5.5 HPSR 10-17-2013 September 19, 2013
HPC Mission Statement
The HPC exists to preserve sites of historical and cultural significance to maintain the qualities of the
City's "small town" heritage for the citizens of Elk River and anyone who visits the City by identifying,
reviewing and making recommendations to the City Council on issues pertaining to the historical,
archaeological, engineering, and cultural heritage of the City.
Goals and Priorities
2014
• Educate the citizens of Elk River with respect to the historic and architectural
heritage of the City.
o Continue to conduct oral interviews with digital recorder
• Conduct at least 15 interviews
o Provide educational opportunities through Community Ed, Park&Recreation, etc
o Develop and place historical displays/posters at key community locations—Activity
Center, Library, local banks, etc.
o Walking Tour
• Find incentives to encourage property owners to voluntarily restore historic
structures or to create a historic district.
o Work with River's Edge on MN Main Street Program
• Conduct Archaeological Digs at newly acquired Park properties in the City
• Create Heritage Tourism
• Develop the financial resources and support to save the Water Tower
2015
• Educate the citizens of Elk River with respect to the historic and architectural
heritage of the City.
o Continue to conduct oral interviews - approximately 29 will be completed and
approximately 28 residents still need to be interviewed
• Conduct at least 15 interviews
o Provide educational opportunities through Community Ed, Park& Recreation, etc
o Walking Tour
• Conduct a continuing survey of all historic areas, places, buildings, structures, or
similar objects in the City.
o Conduct a Historic Context Study for neighborhoods in Elk River
• Conduct Archaeological Digs at newly acquired Park properties in the City
• Continue to create Heritage Tourism
2016
• Educate the citizens of Elk River with respect to the historic and architectural
heritage of the City.
o Identify additional residents to be interviewed
o Write second book on the history of Elk River
N:\Departments\Community Development\Environmental\Heritage HPC 2014 Goals 1
September 19, 2013
o Develop and place historical displays/posters at key community locations—Activity
Center, Library, local banks, etc.
o Provide educational opportunities through Community Ed, Park& Recreation, etc
o Walking Tour
• Conduct a continuing survey of all historic areas, places, buildings, structures, or
similar objects in the City.
o Utilize information identified in the 2002 and 20I I Context Studies and Phase II
Downtown Commercial Area Study with the Downtown Redevelopment Plan
o Work with landowners on further studying sites identified in the Probability Modeling
and Reconnaissance Survey having moderate to high potential for archaeological
probability.
o Establish a Historic Neighborhood District
• Conduct Archaeological Digs at newly acquired Park properties in the City
• Continue to create Heritage Tourism
ON-GOING
• Educate the citizens of Elk River with respect to the historic and architectural
heritage of the City.
o Quarterly article in the"Current" about a historical site or event in Elk River
o Conduct oral interviews and incorporate information in education resources
o Work with the Kelley Farm, Sherburne History Center, etc
• Continue to survey all historic areas, places, buildings, structures, or similar objects
in the City.
o Identify other tools to be used
o Continue to utilize the existing tools
• Elk River Historic Context Study& Phase II Downtown Commercial Area Study
—dated 2002
• Probability Modeling and Reconnaissance Survey—dated February I, 2005
• State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) map
• Find incentives to encourage property owners to voluntarily restore historic
structures.
o Stay current with Historic Tax credits
o Stay current with Grants through the Minnesota Historical Society
o Stay current with other financial incentive programs
o Stay current with MN Main Street Program
• Identify potential land acquisition(s) of a property with local historical or cultural
importance by partnering with Park Commission or other agencies.
o Large contiguous tracts of land along confluence of Elk River and Mississippi River
o Large contiguous tracts of land on eastern part of City
• Continue to research best practices for resolution of HPC goals preservation
• Conduct Archaeological Digs at newly acquired Park properties in the City
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