From: NormaLee Andres
To: Lemos, June
Subject: Re: item 8D: 22-347
Date: Friday, July 22, 2022 3:50:13 PM
I support the idea of the city owning and operating "Eagle's Hall" as a public assembly venue.
Norma Leah Andres
16401 Pine Dr
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
From: Paul Clark
To: Lemos, June
Cc: CMAR ([email protected]); Paul Clark
Subject: City Council item 8d
Date: Monday, July 25, 2022 9:04:10 AM
8D. 22-347 Receive Report and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Options for Preserving Eagles Hall as a Public Assembly Venue, Including Historic Landmark Status, Existing Zoning Regulations and Other Options 07252022 Eagles Hall Report
Att. 1 - Photo Essay Eagles Hall
Unless the property owner has asked for this item to be on the agenda, it should be dropped and not even discussed. If they did then it should note that. I doubt it as they are selling the property.
I would think the Council would again want to look at their role in this community. Yet another attempt to control someone else’s property? One property in particular seems to be very odd.
Perhaps some discussion as to the Fort Bragg Historical property list and the ramifications of that would be in order at a different time. The City could have purchased the property, then be in competition with private property owners that are in the public venue business. Not a good idea either I think,
Thank you
Good to have the agenda’s to see what the council is up to next. What committee was this processed under? I have not seen it anywhere till now.
Paul Clark
From: Norvell, Bernie
To: Lemos, June
Subject: Fwd: Eagles Hall
Date: Monday, July 25, 2022 1:58:24 PM
Please add. Thank you
B.
Bernie Norvell
Mayor City of Fort Bragg
Begin forwarded message:
From: Tracy Wolfson <[email protected]>
Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:55:36 PM PDT
To: "Norvell, Bernie" <[email protected]>
Subject: Eagles Hall
To whom it may concern:
My name is Tracy Wolfson and I represent the sellers at 210 N Corry street, the property known as Eagles Hall. The property was put on the market on 3/29/2022 and went into escrow almost 2 months later. Everyone in the community had the equal opportunity to purchase this property.
Eagles Hall is currently in contract and set to close escrow shortly. A lot of time and money has been spent by the current buyers and sellers and we are contractual bound.
Best Tracy Wolfson
Tracy Wolfson
Global Real Estate Advisor
ENGEL & VÖLKERS Mendocino
Engel & Völkers, Licensee of EV Real Estate, Inc.
10483 Lansing Street
Mendocino, CA 95460
USA
Mobile: +1 707 272 5733
Office : +1 707 937 5071 ext. 13
Internet:tracywolfson.evrealestate.com
Mail to: [email protected]
Lic# 02089975
From: Leslie Kashiwada
To: Norvell, Bernie; Morsell-Haye, Jessica; Peters, Lindy; Albin-Smith, Tess; Rafanan, Marcia Cc: Lemos, June
Subject: Agenda Item 8D - Eagles Hall
Date: Monday, July 25, 2022 3:28:33 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I was pleased to see the report regarding options for preserving Eagles Hall as a public assembly venue.
The history of Eagles Hall provided in the report was drawn from an article written by the Fort Bragg-Mendocino Coast Historical Society published in the Advocate News on April 21, 2022: https://www.advocate-news.com/2022/04/21/a-history-of-community-at-eagles-hall/ While the article mentioned Gloriana Musical Theatre (GMT) in passing, the history in this report did not. GMT has been offering high-quality musical productions in our community for 45 years (starting with The Mikado in 1977), and has been housed at Eagles Hall for the last 13 years. GMT produces musicals for adults and children, along with other special shows, revues, and concerts, until COVID halted their planned productions in 2020. GMT also managed rental of the hall for fund raisers for other non-profit organizations and various events like proms, weddings, and dances. Eagles Hall has been a public assembly venue since its founding and GMT continued that tradition.
When Eagles Hall went up for sale, GMT began exploring purchase of the building in cooperation with other nonprofits. GMT moved very deliberately because they were well aware of the various maintenance and rehab issues for the building given the lack of upkeep by the Eagles. Unfortunately, an outside investor came in and purchased the building before they could pull a coalition together. GMT did put in a counter bid, and are in line to purchase the building should escrow fall through with the outside investor.
I think historic landmark designation is essential. People in the community do not want to see this historic building torn down. And they want it to continue as a public assembly venue, especially given what happened with Footlighters. Although we do not know what the outside investor has planned, historic designation will at least keep the building from being torn down without a thorough vetting by the City. Whatever resolution comes before the City Council, it should reinforce the use of the building for public assembly. And, if GMT ends up purchasing the building, the City should do everything it can to help access funds for the repair, rehabilitation, and ongoing maintenance of this historic structure. -Leslie