ENID CITY COMMISSION VOTES TO DEMOLISH KRESS FACADE
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this article I incorrectly indicated that Commissioner Vanhooser objected to Gary Whiteside speaking on behalf of the residents of Enid, it was not Dr. Vanhooser.
The Enid City Commission voted Tuesday in a special meeting to demolish the Kress buildings facade. Many citizens were on hand including past and present Main Street Enid managers, one of which was Lindy Chambers, who had been pushing to save the Kress facade. David Pettyjohn, executive director of Preservation Oklahoma, was also on hand.
The original Kress building had been gutted and had lost its east wall when it became part of the Cherokee Strip Conference Center in the 1980's. At that time it became not much more than a shell and a facade. The main focus of debate was saving the north facade facing Maine Street.
The original contract with LodgeWell specified that the facade would be worked into the design if structurally sound. According to Commissioner Tammy Wilson, LodgeWell had sent an email indicating that the facade could not and would be saved. Wilson felt she had been lied too.
The main point of contention was the additional cost to the taxpayers to save the facade and the question of whether it could be worked into the new hotel design. Commissioners heard cost estimates ranging from $36,000 to $580,000. Without structural engineering studies the true cost could not be determined. Commissioners were not even sure if LodgeWell would agree to incorporating the facade after deeming it structurally unsound.
The city engineer presented his findings which included the fact that interior brick and mortar were crumbling. He also suggested that the appearance of a double brick wall might suggest that the original brick had been covered by a new layer when Cherokee Strip Center was built. Some on the board and in the audience disagreed on that fact.
The commissioners debated as to whether a facade was worth the additional cost. Commissioner Wilson argued that everyone she had heard from wanted the facade saved while Mayor Shewey contended that the citizens he had heard from wanted an all new hotel. Mayor Shewey also pointed out the fact that the hotel would almost entirely be used by visitors from out of town who had no connection with the Kress building.
Commissioner Janzen said he had lived in Enid for decades and had no sentimental attachment to the building. Commissioner Wilson argued that it was the citizens of Enid that had the connection and wanted that part of Enid's history to be preserved.
Enid resident Gary Whiteside asked the commission if he could say a few words on behalf of Enid residents. At first there was an objection to allowing Mr. Whiteside to speak. Mr. Whiteside contended that a person not on the agenda had spoken earlier in the meeting on another subject. Mayor Shewey then motioned for Mr. Whiteside to speak.
Whiteside spoke of the importance of the facade to the residents of Enid and asked that the structure be saved. Commissioners then began to debate and three motions were asked for. The first two, including a motion by Commissioner Ezzell to take the facade apart and then rebuild it again, were defeated. Commissioner Janzen then proposed a motion to demolish the structure but use design elements from it in the new hotel. That motion won approval from everyone except Commissioners Wilson and Ezzell.
The commission does have final say on the hotel design before work begins and they indicated that they would make sure that design features from downtown buildings along with the Kress building would be incorporated into the look for the new hotel.
COMMISSION TAKES NO ACTION ON UNION VOTE
As to the other question being looked into at the special meeting, the Enid City Commission chose to take no action on the upcoming vote to allow city workers to unionize. This means the union vote will be on a November 12th ballot. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union had organized a signature drive to bring the issue to a vote. If passed, city workers will be able to collectively bargain for wages, benefits and other related policies.
Below is the agenda for the meeting:
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the City of Enid, Oklahoma, the Trustees of the Enid Municipal Authority, a Public Trust, and the Trustees of the Enid Economic Development Authority, a Public Trust
Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the City of Enid, Oklahoma, the Trustees of the Enid Municipal Authority, a Public Trust, and the Trustees of the Enid Economic Development Authority, a Public Trust, will meet in special session at 12:00 p.m. on the 22nd day of October, 2013, in the Council Chambers of the City Administration Building, located at 401 W. Owen K. Garriott Road.
AGENDA –
MAYOR AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL.
2. DISCUSS NOVEMBER ELECTION AND DETERMINE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS NECESSARY.
BACKGROUND: On September 5, 2013, the Commission passed and approved a resolution calling for a special election on November 12, 2013, without emergency. Subsequently, there was determination that sufficient notification requirements were not met.
RECOMMENDATION: Consider options for election dates of November 12, 2013, January 14, 2014 with emergency, or February 11, 2014.
PRESENTER: Andrea Chism, City Attorney.
3. DISCUSS DEMOLITION OF THE CHEROKEE STRIP CONFERENCE CENTER AND DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF SAVING PORTIONS OF THE HISTORIC KRESS BUILDING THAT ARE NOT PHYSICALLY DETERIORATED OR FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE AS DOCUMENTED IN THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH LODGEWELL DEVELOPMENT, LLC.
BACKGROUND: Subsequent examination of the Kress building has revealed significant deterioration of the original brick work and mortar, which questions the structural stability of the building and could greatly increase the cost of restoration.
RECOMMENDATION: Consider submitted engineering reports, and feasible options to determine course of action.
PRESENTER: Chris Bauer, Planning Administrator.
4. ADJOURN.
