← Back to Broomfield

Document Broomfield_doc_ee8367b306

Full Text

Brunner Farmhouse Background Information (from the June 28, 2005, City Council Memorandum) The Brunner Farmhouse was moved to its current location at the northeast corner of Main Street and Midway Boulevard in 1998. The Farmhouse was relocated from a site at West 120th Avenue and Ash Street that is now the home to the Commercial Federal Bank. Shortly after the Farmhouse was moved, the City Council requested that a Brunner Farmhouse Advisors Group be formed and that they discuss and make recommendations to the City Council regarding the use of the structure. A group was formed; they met; researched the Farmhouse; discussed potential uses of the home; and then presented a recommendation to the City Council. The recommendation is included in Attachment 1 to the May 31 memorandum, summarizing the work and recommendations of the group. Generally, in 1999, the Advisors Group recommended that:  The Farmhouse be restored as an example of a typical farmhouse in the 1910 to 1929 timeframe;  The interior of the house should be available to the public on a supervised basis for small group events and meetings, historical tours, and historical activities;  The area around the home should be landscaped with a vegetable garden (a victory garden) and flower gardens. Some of the work included in the 1999 recommendation has been completed, by volunteers and through conventional contracting. The roof was repaired, a security system installed, the building was painted, water and electric service was installed to the building, a driveway was installed, some windows were protected, elevated landscaping beds were constructed, landscape plans were developed, the front porch was reconstructed, and an ADA accessible ramp was installed. At an April of 2004 Study Session of the City Council, Council discussed further renovations to the Brunner Farmhouse. The April 6, 2004, Study Session memorandum presented two general options for discussion by the Council. The options were to renovate the building for use as office space, or for a museum. The alternatives envisioned that all work would be contracted for and the building site would be fully renovated at the completion of the work. Estimates ranged from approximately $385,000 to $488,000. At the April 6, 2004, Study Session, the Council generally expressed a concern that the costs were uncomfortably high. At the conclusion of the discussion, staff was directed to develop a process to renovate the Farmhouse involving more community and volunteer participation. At its November 23, 2004, meeting, the City Council reviewed a proposal for a community-based, volunteer program. At that meeting, the City Council commissioned a volunteer group to perform four key tasks and make recommendations back to the City Council. Summary brief from action at June 28 Broomfield City Council meeting – Council heard a report on the progress of the volunteer Broomfield Farmhouse Committee from Assistant City and County Manager Kevin Standbridge. The information was a follow-up to the study session on May 31, and presented Resolution No. 2005-97 which would appropriate $230,000 for the renovation of the house. Committee Chair Diana Wilson also spoke and gave an update on her fundraising efforts. She noted that she had spoken to Tom Brunner, former Councilmember and grandson of Lester and Lib Brunner, who lived in the house in its original location. She reported that Tom liked the progress that was being made, and even volunteered to work on the project. She also noted other potential contributors: Paul Madigan for the curb cut, the Legacy High School Football Team which will make the farmhouse its community service project this summer, Home Depot’s “Team Depot” of employees who will be able to supervise the football players, Pulte Homes for drywall, Mr. Vern Castens who has offered 60 of his iris ---PAGE BREAK--- plants as long as he can plant and label them, and John Malone for electrical work. She is still finding people to help. After the presentation, Resolution No. 2005-97 passed unanimously to secure the funding. Resolution No. 2005-98, to create a Broomfield Farmhouse Advisory Board, also passed unanimously.