The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Guest Column: Group hopes to preserve FSW property
By Jan Bernath and Michelle McCellan
PUBLISHED: January 24, 2008
We represent a coalition of citizens who care about the future of the property formerly owned by the Federal Screw Works (FSW). We know that the redevelopment of this site is very important to Chelsea's economy. With that in mind, we hope Magellan Properties, the new owners of the property, consider the importance of this site to the history of our community, as well its geographic position as the "southern gateway" to the downtown business district.
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A historically sensitive design on this very visible site would expand (not reduce) its commercial potential, and it would also increase the broader prosperity of downtown Chelsea—in much the way the Clocktower Complex has already done—by making our city more of a regional destination.
For almost a century, generations of Chelsea residents worked in the industries that have occupied this location, even winning awards from the U.S. Army and Navy for quality production during World War II. Instead of demolishing the entire FSW site as the new owners have proposed, rehabilitating and adaptively reusing parts of the complex would contribute to the revitalization of the neighborhood, help to maintain Chelsea's vibrancy as a "destination community", and visibly recognize the shared heritage that defines and unites us as a community.
During the past few months, the zoning of the FSW property has attracted considerable attention in Chelsea. We are pleased that at the Planning Commission's meeting on Jan. 15, Magellan Properties withdrew its request that the property be rezoned to commercial (C-2), stated the intention to request a PUD zoning designation and to "use its best efforts to have the site remediate to allow second floor residential."
Second floor residential would be in line with the 2007 Draft Comprehensive Plan that designates the FSW site as "mixed use" and meets the industry model definition of the American Planning Association: "A Mixed-use Building means a building that contains at least one floor developed to nonresidential uses and at least one devoted to allowed residential uses."
Although the site presents environmental challenges, we believe that mixed use offers the best option for preserving neighborhood and community character, as well as quality of life. Further, a mixed use design could incorporate existing elements from the site, specifically the small and architecturally distinct office buildings that anchor the complex on the northeastern and southwestern corners. A Victorian industrial office built in 1919 occupies the northeast corner, while an Art Deco style office stands on the southwest corner.
Preserving these two office buildings could lead to tax incentives and other economic tools to aid in redeveloping the property, as well as contribute to local business activity and economic success. For instance, the unique office building on South Main Street could serve as an entryway to a larger building. As one example among many possibilities, see the sketch provided to the Planning Commission at their last meeting.
Increasingly, tourists and residents are drawn to communities that retain a distinctive character and identity. People from all over the region come to Chelsea for its intact historic architecture, charming downtown, and retail, arts, dining, and cultural offerings. The historic buildings of the FSW complex, and the important story they tell about the industrial history of the region, could easily attract additional visitors to Chelsea's downtown business district.
Given the important role that the FSW has played in the history of our community, the future of the site matters to everyone in Chelsea. Maintaining tangible contact with the past strengthens the sense of continuity that is essential to a healthy community. If the buildings are demolished, they take with them an important part of our identity. No remnant remains of the multi-grade level school complex that once stood on East, Park and Harrison Streets. As the CHS Class of 1958, the last class to graduate from the high school, prepares to celebrate its 50th reunion, many citizens have lamented the demolition of the high school designed by well-known Jackson architect, Claire Allen.
Let's think twice before yet another piece of our history disappears.
Jan Bernath and Michelle McCellan are members of the Citizens To Keep Our FSW Heritage. Their letter has been read and endorsed by the following people:
Merle Barr, Jr.; Larry Bean; Janet Bernath; William Chandler; Cary Church; Kathy Clark; Jane Creswell; Mark Creswell; Ian Cumming; Sara Cumming; Bob Dahlman; Diane Dahlman; Barb DeTroyer; Rick DeTroyer; Tom Diab; John Frank; Elizabeth Hammer; Paula Herzog; Kathyrn Horste; Joanne Ladio; Susan Lentz; Ron Lentz; Jan Loveland; Andrew Massey; Michelle McClellan; Scott McElrath; Lynn Meadows; Jim Menlove; Bob Merkel; Hank Muir; Shirley Muir; Jim Myles; Karen Neal; Maurine Nelson; Doug Northrop; Betty Oesterle; Janice Ortbring; Candace Pappas; John Pappas; Sandy Peterson; Sandie Schulze; Jan Sevde; Darlene Stanley; Elsie Swanberg; Amanda Tarasow; Chris Tarasow; Fritz Wagner; Bill Wescott; Susie Wescott; Norm Wetzel; Richard White; Charlotte Wyche; Don Wyche; and Harry Zoccoli III.
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