By Jennifer Tangeman
The Cass County Arts Alliance is looking to study the feasibility of renovating Cass County’s Memorial Home.
The arts group has been considering taking over management of the facility for more than a year and made a significant step forward this week when it obtained a positive recommendation from county commissioners for funding to carry out a study on the home.
“It’s a beautiful building, and it needs to be saved,” said Dave Arnold, president of the board of commissioners. “This would be an ideal partnership between the arts alliance and the county.”
The commissioners recommended that the county council fund 10 percent of the cost of a $50,000 feasibility study that might help the arts alliance obtain grants to pay for the renovation work.
Anne Mannix, president of Neighborhood Development Associates, said the $50,000 would be used for architectural, environmental and historical plans needed for grant applications. The money for the study is coming from the county’s host community fund, which is supported by fees from the local landfill.
Mannix said she hoped to submit the application for the study in December.
Another grant opportunity could also help support efforts at the Memorial Home. Tina Henderson, president of Mendenhall and Associates, said the consulting group was hoping to obtain an energy efficiency grant for the project.
The grant could earn the art association up to $100,000 with no matching requirements for lighting and retrofits in the building. The same grant opportunity could bring in $250,000 for a new heating and cooling system and windows.
The county commissioners voted unanimously to give a positive recommendation to fund the $2,500 needed to prepare the application.
Lisa Terry, president of the Cass County Arts Alliance, said the group had high hopes for the building.
“The Memorial Home has a plethora of rooms, of all sizes, that could not only provide the large reception hall for large events, but nonprofits and others could actually have a storefront presence for a small rental fee,” she said.
Once the building receives upgrades to make it handicap-accessible, she said, art displays and gallery-type events could be held on all three floors. Voice, dance art and acting lessons could also be held on site. Once acoustic issues are resolved, she said, many Civic Players productions could be held at the Memorial Home.
The Memorial Home has an advantage over other community venues because other venues can’t serve liquor, Terry said.
Ryan Schafer, the county zoning administrator, spoke in support of the arts alliance’s efforts.
“I think it’s a good way to preserve a historic structure downtown,” he said.
Kado Downs, a local preservation advocate, echoed Schafer’s thoughts.
“This is a good step forward to abate the deterioration that has been happening to the Memorial Home over the years,” Downs said. “This is also going to help solidify revitalization downtown and the cultural aspects downtown as well.”
The home, located at the corner of Seventh and Market streets, was built during the Civil War as a private home for the Kendrick family of New York. The building also served as a Presbyterian Academy and an academy for girls before being bought by the county in 1920.
• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.
