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Superintendent urges student‑led restoration projects for John Henry Building
Summary
Curtis Stevens, a local school superintendent, proposed a partnership between the school district, county and museum board to have students work on small restoration projects at the John Henry Building as a pilot to attract grants and revitalize downtown Minneapolis.
Curtis Stevens, the local school superintendent, asked the commission to consider a long‑range, partnership‑based approach to preserving historic downtown buildings. “Start with the John Henry Building,” Stevens said. He proposed a memorandum of understanding with the school district that would let students undertake incremental projects — painting, floor work and other non‑structural repairs — as hands‑on learning and to create a success story that could support larger grant applications.
Stevens told the commission he has reviewed technical reports and expects the work would be long term and multi‑partner. He suggested the county, the school district, the Ottawa County Historical Museum Board and local foundations coordinate to match grants, leverage student work for in‑kind contributions, and market a small meeting venue that could bring visitors downtown. Commissioners responded positively, asked about code requirements for occasional public use (for example, hosting a board meeting), and encouraged Stevens to return with an MOU draft and an initial scope for a first, small project.
