What: Rehabilitation and future use of the historic water filtration plant property, which is under 50-year state grant covenants requiring cultural resource center use.
Where it stands: Standing agenda item; on October 28 the commission directed staff to study restroom options, continue ownership reconciliation and lighting design, and deferred use and renaming until all voting members attend.
Next: Staff to return with restroom options, parcel ownership progress, lighting options and history of the property name.
Details
Completed work: hazardous material abatement, electrical, windows, doors, security, accessibility repairs and interpretive signs, funded by the redevelopment agency, City Council and a state grant.
Public input at Historic Preservation Day most often suggested a water museum.
Open questions: city-run vs partnered museum, accessibility of upper floors, repointing, ADA connection to the parking lot.
First extended discussion. Consensus to explore both restroom options (rehabilitate vs new outside), keep reconciling ownership of three parcels with federal release letters in hand, and continue lighting design. Use of the building, museum model and renaming deferred until the full commission is present. See also Historic Preservation Day.