| The Dan Patch Historical Society has found a silver lining to the delays it experienced this summer in getting the historic Savage Depot back in town.
An Autumn Depot Fest is slated to take place Saturday, Oct. 21, when the public can get a glance at the inside of the depot and the city and historical society can show off future renovation plans. Plus, commemorative brick sales have been extended, so anyone who didn't get a chance to buy a "Walk of Fame" brick can do so. The "Walk of Fame" was originally slated to be dedicated on Sept. 8, the 100th anniversary of Dan Patch's world record of 1:55 at the Minnesota State Fair. However, the depot site wasn't ready, so the dedication has been put off until spring.
The 214 bricks that were already ordered have arrived and will be on display at the Depot Fest. Those bricks - and the others that are ordered by Feb. 1 - will be placed into a permanent walkway near the depot. Funds raised from the brick sale are paying for the move, restoration and landscaping around the depot. Bricks sell for $100 for a 4-inch by 8-inch brick or $175 for an 8-inch by 8-inch brick. Each brick is permanently imprinted with a name or dedication.
Janet Williams, secretary of the Dan Patch Historical Society, said extending the sale will allow people to see the bricks that are already made and inspire them to place their own order. During Dan Patch Day at the Minnesota State Fair, many relatives of M.W. Savage expressed an interest in buying bricks, as did other folks who don't live in Savage.
Besides showing off the bricks and future depot plans, the Autumn Depot Fest will feature a bake sale by the three MOMS Clubs in Savage and autumn produce sales by area vendors and individuals.
Assistant City Administrator Scott Somers sees the Depot Fest as another opportunity for residents to come downtown and see how the area is evolving. He noted that the depot is one of several new developments in the downtown area. Besides the depot relocation, the downtown parking lot was upgraded and the Savage Art Studios moved into The Hamilton. Next year, there will be a farmer's market on Wednesday evenings in the parking lot, which will be run by the St. Paul Farmer's Market.
Depot plans
The depot plan was topic of discussion this week for the Savage Economic Development Commission (EDC).
Somers said the exterior of the building will be updated with new lapboard siding, windows and doors, and the interior will be restored and preserved. Some type of tear-out work was needed to install new electric service and insulation, he explained, so the city's depot committee needed to find a way to do that, while still preserving the historic nature of the building. The exterior method was chosen, he explained, because the siding, doors and window can more easily be replicated with new materials.
Also, negotiations are continuing with Annette Grant with her plans to lease half of the depot and run a coffee shop. The other half of the depot will be used as display space for the historical society and public meeting rooms.
Somers said Grant initially proposed to rent the space for $1 a year for five years. But that didn't seem fair, he noted, saying city tenants in the first floor of The Hamilton pay $10 to $12 per foot and a tenant in a city-owned property (old Warrick building, which is now a nail salon) on 123rd Street pays $7.80 a square foot.
Somers said city staff felt asking Grant to pay the same rate as the nail salon was reasonable, but asked for further input from the EDC.
City Administrator Barry Stock said Grant would pay for her own taxes, utilities, insurance and lease-hold improvements to her part of the depot space. "She is willing to do the improvements to the building that relate to her business, but she is still seeking at least a year's free rent from the city," he said.
EDC Commissioner Ray Leathers suggested coming up with a profit-sharing arrangement with Grant, whereby her rent might be based on her profits, as opposed to a flat rental rate.
But EDC Commissioner Tom Hansen asked, "what if the business isn't successful?"
Hansen went on to say that the first year of business, when Grant is getting her feet on the ground, is different, "She's making an investment and needs to grow her business," he said. "We need her to be as strong as she can be."
So, the city should start off with the flat rental rate of around $500 a month, Hansen continued. "Then you go back and tie in to a percentage of her sales in the following years," he said. "That way, we're still getting rent," he said.
The other EDC commissioners agreed, saying the city needs to be fair to everyone who leases city property in the downtown area and can't be giving rent away. They also felt the $7.80 a square foot price was an equitable offer.
Somers said the city hopes that exterior improvements to the depot can take place over the winter so that the space is ready to be occupied in the spring. But Stock noted the renovation project is a partnership with the historical society, which is working with contractors to donate their services or provide them at cost. Therefore, progress on the exterior renovations might take longer than anticipated.
Nancy Huddleston can be reached at editor@savagepacer.com.
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