2019.10.16 Council Agenda Item 7

Background:

This item was discussed by the Council on April 22, 2019 - see: agenda item 20 + minutes - and on September 23 - see agenda item 7.

The Town recently purchased developable land located within the Tidewater Master Planned district. One of the parcels, shown as TF2 on the Tidewater Master Plan, contains the original Tidewater Farmhouse and Barn. Both buildings are currently vacant and in a state of significant disrepair. The Town has a tentative agreement with the Falmouth Land Trust (“Trust”) to acquire the TF2 parcel and other property. The Trust has an interest in developing a new Trust headquarters on the TF2 parcel once the existing farmhouse and barn structures have been removed by the Town.

The Falmouth Historical Society organized a recent tour of the two buildings. The Council has since expressed interest in whether it is feasible to salvage these buildings either by moving them to other location(s) and renovating them, or possibly by renovating them in place and repurposing them. The Town remains committed to partnering with the Falmouth Land Trust to locate a new headquarters at the TF2 parcel, which will make renovation of the two buildings in place a challenge. Neither the Town nor the Trust have the expertise to undertake such a renovation project and are seeking assistance from interested and qualified parties.

On April 22, 2019, the Town Council approved an order to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for interested and qualified parties to submit their qualifications to renovate the two buildings and identify conceptual visions and terms that would be necessary to complete the renovation of the Tidewater Farmhouse and Barn. Qualification statements should include considerations for assessing the feasibility for (1) building moving, (2) renovation, and/or (3) adaptive reuse of these structures. The purpose of this RFQ was to determine who is interested and professionally qualified to perform the work. The Town reserved the right to enter into a contract, subsequent to this RFQ.

Four submissions were received by the deadline. The project team included Councilors Asherman and Hemphill, representatives from Falmouth Land Trust and Falmouth Historical Society, and Town staff. This team identified Barrett Made as the most appropriate party to explore a possible feasibility study. Town staff met with Barrett Made to discuss a possible scope for this study. The draft scope submitted by Barrett Made was reviewed by the entire project team on September 10, 2019. A revised proposal was submiited by Barrett Made on September 16, 2019. The team recommends that the Town contract with Barrett Made for the amount of $23,100. The project team proposes to oversee the consultant's work and, upon completion, to report back to the Town Council with any recommended next steps. 

Current Status:

At the September 23 meeting, the Town Councl voted to table the supplemntal appropriation order. It requested additional information regarding the significance of the historic architecture and the position of the Falmouth Land Trust towards this feasibility study. Additional historic information is attached. Representatives of the Falmouth Historical Society and Falmouth Land Trust will attend the meeting.

Attachments:

• Order
• Feasibility Study Proposal by Barrett Made, September 16, 2019
• Tidewater Master Plan and Site Photos
• Excerpts from Prior Discussions by Council on Tidewater Farm
• Tidewater Farm Property History submitted by David Farnham, President of Falmouth Historical Society
• Article by Maine Preservation: "Historic Houses and Land Trusts"
• Sebago Technics Structural Engineer Report

Additional attachments posted on October 15, 10:15 AM:

• Letter from David Farnham, Falmouth Historical Society
• E-mail from David Farnham, Falmouth Historical Society
• The Story of Tidewater Farm