations working toward preservation goals.
After the vote, Rachel Killebrew explained potential plans for the building, which do not include demolition. City officials appear in agreement with these plans.
Once city hall moves, the Blue Building would become a historical project. Included in the plans would be to do an in-depth study, stabilize the building, and sell it to someone who would make it a functioning part of the community.
‘It has unlimited possibilities,’ said Killebrew. ‘With this partnership, and if MTSU takes on the project, we would get a history research of the building and recommendations for a proper restoration, so we will get a vision for the building. When we decide what we want to do, we would also get estimates and contacts to achieve our goals.’
The MTSU study would cost very little, according to Killebrew. However, in lieu of the $250,000 in-depth study suggested by city administrator David Rutherford during the Preparing McMinnville for Tomorrow planning conference, Killebrew would like to take that amount and get the building ready to be sold by stabilizing it and making improvements.
The study and the improvements would make the building more attractive to a buyer, which would bring a higher buying price for the city, she says. Once sold, the building would generate tax revenue.
‘We want to get the right buyer and we want to make the city money,’ said Killebrew. ‘We want to bring in tax dollars. We want to return this grand structure to be an integral part of our community and to the grandeur that it deserves.’
Although officials agreed to partner with the group in order to get the MTSU study, they made no decisions regarding the request to invest $250,000 in the building.