The Grants Pass City Council plans to decide the fate of the Historic Caretakers Cottage at Riverside Park at a future regular meeting.
During its workshop on Monday, the City Council was split on whether to remodel or rebuild the "Reed Building" that faces East Park Street on the south side of the park or to demolish it.
Built in 1920 and utilized as the residence for the park caretaker well into the 1950s, the cottage was one of 13 attributes mentioned when Riverside Park was named a National Historic Landmark. In order to renovate the structure, rebuild it or tear it down, a public hearing must be held by the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission (HBSC). The HBSC made a motion last July to preserve the cottage.
The City Council toured the cottage in August and a public open house at the 1,000-square-foot structure was held in late October. In a recent community survey, 75% of the respondents said they want to save the structure while 25% were in favor of demolishing it.
Proponents of preserving the structure believe it can be restored via a public-private partnership that might result in a coffee shop, snack shack, museum or a combination of those uses. In the past, it has been used by the Grants Pass Police Department as a park substation.
The Riverside Park Caretakers Cottage needs significant work to restore it to its former glory, but there may be some funding options to help offset the costs. City staff said they would look into potential grants and provide accurate cost estimates of the three options before the Council makes a final decision on its future.
