La Plata Historic Preservation Commission seeks council backing to reopen Firehouse as town museum

The La Plata Historic Preservation Commission asked the Town Council on Oct. 21 to endorse a two‑phase plan to reopen the town’s 1929 firehouse as the La Plata Town Museum and to authorize staff work on a detailed project plan.

The commission’s chair, Rich Gilpin, told the council the building needs mold remediation, ADA and building‑code work, and other repairs. He said the architect’s preliminary estimate sets the soft‑opening budget at about $21,000 and a conservative full‑completion estimate at roughly $143,000. "The soft opening could be done relatively quickly," Gilpin said, while adding that the larger work would be paced by funding and other factors.

Why it matters: the building sits in the historic downtown and already contains preserved fire apparatus and materials from prior museum operations, the commission said. Reopening is intended to support local heritage tourism, offer meeting and research space, and complement the existing train museum.

Gilpin told the council the commission proposes a two‑phase approach: a soft opening focused on the first floor exhibits and a later phase to finish the second floor and other systems. He said the commission recommends calling the venue the La Plata Town Museum, not just the Firehouse, to broaden appeal.

Council members pressed the commission on financing, timing and liability. Gilpin said grant funds and commission reserves could cover the soft opening and that a major expense is a replacement HVAC system; he said the SMECO utility had offered to replace lighting and might participate in other energy‑efficiency work. When Councilman McCormick asked for a timeline, Gilpin said, "If we could just get going, I would say within a year, tops," for the soft opening, subject to staff coordination.

Council discussion focused on accessibility and compliance. Council members raised ADA access to restroom facilities and asked how volunteers would be used; Gilpin and commission members said volunteer labor would be limited to non‑technical tasks like painting and cleaning, with professional contractors used for structural, HVAC and floor work.

Outcome: The council directed staff to prepare a formal staff report with risk assessment, budget options and implementation steps for a future council decision. The council did not authorize funding at the Oct. 21 meeting.

Background and next steps: the town acquired the former firehouse in 2002; an architectural study by JD Holmes was submitted in April 2025 that identified zoning, building‑code, ADA and mold remediation issues. The Historic Preservation Commission said many original materials remain inside and that existing grant funds could cover initial soft‑opening work. Staff will return with a formal report that addresses timing, liability, funding sources and ADA compliance.

The Historic Preservation Commission asked for clear council confirmation that the town intends the building to become a museum; the council’s staff‑report direction will provide the forum for that decision.