1999-101-PRIMETIME AT THE RED BALL UNION STATION, STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM GRANT

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VII. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION Project Location: 265 S. Main Street Paris, TX CITY Paris, COUNTY Lamar TxDOT DISTRICT(S) Paris Project Limits: The Gibraltar Hotel is a historically significant seven-story hotel located in downtown Paris, Texas. The historic Gibraltar Hotel site. including a three-story annex. which once housed the Red Ball Union Bus Station is a contributiog historic property which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Red Ball Union Bus Station was built in ]926, and provided the first public transportation to Paris. (See documentation labeled NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES) With an outstanding reputation for state-of-the art healthcare technology and compassionate care,the CHRIST US St. Joseph's Health System has expanded its vision of healthcare beyond the physical needs of people. to the health and vibrancy oflhe community as a whole. This expanded vision is demonstrated both by CHRISTUS St. Joseph's successful record of accomplishment in reoovating and reusing buildings that were once eyesores and economic drains on the City of Paris and their commitment to renovate the historic Gibraltar Hotel and the Red Ball Union Bus Station. Recently the CHRISTUS St. Joseph's Health System, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization purchased and accepted the challenge to bring the "North Star of Texas" back to her original grace and stature. (See photographs of previously renovated buildings labeled, PHOTOGRAPHS OF PREVIOUSLY RENOV A TED BUILDINGS) More importantly, CHRISTUS St. Joseph's Health System has accepted cash gills in the amount of$I.I million dollars, and a 60-passanger bus, which will the enhance transportation value of the project. This support from the Paris community represents a significant over match for the project. The unique public/private partnership, which is described in the attached documents labeled CERTIFICATION OF FUNDING AND SUPPORT, seeks to provide much needed senior services while preserving public funds for other priorities. The agreement between the City of Paris and CHRISTUS St. Joseph's Health System dedicates, for public use, the Primerime Senior Activity Center for a period of 10 years. The rehabilitation and transformation of the historic Red Ball Union Bus Station into the PrimeTime Senior Activity Center affords a contemporary use of a decaying building while preserving a significant historic transportation structure in downtown Paris. Additionally the renovation will improve the scenic and/or aesthetic value for travelers along of Texas Highway's 19 & 24 as they pass through downtown Paris. When completely renovated. the Red Ball Union Bus Station will accommodate the Prime Time Senior Activity Center. and will serve all citizens of Paris and Lamar County, Texas who are 55 years of age and older. Detailed Scope of Work: ARCHITEXAS -Architecture, Planning and Historic Preservation, Inc.. was commissioned in 1998 to prepare an adaptive use master plan for the Gibraltar Hotel and the Red Ball Union Bus Station. The master plan affirms the feasibility ofadapting this property for use as the Primerime Senior Activity Center: it established a project budget, and a phasing strategy. The rehabilitation master plan meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties. Renovations to the Red Ball Union Bus Station are anticipated to be complete in 18 months after funding from the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program. The scope of the Primerime at Red Ball Union Station includes all three floors of the Red Ball Union Bus Station annex (16.162 square feet). The first floor hotel lobby and the mezzanine of the hotel, will. when completed in Phase 2. provide additional community areas, retail and restaurant uses. This request is limited to the Red Ball Union [lus Station which is connected to the Hotel by a walkway, and can be completed and operational before the Hotel renovations are complete. CHRISTUS Sl. Joseph's Health System is committed to seeking additional private or public funds to renovate the hotel. Insofar as the Red Ball Union Bus Station annex is essentially a shell, it will be restored to its circa 1926 appearance as follows. Complete restoration of the exterior shell to meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. This work includes brick and stone and concrete restoration, wood, and metal window restoration, storefront and entry restoration and a new roof. In addition, new water, electrical, and sanitary sewer services will be provided to the building. The building interior will be rehabilitated to preserve, to the greatest extent possible, its original historic character and to accommodate the needs of the Primerime Senior Activity Center. New construction will include: Visitor Center, Red Ball Hall, Campbell Soup Kitchen, Continental Hall, restroom and locker room facilities, game room, craft room, the Wynona & JW Harrison Library, a computer classroom, fitness room, walking track and offices. (Please see documents labeled PROJECT LOCATION) Transportation strategies include the Red Ball Union Bus Station Visitor Center, which will utilize the original windows, the walkway of the connecting structure and kiosks to disseminate information about the history of bus transportation in Northeast Texas and The Red Ball Union Bus Station. The Red Ball Union Bus Station will be used as a drop-off and pick-up point for the conveyance of senior citizens to medical appointments, day and overnight sightseeing and leisure outings. The Primerime Center will operate a 60- passenger bus that was provided by a community organization, and will be painted to resemble the original Red Ball buses. The provision of historically compatible landscaping, site furnishings and lighting are not included in this scope of work and are not part oflhe request for funding. 3