The Mission of Preservation Chelsea

It is our mission to preserve Chelsea as a village rich with history and charm, reflected by historic buildings, surrounding farmlands, and as found in our beautiful and vibrant village center. We aim to work through education, offering to ourselves and the community the history of Chelsea as well as the issues shaping our future. We intend actively to preserve historic landmarks and to have a voice in all issues that affect any possible de-centralization of our village. It is our intention to pursue this mission with full involvement and input from merchants and citizens of Chelsea and to act in ways that make sense for the preservation of Chelsea's charm and historic integrity while supporting a vibrant and successful downtown.

Federal Screw Works

Federal Screw Works
This property has been under threat of total demolition since 2008--there are historically signficant and architecturally interesting sections that should be preserved!

Jackson Street Panorama

Jackson Street Panorama
The DDA voted at the meeting on 9.20.12 to demolish the Daniels Addition Car Showroom despite the letter from the State Historic Preservation Office. (please read below)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Public Comment City Council 11.23.10--Larry Bean

City Council Meeting Report
November 23, 2010

I am here tonight as a representative of The Chelsea Connection Team to provide you with a progress report in our effort to save the buildings in the Longworth Complex. In the last month we have had two meetings to discuss our diversified approach to saving these historic buildings and have focused on the following efforts:

1) Members of our team have been contacting individual DDA members to set up
one-on-one meetings with them to discuss the Longworth Complex. We are arranging these meetings for several reasons. One, the agenda at DDA meetings is very full and public comment periods are short which makes it difficult for us to have fruitful discussions about our efforts during their meetings. Secondly, we want to use a more personal approach to get input from each DDA member about any specific concerns they may have about the proposal we submitted. Thirdly, we want to start to break down some of the walls that have been built up between our group and the DDA, as we have a mutual need and desire to work more effectively together.

2) We are attending every DDA meetings to keep updated on anything that is being proposed for the Longworth Complex, as well as the more recent discussions about the DDA hiring a consultant for reviewing the Longworth Complex as well as several other buildings downtown. We are looking forward to fully participating in any and all public visioning sessions that will be held for public input as was mentioned at the November DDA meeting.

3) We are making plans for a public event to be held early next year to celebrate the designation of Downtown Chelsea on the National Register of Historic Places. This will be a public event and we will keep the Council informed as plans are solidified.

4) One of our members is starting to gather information for holding tax credit workshops for the building owners of buildings downtown that are on the National Register of Historic Places to teach them about the benefits that they can tap into for tax credits and grants.

5) We are compiling a list of monies that are available to any interested parties through public and private grants to help with the repair and restoration of the Longworth Buildings (as well as other historic buildings downtown).

6) We have met with one potential buyer who has expressed interest in partnering with our group and working with the DDA to purchase the Longworth Complex.

This completes our report. If there are any questions, myself or other members of the team would be happy to answer them for you.

Public Comment City Council 10.26.10

My name is Cathy Bean. I live at 204 Washington Street. I am a member of The Chelsea Connection Team that has spoken before the Council on numerous occasions. We were pleased to see that a DDA report is on tonight's agenda. We hope to hear about the work of the DDA that is underway about the Longworth Property.

As you know, our proposal to the DDA for redevelopment of the entire property was declined on August 14. The Chelsea Connection Team is still working for adaptive reuse of the complex.

Our hope is to begin a productive dialog with members of the DDA to identify common ground. We will continue to provide updates on our effort to the Council.

Thank you for your interest in this important decision and in a process of working toward a win-win solution.