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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Atwood Stadium and part of Carriage Town in Flint could lose historic status
Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com By Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com
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on August 10, 2013 at 7:00 AM, updated August 10, 2013 at 7:06 AM
FLINT, MI – Atwood Stadium and part of the Carriage Town neighborhood around it could be on the way to losing its historic status.
A three-person committee has been formed to study stripping historic designation from the area, a move that would make it easier to redevelop the area.
“There’s not much historic preservation going on there,” said Atwood Stadium Authority Director John McGarry, one of three people appointed by Flint Emergency Manager Michael Brown to study the idea. “There are a lot of houses that could be demolished.”
But Flint historian Dave White disagrees.
“I don’t think they should change the ordinance just for people who don’t want to fix up their houses,” said White, president of the Genesee County Historical Society. “This is just stupid.”
Brown formed the committee at the request of the Atwood Stadium Authority and the committee will study the proposed changes and make a recommendation to the city. Read the resolution here.
City officials will then decide which course of action to take.
Carriage Town is more than 100 years old, making it one of Flint’s oldest neighborhoods. It was once the center of Flint’s early carriage-making industry. The historically recognized district lies north of the Flint River between Fifth Avenue, Saginaw Street, Atwood Stadium and Begole Street.
The area being studied includes about six homes that have been restored to fit in with the historic look and feel of the Carriage Town Historic neighborhood, while six more or either boarded up or in need of major repairs.
Homes in disrepair must be replaced rather than knocked down, according to guidelines for historic neighborhoods. Repairs should match the original design, color, texture and visual qualities.
“The historic district designation brings with it a number of protections for historic properties that are hard to modify to fit any proposals that are more modern,” said Mayor Dayne Walling. “The question is what the future of the Hurley/Atwood area is – historic preservation or a new pattern of development.”
The 11,000-seat Atwood Stadium on West Third Avenue was dedicated on June 8, 1929. Construction began on the structure in fall 1928, according to the Atwood Stadium website, and completed the following spring.
Over the years, the stadium has played host to high school football and baseball, a visit by Sen. John F. Kennedy during his 1960 presidential campaign, as well as boxing matches and concerts.
In April, Kettering University said it was in discussions to purchase Atwood.
Places like Atwood, Kettering, Hurley Medical Center, Mott Children’s Hospital, McLaren-Flint and University of Michigan-Flint are places that help market the city, officials said.
“We want to revitalize the area,” said emergency manager Michael Brown. “The idea is to come up with a long term development strategy. It’s a great opportunity to rebuild the city around these kinds of assets.”’
Committee members were selected because they demonstrated an interest and knowledge of historic preservation and because they represent an organized local historic preservation organization, city Attorney Peter Bade said.
Hyon Shin said he doesn’t care if the area around his Exclusive Cleaners along West University Avenue is declassified as part of the Carriage Town Historic District.
“Even if they keep it historic side, it’s not going to help,” said Shin, adding the cleaners has been in his family for 30 years. “Lately, customers are scared to come down.”
The area includes from the Flint River north on Prospect Street and then east on West University Avenue to North Grand Traverse Street south to the river.
Members appointed to the committee include Carriage Town resident Tim Monahan, Genesee County Historical Society member Sally Jaeger and McGarry.
The area includes an American-Indian burial site on Stone Street between First and Second avenues.
“How much more historical can you get,” White said, adding that there should’ve been someone appointed to the committee who was interested in historic preservation. “It’s just very frustrating that again the city doesn’t support historic preservation.”
When Shin wanted to replace the facade of his business, he wanted to use wood materials because it was cheaper. But he had to use brick to maintain the buildings historic look.
Shin said it cost $10,000 to $15,000 more for the project.
He owns two lots adjacent to his cleaners. Before his remodeling project cut into his savings, Shin had hopes of building a laundromat.
“Now, there’s no money to do anything,” he said.
McGarry said the study group would bring a recommendation to the city in about a month.
“I look forward to seeing the results of the study and the data on the historic structures that are still in a livable condition,” Walling said.
Dominic Adams is a reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact him at dadams5@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+. |
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Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:40 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Just watch as the houses to be demolished turn out to be the houses owned by Hurley. When the Heartland Manor, then owned by Hurley, was designated as unable to continue use as a nursing home, Hurley abandoned it to the scavengers.
The Land bank took the property with an agreement that Hurley could get the land back within three years. Hurley did not reclaim the property. Former Flint DPW Director John Carpenter fought to get the money to tear the structure down for the Land Bank. The biggest chunk came from MSHDA. The parking lot on University owned by the City, the parking lots on Fifth owned by Hurley, and the four houses on Begole were all demolished to make a clean slate for future development.
Hurley wanted to move the nursing home to the block designated a s historical and bought a number of houses in that area. Hurley's plans were blocked and they started on a violation of Flint's "demolition through neglect" ordinance.
Hurley has neglected those homes for so long there may be no choice but to demolish them. t will be interesting to see just what plans Hurley and Kettering have for that area. It will probably come straight out of the Sasaki Plan designed for that area. |
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Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:55 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:57 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The plan has 2 visions:
* Flint urban Riverfront
* Flint River State Park
Both visions support the expansion of Kettering into a unique Riverfront campus and up to a 400,000 square foot building spaces. There are plans for the kearsley Business Park and an increase in diverse housing, such as single homes, townhouses and condominiums. |
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Sat Aug 10, 2013 5:09 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| When will the city address the neglect in the Civic park historic designation and speed up demolition of those homes. Or are they too far north from the planned new housing? |
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Sat Aug 10, 2013 5:11 pm |
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Raymond Sist
F L I N T O I D
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| My friend Howie says that everything North of Welch Blvd., with the exception of Foss Ave. (have to pacify the pastor) will be ignored. |
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Sat Aug 10, 2013 5:16 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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City of Flint to hand over Atwood Stadium to Kettering University
Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com By Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com
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on August 13, 2013 at 4:30 PM, updated August 13, 2013 at 6:49 PM
FLINT, MI – Flint Emergency Manager Mike Brown has ordered the transfer of Atwood Stadium to Kettering University.
“I think it’s a win-win for the community,” said Atwood Stadium Authority Director John McGarry. “We look forward to the successful transition.”
As part of the transfer, Kettering will reimburse the city for more than $30,000 in electrical repairs to get the stadium operational for the upcoming football season.
McGarry estimated the $33,000 in electrical work is needed because of damage caused by vandals. He said the vandalism occurred several months ago and repairs must take place before high school football games scheduled for later this month can be played.
Brown signed a memorandum of understanding for the repairs on July 31.
The resolution was posted on Flint’s website on Monday, Aug. 12. It says Atwood Stadium and certain surrounding properties will be transferred to Kettering.
McGarry said the surrounding land mentioned is on Stone Street between Water Street and Second Avenue. The stadium authority purchased the land years ago, McGarry said, in hopes of expanding parking.
Officials have not said when Kettering will take over Atwood.
“That’s out of my hands,” McGarry said.
Councilman Bernard Lawler, whose Fifth Ward includes Atwood, said constituents he has spoke with support the move as long as Kettering allows for the site to be used for high school football games and other community events.
Lawler, who said he attended a meeting about the stadium with Kettering and Atwood Authority officials, said Kettering is already planning upgrades such as replacing the playing surface inside the stadium.
“If Kettering wanted to change the use, it would have to go back to the city,” Lawler said, adding that Kettering will at first lease the facility and later purchase it. “I think this is going to be a great development for this area and for the city.”
Lawler did not know how much Kettering will pay for Atwood.
Kettering President Robert McMahan has continued to do things around University Avenue, McGarry said, to ensure the area is a vibrant part of the community.
“They’ve committed to maintain the historical uses of the stadium,” McGarry said. “We anticipate Kettering will bring new events to it so it will be more utilized.”
A $15.5 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to Kettering will help the university complete several projects, such as a revised campus master plan, new biology program and new lab space for chemical engineering.
“We are also keenly aware of the importance a well-maintained Atwood Stadium has to the future viability of the University Corridor region,” McMahan said in an emailed statement to MLive-Flint Journal. “It makes sense for us to take this proactive role in the preservation of a cherished facility in Flint. Keeping institutions like Atwood Stadium viable is critical to ensuring the University Corridor becomes a safe, walkable connector for Kettering University, and the neighborhoods around us, to downtown Flint.”
The memorandum of understanding comes on the heels of Flint commissioning a study that could remove Atwood Stadium and surrounding area from the historic Carriage Town neighborhood.
The 11,000-seat Atwood Stadium on West Third Avenue was dedicated on June 8, 1929. Construction began on the structure in fall 1928, according to the Atwood Stadium website, and completed the following spring.
Over the years, the stadium has played host to high school football and baseball, a visit by Sen. John F. Kennedy during his 1960 presidential campaign, as well as boxing matches and concerts.
Atwood Stadium Authority currently operates the city-owned stadium, but McGarry said the authority could take on a strictly fundraising role once Kettering takes over.
Dominic Adams is a reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact him at dadams5@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+. |
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Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:08 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Kettering officials confirm Atwood Stadium will now be a part of campus
Posted: Aug 14, 2013 12:26 PM EDT Updated: Aug 14, 2013 2:15 PM EDT
By Autumn Perry - bio | email
FLINT (WJRT) -
(08/14/13) - After weeks of speculation, Kettering University officials confirm they are taking over one of Flint's most historic landmarks.
Atwood Stadium will now be part of the school's campus.
This is a historic move for the city and for Kettering. Atwood is set to become another element of the school's expanding presence in the University corridor.
For nearly 85 years, Atwood Stadium has been a landmark in the Vehicle City. It has hosted thousands of sporting events, as well as concerts, political rallies and other gatherings.
Now, the iconic venue is undergoing an ownership transfer. Wednesday, Kettering University's president officially announced plans to take over the 11,000 seat stadium, which sits just a few blocks east of the school.
"We are growing, the campus is growing, we're in the process of a master planning exercises and you'll see us investing more and more in the community and in Flint," said Robert K. McMahan, Ph.D.
Judge Duncan Beagle helped get the stadium reopened in the 90s, and also oversees the Atwood Stadium Authority. He is hopeful about the change.
"I don't doubt that we'll continue to do the same activities we've done. I don't think anyone on the authority would have been excited about doing this unless we could still be able to use the stadium as we have in the past," he said.
"We believe very strongly that we have an active role to play in the revitalization of Flint and it starts with the areas the university and so we're very passionate about the university corridor," McMahan said.
We're told the agreement calls for Kettering to continue to host traditional events, like the Atwood Road Races and high school football games.
Meantime, the Atwood Authority, a volunteer group, will become a fundraising organization working with Kettering on stadium upkeep and renovations.
We also spoke with Flint Mayor Dayne Walling about the change. He says both the stadium and Kettering University have his full support. |
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Wed Aug 14, 2013 5:17 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| More Mott Foundation plans for downtown. No wonder a federal official says move out of Flint-there is too much corruption. |
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Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:14 am |
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