ELAWA FARM EXECUTIVE
STEERING COMMITTEE
STATUS REPORT
OCTOBER 19, 2000
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MISSION STATEMENT |
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PROJECT GOALS |
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Elawa Farm is a public-private partnership dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of a unique combination of natural setting, designed landscapes, and buildings of architectural and historical significance. |
Stewardship of the past, for the present, and the future, through: Restoration Preservation Conservation Education Recreation For and By the Community |
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this presentation is to bring the City Council up to date on the work of the Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee, on its progress toward a complete Business Plan for the Restoration, Programming, and Fundraising for the Elawa Farm Project.
This Status Report contains material developed since our report in February: relative to the uses of the buildings, the potential programming ideas of the partners involved in the project, the specifics of restoration planning and execution, and the preliminary cost estimates for restoration and maintenance of the buildings and the land.
Our request of the City Council is simply the approval of our direction and the concepts outlined here. We are progressing toward a detailed Operating Plan which will be accompanied by a Fund Raising and Marketing Plan in the early spring, 2001. Those documents will contain the remaining steps and timelines necessary to accomplish the charge laid out to the Executive Steering Committee by Mayor Kerr last year. That charge was:
- to secure the short and long term funding (for the restoration) that will not burden the taxpayers,
- determine the various programs that will occur at this site, and
- include a school and neighborhood park with active field areas in the planning of the restoration project.
Mission of Elawa Farm Project and Steering Committee and
Overview of Significance of Elawa Farm Partnership
The success of this project has been based on the coordination and cooperative efforts of the partners involved from the beginning as the Executive Steering Committee. The complexity of this project, and its many important components-the buildings, the land, the environment, the benefits to the community it will serve-are seen in the mission statement.
Overview of Benefits and Programming
The buy-in of each of these organizations and their representatives from the beginning, has given a sense of community spirit to this project. Everyone has participated in ideas for programming-historical and museum displays will educate the community and foster a sense of our community and how it developed; environmental and ecological education will enhance programming already begun through the Forest Preserve and Open Lands; active and passive recreational opportunities will be coordinated with existing programs from the Park and Recreation Department and the Schools; potential garden restoration could enable study and participation in botanical areas never before available to our residents on our own city property.
Together with the historic value of the property and farm buildings, we have an opportunity to create a national treasure. Indeed, it has already been recognized as such by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the White House Millennium Council. In October, 1999, Elawa Farm was designated an official Historic Site under the “Save America’s Treasures” program.
While emergency stabilization is an immediate necessity, the overall restoration plan is in the development stages. Architectural assessments have been made and an architect has been identified to oversee the entire process. David Woodhouse, the noted restoration architect who received a national award for his restoration of Lake Forest City Hall will assist us in our work. Application for National Landmark designation will eventually be appropriate, given the national recognition to date.
Overview of Maintenance and Upkeep
Once restored, the buildings of the Elawa Farm complex and the formally designed garden to the east will require ongoing maintenance and management. An in-house team from the Public Works Department and two private landscape contractors examined the nature, extent and cost to maintain the property. Various alternatives of site management and program coordination have been explored, and are being evaluated. Many are similar to existing programs throughout the community. The cost of all of these options would be, however, incorporated in an endowment program for the project-definitely a different scenario than previous Lake Forest public/private partnerships
Overview of Fund Raising Plan and On-going Governance - Phased in Timeline
A fundraising plan, based on the concept of volunteer involvement is being developed for implementation in the Spring of 2001. Being an initial charge to the Committee, it is recognized that all necessary revenue for the restoration, programming and endowment of Elawa Farm will be generated from this plan. It will incorporate a community education and marketing plan as well.
Since much of the funding will come from private donations, the Executive Steering Committee, with the help of the City Attorney, is forming a 501-c-3 charitable organization, based on the Market Square 2000 model, and named the Elawa Farm Foundation. The Board of Directors will include members of the Steering Committee as well as other community members, and they will have the responsibility of receiving and disbursing funds as well as the long term governance of Elawa Farm. The Executive Steering Committee will be in place during the restoration and program implementation.
This entire project is one of phases. While an overall plan of program development, fundraising, endowment and on-going maintenance are being conceived; they will be phased in on a coordinated timeline. The project will proceed only as funding, program development and the endowment for maintenance are achieved on an integrated basis.
Solicitation of Tenants and Interest
Similarly to the Grove School Project, Elawa intends to reach out to other organizations and groups in the community, beyond the Partners of the Steering Committee for their interest in developing programming at Elawa.
Development of a detailed Operations Plan
The next steps in the development of our Business Plan will be to further seek, refine and cost out the figures in this report, provide architectural and site working plans, solicit construction plans and services, and develop the marketing and fundraising programs. These details will be presented to the City Council in a final business plan in the spring.
Project History
From its inception this parcel was a part of a unique public-private partnership. In the late 1980’s, the City assisted the Lake County Forest Preserve by making a generous contribution for the acquisition of the 450 acre Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve. In 1998, after more than 3 years of work, Lake Forest Open Lands purchased a 195 acre block of land which included the 16 acre Elawa site. In order to preserve 70% of the property in open space, Open Lands assembled partners. The Lake County Forest Preserve obtained 61 acres to add to the Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve. Open Lands retained 51 acres. The City purchased the 16 acre Elawa site. This left the remaining 30% which was purchased by a local developer for building high quality housing.
The farm group, built in 1917 for A. Watson Armour, a member of one of Chicago’s oldest and most distinguished families, is architecturally significant as a rare representative example of an early 20th century gentleman’s farm. It is also noteworthy for its fine design and association with two very significant architects: David Adler and Alfred Hopkins, the acknowledged authority of American estate farm complexes. Please see exhibit A for more discussion on the history of the property.
The City of Lake Forest purchased the Elawa Farm property, comprising 16 acres, for $1.1 million in August of 1998 (located west of Waukegan Road across from Lake Forest Place). The Elawa Farm Park / School site is 10.5 acres and the Farm Complex and Garden Restoration Area is 5.5 acres. See exhibit B for a location map.
The Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee
In August of 1999, the City Council, upon approving creation of the Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee, charged the group with developing an overall master business plan to address the following issues: 1) secure short and long term funding that will not burden the tax payers, 2) determine the various programs/activities that will occur at this site, and 3) include a possible future school and a neighborhood park with active field areas in the planning of the restoration project.
Following its charge from the Lake Forest City Council, the Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee has been proceeding in the creation of a master plan for the restoration and operational development of the Elawa Farm complex. This Elawa Farm Project Report, is the work-to-date of the Committee. This report presents the findings of the Committee and discusses the intended future of Elawa Farm. The purpose of this report is to set the stage for the development of specific operations, architectural, and budgetary plans for the restoration and programming efforts broadly defined herein. For a list of the Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee Members see exhibit C.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - PARTNERSHIPS
The Committee recognizes the success of Elawa Farm will be due solely to the collaboration and partnership between important public and private entities with a vested interest in achieving a successful outcome for this unique project with local, regional and national scope, implications and benefits. The focus areas of preservation, conservation, restoration and education of the land, buildings and surrounding environment provide the basis of the project. Stewardship of the past for the present and the future drives the partnership.
Collaboration is taking place between The City of Lake Forest, School District 67, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Historical Society, Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, the Preserve of Middlefork Farm, and residents of Lake Forest.
Preservation and Restoration Partners
The committee believes that capturing the essence of the historical, ecological and community-wide significance of this site with a coordinated, cooperative focus between the partners is crucial to the future of this project.
Boards and Commission Partners
The Committee will work closely with appropriate city Boards and Commissions, i.e. Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Building Review Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals throughout the process of restoration and program development to ensure thorough citizen input and review.
The Committee has been particularly cognizant of the possibilities that Elawa Farm holds for residents of all ages. Specifically, as programming is sought and developed, all entities involving and fostering educational and research programming in the focus areas will be encouraged to participate.
Professional and Contracted Partners
The committee also brought in two highly acclaimed consultants to help facilitate meetings involving fundraising and program/uses for Elawa Farm. Those consultants are: Susan Tillet, Museum Consultant, and Sally VerShave, President of Phoenix Resources, LTD, Fundraising Consultant. Additionally, Thomas Norman Rjkovich, an noted architect in the field of historic restoration, provided valuable assistance in building assessment and use allocation. Other outside consultants will join this project as it progresses.
The initial city-sponsored visioning sessions held between April and June of 1999, included over 80 participants who felt that this site would be ideal for a variety of historical/museum displays, a wildlife education center, and host to a variety of community events. This multi-purpose/multi-use concept through collaboration is the thrust of this project.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY
Preservation and Restoration Benefits
This project has received status as an official historic site under the “Save America’s Treasures” program, a public-private venture between the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington.
This project has a great impact on the community -- on the local, state and national levels. Elawa Farm is historically significant, as it is the only fully intact early 20th Century Gentleman’s Farm remaining in the Midwest. It also lies next to the 515 acre Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve which The Nature Conservancy identified as the finest example of a black soil, tall grass prairie in the United States. The preservation and development of this unique 16 acre site represents for Lake Forest, and the nation, a truly one-of-a-kind opportunity.
The Executive Committee feels that this project is worthy to be considered as a National Historic Landmark. It is recommended that City Council allow this committee to seek steps necessary to acquire this important designation at the appropriate time.
A portion of this site is being designated as a possible future school location. Elawa Farm will play an important role as an educational resource for this community. The community will also benefit in future school facilities to promote research and learning about early 1900’s life in Lake Forest, in addition to learning about the global rarity of tall grass prairies.
For the past four years, the Lake Forest Recreation Department has been implementing a variety of wildlife education/outdoor recreation programs and activities. What started out as just a couple of nature program offerings has now turned into a program area that reaches over 5,000 people annually.
Elawa Farm provides buildings that are well suited to hold animals. With the backdrop of the Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve, Elawa Farm is the ideal location to bring the community to this location to learn about the flora and fauna of this ecologically diverse area. The various buildings provide ample opportunities to bring school groups to the site to learn about the human history of Lake Forest, in addition to the natural history of the wildlife that make this place their home. Additionally, once the formal gardens and greenhouse are restored, those too will provide a variety of community programs in addition to potential collaborative uses by local organizations.
Historic Preservation Benefits
A primary interest of the Lake Forest Historic Preservation Foundation is that of Elawa Farm’s future role in perpetuating the historic character of Lake Forest. The Foundation believes the efforts of the Steering Committee will lead to a significant addition to the intrinsic value of such character and, hence, an important benefit to the entire community.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT -- RESTORATION OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Provided below are the general guidelines for the renovation of the Elawa Farm property. Listed in exhibit D, are specific steps necessary to complete the restoration work.
- The exteriors of the remaining farm group buildings will be thoroughly and faithfully restored to their original condition.
- The interiors of the buildings will be renovated to a mix of adaptive re-use and authenticity. Compromises will be made on issues such as air conditioning, insulation and space use.
- Of the total 15,000 square feet of building space, approximately 1,500 square feet will be used for garage and/or pavilion and storage space.
The garden will be fully restored and replanted in accordance with the 1916 plan, and grounds surrounding the farm buildings will be restored and replanted.
Faithful restoration of Elawa Farm’s formal garden is possible because of the existence of the original 1916 planting plan. Over the years the garden became overgrown with buckthorn, ash, elm and other undesirable material. Much, but not all, of this material has been removed by City crews.
Total garden restoration will require clearing of the site, installation of an under drainage system, replacement of the existing water system (or installation of a modern automated irrigation system), reconstruction of stone walls, and planting of trees, shrubs, fruits, turf and both annual and perennial flowers and vegetables.
Only one of the landscape contractors contacted submitted a garden restoration estimate. This $250,000 estimate includes site clearing, bed preparation and planting. It does not include the cost of replacing the under drains or the water system or of replacing stone walls. The cost of these improvements requires further investigation.
- Except for the remaining original Kiefer Pear trees, all tree and shrub species will have been upgraded to the most disease and insect-resistant varieties currently available, while being sensitive to the look of period plantings.
- Vegetables, flowers and fruits will be selected from a broad spectrum of heirloom and modern varieties.
- A modern, integrated pest management program will be implemented.
- Modern tools and equipment will be used.
- The garden’s water system and under-drainage will be repaired and made fully functional.
- A soil mix, rather than native soil, will be incorporated into planting beds.
- One or both greenhouses will be rebuilt for plant production purposes.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - PROGRAMMING
The primary purpose of the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation is to conserve and perpetuate the historic character of Lake Forest; to preserve through acquisition, development and restoration, selected historical sites, structures, and amenities of architectural or historic interest; to increase and diffuse knowledge and greater appreciation of such sites, structures and amenities and to assist through research, planning studies, acquisition of historic or scenic easements, operation of revolving funds, and related methods, in the preservation, conservation, and renewal of these cultural resources of Lake Forest.
It is to these ends that the Foundation’s Board formally adopted a position to support The City of Lake Forest’s effort to save Elawa Farm through adaptive reuse, consistent with historic preservation guidelines, of its remaining property and structures.
Among the future uses of the building and grounds of Elawa Farm, the Foundation would like to see an education component, particularly for children, to present the criteria and aesthetics for good architectural, landscape and city design, as well as workshops on the techniques, technologies and resources of historic preservation.
In addition to the above elements that the Foundation believes to be significant community benefits, the Foundation would like the opportunity to schedule occasional membership recruitment and retention activities as well as special events pursuant to the then governing restrictive covenants.
Lake Forest Open Lands Programming
Lake Forest Open Lands has a 50 acre preserve (Middlefork Farm adjacent to and on three sides of the Elawa parcel. Open Lands will be conducting programs on their land and the Forest Preserve’s adjacent 500 acre Middlefork Savanna. These programs will be staffed from the Lockhart Nature Center. However, some activities could be originated at Elawa Open Lands efforts will focus on the natural landscape and will be complementary to the wildlife programs anticipated by the Recreation Department.
Additionally, Opens Lands would hope to use Elawa as a staging center for educational programs, a location for larger group classes in the large barn, a place for some experimental seed beds and a location for storing one or two of our farm vehicles. All of the activities would complement the other resources of the Elawa complex.
Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Historical Society Programming
In keeping with the mission of the Historical Society to make local history a vital force in community life through educational programs of historical value, and through the preservation and display of historical artifacts, Elawa presents an opportunity for capturing, preserving and exhibiting the memories of a generation of our elders. Photographs and artifacts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries must be collected now, as long standing households are broken up. Our ability to accept and actively seek out pertinent artifacts, and to learn the stories of those who lived here, the origins, traditions and values that defined these communities, will be enhanced by a presence at Elawa. Space for additional collections and exhibits that demonstrate the physical beauty of our community as it was developed by those who lived here during its formative years would be an important community resource.
Lake County Forest Preserve Programming
The Lake County Forest Preserve would offer occasional public programs at the Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve and may also offer some school field trip programming. The Elawa Farm, school and Lake Forest Open Lands properties may provide an opportunity for other groups to conduct more intensive activities.
Forest Preserve educators are available to provide text and source materials for sections of Elawa Farm Exhibits that may cover the importance of Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve. The Forest Preserve is also capable of providing environmental education workshops for area teachers for a reasonable fee.
Wildlife Education Programming
Over two years ago, as a result of the recent completion of the new fitness center at the Recreation Center, the old fitness room was converted into a wildlife education center (a.k.a. Wildlife Discovery Center) featuring live, native reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds of prey. The collection comes from private breeders, other nature centers, zoos, and abandonments/ confiscations from such places as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The WDC features one of the most extensive displays of native snakes in Illinois in addition to a variety of other native and non-native wildlife. Recently, the center added a red-tailed hawk and will soon be acquiring a great horned owl for our various wildlife education programs.
The program’s primary purpose is to educate the community on the natural history of various wildlife in addition to the need to conserve and protect habitat for these animals. Elawa Farm will provide an excellent opportunity to expand this very important program.
The center has linked up with LFOLA, School District 67 and other area school districts, Girl and Boy Scouts, Chicago Herpetological Society, Central Michigan University, Ferris State University, several zoos and nearby nature centers, and many other agencies in bringing a variety of wildlife education opportunities to the Lake County community. In order for this venture to be successful, it will be critical to work cooperatively with Lake Forest Open Lands Association and the Lake County Forest Preserve District to compliment one another rather than duplicate with each other. With the Lockhart Family Nature Center in operation, Elawa Farm can provide a great opportunity to maximize resources, create new and different program areas, and compliment the many new activities that are taking place at Melody Farm.
The Wildlife Education Program & Wildlife Education Center
The Wildlife Education Program consists of the following components: 1) Education, 2) Preservation, 3) Conservation, and 4) Rehabilitation/Re-Introduction.
It is recommended to continue to develop our current wildlife education program to take in injured/abandoned wildlife that have been rehabbed but, cannot be released due to injuries and surplus stock from zoos and nature centers. Also, the program can specialize in rehabbing injured reptiles (such as turtles that are often hit when crossing roads during the spring). There are no licenses required to rehab reptiles in Illinois. The program can also become a resource for the community for licensed wildlife rehabbers in the area. See exhibit F for costs estimates associated with this programming.
In order for the Wildlife Education to expand, it is necessary to take advantage of any building that would be conducive for this program area. The chicken coop and main barn provide the most usable spaces for displays, Exhibits and classroom space. This building, however, does provide a large amount of space to house a variety of animals, and the open, outdoor area immediately to the south could serve to house our outdoor animals (hawks, owls, etc.).
The three small buildings that connect to the main barn could also be designated for classroom space and can be shared with other agencies. They may also provide additional museum/display opportunities.
Greenhouse and Gardens Programming
Other programming opportunities include utilization of the restored greenhouse and formal gardens. These offer outstanding opportunities for community and garden club involvement in the restoration process and ongoing programming. If the tall grass area to the west of the buildings is kept in its natural state, this will present incredible opportunities for studying the tall grass prairie on city-owned property. A boardwalk could be designed with interpretive signs to teach people about the Middlefork Savanna. Research plots could be set aside to allow the school district and area colleges to study the prairie. This area will provide excellent bird watching and nature hike opportunities on an informal and formal basis.
The City of Lake Forest has been committed to creating a neighborhood park in the northwest quadrant of the City for many years, and Elawa Farms was recently purchased for this purpose. Approximately 10.5 acres of this property will be designated as a neighborhood park/school site. The City will follow the tradition of providing for both passive and active recreational activities at this site. It is also the intent of the Park and Recreation Board to utilize a portion of the historic buildings for various recreational program and uses.
The Elawa Farm Project includes space designated for a future school. Approximately four to five acres immediately adjacent and north of the Elawa buildings are reserved for a potential school site should Lake Forest continue to grow over the next several years. A school could be constructed to take advantage of the unique setting presented by the Elawa Farm, the Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve, and other the Lake Forest Open Land Association’s education projects in the area.
Should a school ever be built at the Elawa site, a number of spaces could be used in partnership with other programs. Every school is constructed with kitchen and cafeteria spaces, which could offer additional large meeting space for small or large community meetings or seminars. The kitchen facility could also be used for catering services to benefit other Elawa partners during the day or evenings. The school could be constructed to include an auditorium for public meetings, presentations, seminars or forums and include a variety of education resource centers for computer and media use. In addition, laboratories could be constructed for student use that could double as community space for the use of microscopes, seed collection, insect trapping, or other natural science projects. Space could be set aside for greenhouse projects and area garden club activities.
An astronomy center with a telescope could be included that would be useful to the Elawa partnership and at the same time provide an exciting program for public school children.
In many ways, it important to point out that the Elawa Farm Project is an excellent location for a school because of the many opportunities children have to use natural outdoor areas as a center of study. For example, children could integrate a wide variety of outdoor projects into their everyday studies. Projects that children could be engaged in include conducting water analysis, or participating in Citizen Science Study and Eco-Watch. Children could study vegetation or the diversity of animal life or insects in the area. Environmental study units would be constructed to guide children into the outdoor environment just as naturally as schools presently use textbook materials for classroom instruction. Students could study the life cycles of plants and could adopt bedding plants. Farm management could also be added as an interesting part of the overall school curriculum as a way to understand social issues of the past, present and future. Children would have immediate access to learning their lessons in an environment that is rich in the social and natural sciences.
On a final note, it is possible that the school could assist with the overall management of the Elawa Farm site. Should a school be built at this site, a trained professional management team would be in place that could overlap with management responsibilities for the entire project. This could be extremely valuable to the future success of the entire project. Other possibilities for the partnership between a school and the Elawa Farm Project include the potential to offer summer camps for school groups in the greater Southern Lake County area or beyond. Certainly, an exciting site like this could be used to link to adult mentors in the various fields of science.
Attached as exhibit H is a copy of a report prepared by architect Thomas Rajkovich. As an independent architect, specializing is historic restoration and adaptation, he assisted the committee by combining the desired building uses of each partner, with a study of the specific buildings. This report offers Mr. Rajkovich’s opinion of a potential solution for the best possible projected use of each building by a combination of the partners and their program desires.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - MAINTENANCE
Once restored, the buildings of the Elawa Farm complex and the formally designed garden to the east will require ongoing maintenance and management.
The purpose of this preliminary study is to provide the Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee and City Council an understanding of how much funding will be necessary to maintain and operate the property after renovation is complete. The nature, extent and cost to maintain the property were examined by an in-house team from the Public Works Department and by two private landscape contractors. Comparisons were made to the operations of a restored period garden at a living history museum in Wisconsin; employment of volunteers and establishment of a community garden were considered.
A detailed description of the preliminary maintenance costs are provided as exhibit E. Also, please refer to the section Elawa Farm Restoration - Buildings and Grounds, wherein the renovation scope is provided under which these costs estimates were figured.
Comparison to Operations at Old World Wisconsin’s Restored Period Garden
Old World Wisconsin is a living history museum in Eagle, Wisconsin, which recreates rural life in Wisconsin in the late 1800’s. Among the various restored buildings from that era are thirteen gardens, which cover 36,500 square feet. This is approximately two-thirds (2/3) the area of the garden beds at Elawa Farm.
Old World Wisconsin’s Operations Manager explained the staffing requirements to maintain these period gardens. One full time gardener coordinates and schedules the work of many volunteers. The volunteers donate approximately sixty-four (64) hours of labor per week during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Since the volunteers tend to work at a relaxed pace, the Operations Manager believes their sixty-four (64) hours of work is equivalent to forty (40) hours of labor by a full-time employee.
If Old World Wisconsin’s gardens require the labor of two (2) gardeners, by extension, Elawa Farm’s garden, which is one-third (1/3) larger, would need approximately two and two-thirds (2 2/3) garden employees, if the conditions at the two locations are comparable.
Just as in the case of the in-house analysis by city staff, labor is the largest part of Old World Wisconsin’s annual garden budget. Seeds, fertilizers, garden chemicals, soil amendments, etc., comprise only a small part of the cost to maintain the gardens. Tools and larger more costly equipment last for many years, so the annualized cost is not great. The annual garden maintenance budget at Old World Wisconsin is approximately $50,000.
Alternatives to In-house and Contractual Maintenance
Two alternatives, the use of volunteer labor and conversion of part or all of the Elawa Farm garden space to community gardens, would reduce the cost of operating the garden.
A volunteer gardener program could be sponsored and supervised by local garden clubs, schools, scouting groups, service organizations, or the City’s Forestry Section. Volunteer programs are successful at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where they attract a great deal of local talent.
If part or all of the garden space at Elawa Farm were offered to local individuals as a community garden, the City, or volunteers, would rototill beds in the spring. Once prepared for planting, local residents could rent plots of varying sizes on an annual basis. The fees collected would help offset the costs incurred in maintaining the gardens and grounds of this site.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - SITE MANAGEMENT
There seems to be a need for someone to coordinate the use and scheduling of the shared resources of the property and the facilities. The Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee explored several different options for overall management of the farm complex.
In the short term, the City could offer management of the activities at Elawa Farm as in-kind support. The Lake Forest Recreation Department, because of the wildlife education and outdoor recreation programs it plans to offer at Elawa Farm, will have a staff presence on the property and will be a major user of farm building and outdoor space. The Recreation Department’s Program Manager in these areas will spend a great deal of his time on the site. He will probably have an office there. In the next few years, as the farm complex is gradually restored and put to new uses, the amount of activity there will be limited. Perhaps, in addition to his program responsibilities, the Program Manager can also coordinate the use and scheduling of the facilities.
In the long term, as more restoration work makes new parts of the complex available for additional partner programs and uses and as more people visit the property, it may become necessary and prudent to hire a part-time or full-time Site Manager. Activities and space use would be coordinated through this individual. Also, building and garden maintenance operations could be supervised, at least in part, by this position. The City currently manages the Forest Park Beach in a similar fashion. The Beach Manager is an on-site person who oversees all aspects of Beach operations and activities, including use of facilities, lifeguards, maintenance and snack shop. The Beach Manager is currently employed only during the summer Beach season.
Members of the Elawa Farm Partnership who use space and sponsor activities on the farm grounds could contribute part of their proceeds to defray the expense of the Site Manager’s salary, or rental charges for space use could be applied to this cost.
The overseer’s cottage would make a good home for whoever is going to be in charge of the wildlife collection. Many nature centers have their director or staff on site so that constant supervision/security can be provided. It will be important to have someone with the necessary knowledge on maintaining a collection of wildlife at this location to oversee the buildings during off-hours.
Additionally, this space could also be used as office space for the Site Manager or Program Manager, as mentioned above.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - FUND RAISING
A fundraising plan, based on the concept of volunteer recruitment and involvement is being developed for implementation, and will be presented in Spring, 2001. Being an initial charge to the Committee, it is recognized that the necessary revenue generated for all restoration, programming and endowment of Elawa will be provided for in this plan. exhibit G presents the preliminary outline and concepts of the Fund Raising Plan.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - ON-GOING GOVERNANCE
Since funding for the restoration and ongoing operation of Elawa Farm will come primarily from private donations, the Executive Steering Committee is forming a 501-c-3 entity, based on the format of Market Square 2000, and named the Elawa Farm Foundation. This charitable organization’s Board of Directors will include members of the Executive Steering Committee as well as other members of the community. This group will be responsible for receiving and disbursing funds, making contracts and the long term governance of Elawa Farm. The Executive Steering Committee will be in place during the restoration and program development of Elawa Farm and make all initial planning decisions for the project.
It is important to note that while an overall plan of program development, fundraising, endowment and on-going maintenance are being conceived; they will phased in on a coordinated timeline. The project will proceed in phases, only as funding, programming and endowment for maintenance are achieved on an integrated basis.
ELAWA FARM PROJECT - NEXT STEPS
The Committee is seeking approval by the City Council of the direction being taken by this group and the concepts presented herein. We believe the steps taken to date and those planned, represent insurance in the City’s’ investment in the land of Elawa. As the Operations Plan and Fund Raising Plan are further detailed, they will be presented as well for appropriate review.
Solicitation of Tenants and Interest
While the partners involved in the project have all expressed interest in and plans for programming, it is envisioned that other community organizations might also be able to benefit directly and provide programming at Elawa. It is planned to solicit appropriate program ideas within the focus areas of the project from, and for, the community.
Development of Detailed Operating Plan
The Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee will continue to develop the Operating Plan for this project and site. The Operating Plan will incorporate the following elements:
- Architectural and site plans
- Program for solicitation of construction management and architectural services
- Program for public relations and marketing
- Program for fundraising and revenue generation. See exhibit G for Preliminary Fund Raising Plan
- Timelines:
- Preservation and restoration of buildings
- Programming
- Fund raising
Acquisition
of Historic Landmark Status
The
Executive Committee feels that this project is worthy to be considered
as a National Historic Landmark.
It is recommended that City Council allow this committee to
seek steps necessary to acquire this important designation at the
appropriate time.