FAQ

Q: Isn’t that building full of lead paint and asbestos? 

A: In 2015, the EPA conducted a brownfield study of the property to determine what types of contaminants were in the building and soil. Their results were quite surprising to some. Since the building was built in the 1930s, it predates the use of asbestos and is constructed entirely of concrete and steel. The only asbestos and lead paint were introduced in the 50s by Genuine Parts are primarily contained to one boiler pipe for the asbestos and one door frame for lead paint. The greatest possible contaminant would be the large amount of pigeon guano which could contain a fungus that causes histoplasmosis, a lung disease. 

Q: Isn’t that building ready for demo? 

A:  In January 2020 we had a structural engineer in the building and we all were pleasantly surprised at the soundness of the structure. The fact it was built to be a power plan and built in an era where things were built right has definitely contributed to the integrity of the building. 

Q: Couldn’t you build a new building for twice the size of what it will take to rehab this one? 

A: Studies have shown it is far more efficient both for the investor and the city to reuse existing infrastructure in brownfields rather than building new in greenfields. One case in point was recently the hospital in Grafton added a new addition and the cost came in about $600 a square foot. The projected cost for this project comes in around $175-200 a square foot, or about a 1/3 of the cost. Also, it is almost impossible to replicate the architectural and structural components of older buildings because the methods and cost of labor have changed so much today. Reusing those buildings not only produces cost savings but it also has character and preserves a piece of our history. 

Q: How much is this going to cost taxpayers? 

A:  I understand your concern given the recent special assessments, talk of mill levy increase and property tax increases so let's address this. The Historic PowerStation is owned by Hippocampus Holdings, LLC which is a private company. Since taking possession of the property, we have already paid two years of these taxes and so while it is unpleasant for us due to the size of our lot, we understand it is for the greater good of Harvey and are contributing to the city's budgets rather than taking away from them. That will continue to be the case as we redevelop the property and increase its value while bringing jobs and new families to the area. Not only that, but the estimate to demolish and remove the building came in at $395,000 in 2015. I'm sure today that cost would only be higher. We are saving the city that enormous burden by choosing to renovate this building rather than build new. We will be seeking funding at the state and federal level, but those will come in the form of tax credits and existing grants and so should have no additional impact on you the taxpayer. 

Q: Credits and grants are still taxpayer’s money, there is no such thing as free money. How does this not still cost us? 

A: There is no such thing as free money.  The state and federal governments have already allocated this money, so it is going somewhere. We are trying to access this money and bring it to our local contractors and economy. Anytime we can do local we will. It is also important to remember why this happening in the first place. The lack of mental health resources in our area has a huge cost not only to the fabric of our community but also financially to schools, hospitals, and businesses. 

Q: How much is this going to cost? 

A: The HIGH level, EARLY EARLY cost projection of this building is around 3 million dollars. We are hoping it comes in less than that but we would rather plan high and be surprised then plan low and put ourselves in a bind. Many folks are very moved by what we are doing and volunteers are coming out of the woodwork to help in their areas of expertise. We already have had large portions from various companies volunteer their services for free because they recognize the huge need for mental health resources in rural America and want to help in this project. 

Q: How are you going to find therapists to work here? 

A:   Finding therapists is a concern. If it is hard to find mill workers, how much more difficult will it be to find therapists, who are already in short supply. Our plan to address that is found in the building itself. We have hired the best architect in the tri-state area. When we are finished with the building it will be a work of art and first-class establishment. Therapists and clients alike will want to be in this building. It will set us apart from any other mental health providers in the region. We also have some flexibility in that we could have providers travel here on certain days, much like the clinic and hospital does now with the MRI and other specialists coming in. There doesn’t need to be the full-time commitment from providers to keep the building busy, every single area under the umbrella of mental health is underserved here, so in that scenario, we have lots of options.
Q: Why a gofundme for a business?
A: We see the building as being a part of Harvey.  For 90 years it has been there and is woven into the history and minds of its people. That is why we are having it added to the National Register of Historic Places and why people might want to help see it restored. Also, even though the building is currently owned by an LLC, that is only because setting up nonprofit 501c3 is a much longer and complicated process. Nevertheless, we are in that process now. There are also some benefits to having both an LLC and a nonprofit with the same vision because each qualifies for different grants and funding options. That kind of creativity is needed to pull off a task of this magnitude.

Q: When do you plan on starting and completing?

A: We will start with cleanup and demo as soon as the funds are available.  We hope to be complete by end of 2021.