Everybody loved architect Stan Graves’ presentation on how to restore Rockdale’s 123-year-old City Hall Monday evening at the monthly Rockdale City Council session.
Then, the hard work began. Council members, and the public, began discussion on how to address the $3.9-million estimated price tag to restore the 1895 building to its Victorian Era glory.
After airing several possibilities, the council took a first step, voting unanimously to empower City Manager Chris Whittaker to develop a Request For Proposal (RFP) to see if a buyer or lessee can be found.
During the meeting, the council also got what could be excellent news, that the Texas Dept. of Transportation may be interested in footing the bill for new downtown water lines in advance of a US 79 rehabilitation project.
OLD CITY HALL—
Architect Graves, a Sharp native, presented an exhaustive study on the building recently performed by his Architexas firm, which specializes in historical restoration.
“It can be restored (to its 1894 appearance) he said. “The biggest problem is the stucco on the brick. It pulls the brick with it when you remove it.”
“The building was thoroughly remodeled in the 1930s,” he said. “We did not find much from the 1895-1930s area.”
Graves said a general consensus was reached to restore the outside to its 1895 look, with a tall bell tower in the middle and spires on each side.
“We are very fortunate to have the original bell, still on display by the building and it would be restored to its original location up in the tower.”
The plan called for remodeling the inside to accommodate something like a restaurant on the first floor and offices on the second. Estimated price tag was put at $3,922,767.
That’s going to change (increase) over time,” he said.
‘PRAGMATIC HATS’—
Members of the Milam County Historical Society, and other, lauded the presentation.
“I never thought I would see something like this,” Dr. Lucile Estell said.
Lynn Young also praised Graves’ work and said the restoration would add appeal as Rockdale tries to attract lucrative heritage tourism.
“I urge full renovation,” she said. “This will give people a reason to stop.”
Geri Burnett noted the successful restoration of the Milam County Courthouse. “This building (old city hall) and the courthouse are two of the most important historical structures in the county.”
Gary Griesbach said he supported the effort but asked the council to “put your pragmatic hats on and be sure this is a good deal for Rockdale.”
He asked the council “to ensure no tax money is ever used for that building.”
MILLION BUCKS—
Whittaker asked for council direction on how to proceed and the discussion centered around pursing the project as a public endeavor, a private one, or a combination of both.
Whatever the final form, the renovation already has a big head start. An anonymous donor has pledge $1 million to the project, if the remainder can be raised.
Whittaker was asked about stipulations by the donor. “The only one is that it be restored to its original configuration,” he said. “All the conversations we’ve had have been about the outside, not the inside.”
Graves presented slides showing firehouses—the structure housed the city’s fire department until 1986—which have successfully been turned into restaurants.
Concerns were raised over the possibility of the city being left with paying utilities and maintenance in the event a business locates inside the structure and fails.
On a motion by councilman Nathan Bland, the vote was 6-0, to allow Whittaker to float a Request for Proposal and craft it to include the stipulation the building must be renovated as outlined in Graves’ proposal.
WATER LINES—Whittaker dropped a bombshell, a good one, in a routine discussion of TxDOT’s upcoming US 79 rehabilitation project which includes downtown.
“They have said they will include ‘utilities’ and, to me, this means new water lines along US 79,” he said.
That would include lines along the north side of East Cameron Avenue (US
79) between Green and Burleson, a move which would save city taxpayers, and rate payers, hundreds of thousands of dollars.
VISITORS—Council visitor Deta Donnelly, a former city pool manager, presented a list of what she termed “state violations” at the city pool and also noted drinking was occurring at after-hours pool parties.
Whittaker addressed those concerns in a email to the council Wednesday showing items mentioned by Donnelly either already at the pool or on order.
“Yes, the restrictions on alcohol consumption, only for after-hours private parties, (after the pool is closed to the public) have been removed,” Whittaker said.
“My position is that adults are adults and the responsibility, and risk, is theirs,” he told The Reporter.
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