Title
Update on A. Quinn Jones House (B)
The City was approached by the family of Dr. A. Quinn Jones, Sr. to donate real property located at 1013 Northwest 7th Avenue for use as an African American Museum. This is a report and update to the City Commission regarding the acquisition of the Dr. A. Quinn Jones, Sr. property for use as an African American Museum.
Explanation
In November of 2005, both the Cultural Affairs Division and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) staff were approached by Mr. Joel Buchanan of the University of Florida - Smathers Library, regarding a donation to the City of Gainesville the of home of the late Dr. A. Quinn Jones, Sr. for use as an African American Museum. Dr. A. Quinn Jones, Sr. was an important figure in the educational history of Alachua County and the State of Florida. In 1926, as Principal of the New Lincoln High School, Dr. Jones was responsible for the school's accreditation as only the second Negro high school in the State of Florida. The Old Lincoln High School was renamed in his honor and still bears his name today.
Staff from Facilities Management has inspected the home of Dr. A. Quinn Jones, Sr. and finds it to be in structurally sound condition. The family of Dr. Jones wishes to gift his home of 54 years, along with the house next door to the City for use as a House Museum. The adjacent house is in extremely poor condition and may need to be demolished
The family of Dr. A. Quinn Jones, Sr., had originally approached the UF Smathers Library regarding the donation of Dr. Jones' former home located at 1013 Northwest 7th Avenue for use as a museum. Included in the donation were all personal papers and photographs of Dr. Jones. In addition, an adjacent lot with house were also a part of the donation. While the University of Florida Smathers Library was very interested in the personal papers of Dr. Jones, they had no mechanism to retain the home as a museum.
Mr. Buchanan and Dr. Jones' son, Dr. Oliver Jones, then approached the CRA at its November 21, 2005 meeting to see if the CRA would be interested in acquiring Dr. Jones' former residence for use as a museum. The CRA recommended that this item be referred to the City Commission for consideration.
At the November 28, 2005 City Commission meeting, Mr. Buchanan and Dr. Oliver Jones made a presentation (under Citizen Comments) to the City Commission regarding the donation of the home to the City of Gainesville. The City Commission referred this request to the City Manager. The City Manager requested that staff explore the possibility of the home being accepted by the City, but managed by a non-profit organization and/or a Board of Directors for the purpose of raising necessary funds for current and future facility repairs, renovations and annual costs relating normal operating and maintenance expenses. The model proposed is similar to the Hippodrome Theater which is a City owned facility, in which a non-profit Board programs and maintains the facility, but the City provides major capital maintenance and improvements.
The following events have transpired relating to this project:
The Smathers Library has removed all of the personal papers, documents, and books contained within the home belonging to Dr. Jones and have begun the process of preserving them. These documents will be retained in the custody of the University of Florida.
On February 10, 2006 staff held a meeting with community members and civic leaders for the purpose of discussing the formation of a non-profit governing board to provide management and oversight of the Dr. A. Quinn Jones Sr. home. Items discussed during this meeting were the formation of a governing board, and what type of museum the property would be best suited for. The group discussed several museum operational options, including a research museum for African American scholars with only limited public access. Another option discussed was the operation of a facility similar to the Betsy Ross House, which is not open for public tours, but is only observed from the exterior with changing outdoor exhibits and signage. However, the Task Force deferred a decision on this matter until after the property was accepted by the City, and a final governing board chosen.
On February 20, 2006, the Cultural Affairs Director requested and received $10,000 from the City's Community Redevelopment Agency to be used for repairs to the roof and improvements to the home's interior plumbing. These are repairs that will need to be made immediately. This allocation was contingent upon the acceptance of the property by the City of Gainesville.
During the months of late February and March, staff approached several social and civic groups, including the Lincoln High School Alumni, the Alpha Phi Alpha - Nu Eta Lambda Fraternity, and the Visionaries Social Club, regarding the formation of a museum governing board which would assist the City in the management and operation of the Museum and any necessary fund raising activities after the City accepts the gift of the home.
During this period, staff also contacted school district officials regarding the possible use of the parking lot and school restrooms at the A. Quinn Jones School which is located directly across the street from the home. The purpose of this request was to use the school's parking lot and restrooms until a small parking lot is constructed next to the home and the home is renovated to be ADA compliant. School officials agreed to this request.
On March 10, 2006, Staff received a letter from the Brothers of the Alpha Phi Alpha - Nu Eta Lambda Chapter initially agreeing to serve as the Governing Board and the 501 C Not-for-Profit organization for the museum. Staff then drafted an agreement for the Alphas to assume the operational responsibilities for the home once the City had accepted the home/property from the Jones family.
Over the next month and a half, City staff and Alpha Phi Alpha worked with the City Attorney's office to refine the draft Agreement. In the first week of May, 2006, the (final) Agreement was sent to (then) President Ray McKnight for presentation and approval by the Alpha membership at their May membership meeting. However, at the end of May 2006, Mr. McKnight's term as president expired and during the process to elect new officers, the Agreement between the City and the Alphas was discussed. The new Board was not inclined to sign the proposed museum operational Agreement presented by the City and deferred any decision on the Agreement until its meeting the last week of June 2006.
At the June meeting the new board of Alpha Phi Alpha - Nu Eta Lambda decided they were unwilling to accept the Agreement. The major concerns are responsibility for the liability insurance, staffing and the operational & maintenance costs of the facility.
With this new development, Dr. Oliver Jones, who is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, submitted a revised letter (dated June 27th, 2006) to the City asking that the City accept the A. Quinn Jones home and property and to fund all costs associated with the home to include any current and future repairs and improvements, annual utility costs, and all general building maintenance. He further indicated that the City must renovate the house, accept the contents (furnishings), operate and maintain it forever (or it will revert back to his family), and title the property "A. Quinn Jones Museum" or "A. Quinn Jones Center". Dr. Jones suggests that the City coordinate programming efforts with various community groups.
Because of length of the process to identify both a Governing Board and a Not-for-Profit organization, and in light of the recent developments, staff felt that it was necessary as well as appropriate to up-date the City Commission on this project and to request direction from the Commission. Based on Dr. Jones' wishes for the City to accept the building, the City has a number of options. Several options are outlined below.
Option I
Accept the house that Dr. Jones lived in and establish it as an Historic Site. The City would accept the CRA grant to re-roof and re-plumb the building. No major community events, exhibits or public tours would be conducted as the building is not ADA accessible. No monies for permanent or temporary staffing would be budgeted. Minimal operating expenses for such items as exterior painting, utilities, signage, and other routine operational and maintenance expenses such as alarm and monitoring, pest control, telephone, etc. would need to be budgeted. An historic marker would be placed at the site. The City would decline the offer to accept the adjacent house and associated lot.
Option II
Accept the property (two houses) and establish an operational African-American House Museum open to the public. Dr. Jones' house would be used as a cultural center or museum. This would require refurbishing the interior and furnishings, demolition of the adjacent building, establishment of paved parking spaces (four), and driveway. These costs are loosely estimated to be around $20,000. Initially, porta-potties could be used for temporary events or exhibits. For permanent use, ADA accessibility is estimated to be $25,000 for ramps and the addition of an ADA restroom. Significant renovations to the home and installation of an HVAC system would need to be made to the house. Also, personnel would need to be hired or volunteers coordinated to staff the facility for public use. A budget for annual operating costs and capital improvements would need to be established. This option would establish the home as an operational Museum or Center.
Option III
Establish the A. Quinn Jones School as an historic destination Museum or Cultural Center through the Alachua County School Board (ACSB). This approach would be to try to work with the ACSB to establish the A. Quinn Jones School as the cultural center recognizing Dr. Jones and his contributions. This building currently is used as an operational school and already has classrooms, parking, restrooms, performance center with stage, and the outside grounds and recreational areas may possibly be refurbished as part of a proposed development. Events and exhibits could be planned and held at the school. An historic marker could be placed in the right of way at Dr. Jones' house. While this option does not accept Dr. Jones' property, this proposal could initiate a long term concept or vision for a neighborhood community and cultural center as this location. Staff has not formally approached the Alachua County School Board on this concept yet.
Option IV
Staff would continue to seek appropriate organizations interested in accepting the responsibility and operations of a house museum. Organizations such as The Matheson Museum, SFCC, Junior League, Rotary, Kiwanis, local churches and other sororities, fraternities or non-profits could be approached to act as a single board or a joint board of directors to fund and operate this facility.
Fiscal Note
The fiscal impact is dependent on the direction of the City Commission.
Recommendation
Recommended Motion: The City Commission provide staff with direction on how to proceed with respect to the request of Dr. Oliver Jones to accept the home of Dr. A. Quinn Jones Sr. and the adjacent home/lot for the purpose of establishing an African American House Museum or research facility.
Alternative Recommendation A: The City Commission accept Dr. A. Quinn Jones house as an historic site and decline to accept the remaining real property.
Alternative Recommendation B: The City Commission accept all of the real property being offered for donation (two houses) and convert the property to an operational African American Museum or Center.
Alternative Recommendation C: The City Commission not accept the property and direct staff to work with Alachua County School Board to establish a recognition program in honor of Dr. A. Quinn Jones, Sr. at the A. Quinn Jones School.
Alternative Recommendation D: The City Commission accept the property and direct staff to continue to find a non-profit organization that may be interested in establishing and operating a museum or cultural center.