Coldwater leases Putnam Funeral Home to nonprofit
COLDWATER — The city of Coldwater approved a one-year lease to The Coldwater Community Center to fix up and use the former Putnam Funeral Home at the northeast corner of Four Corners Park.
Kathie Bappert heads the effort to restore the building and the grounds for use as a community center for cultural, social and artistic meetings and functions.
“The enthusiasm and support in the community have been overwhelming,” Bappert said.
The local volunteers must install a kitchen and a bathroom.
“The city is obligated under this lease to install a heating and air conditioning sufficient for the first floor, and also plumbing for the kitchen and the bathroom,” City Manager Keith Baker said. City expenditures are capped at $20,000.
The city insures the building. The nonprofit will provide liability insurance. Bappert said she was given an envelope with five $100 bills to cover the insurance.
Bappert said for renovating the bathrooms, “We have volunteer construction workers who used to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity. They're looking for projects to do.
“Home Depot has decided they will make us at ‘Team Depot project’ which means $5,000 worth of supplies. And they will actually come and help,” she told city council.
S&K Plumbing started work and will help with the HVAC. The group hopes it will be ready in a couple of weeks.
“We would like to have the house open during the Christmas parade. So, it's all lit up,” Bappert hoped. “We'll have cookies donated and hopefully warmth, so people can come in and see our progress.”
Second Story Marketing, Cork and Carol Tinervia, City Glass, Bill Martinson, Neitzert’s Greenhouse, United Methodist Church along with Southern Michigan Bank & Trust contributed to the initial efforts.
“We have a horticulturist who is advising us and working, labor and expertise,” Bappert said. Showcase Gardens volunteered a truckload of mulch.
“We are working on a five-year plan now, budgeting and planning. That is being guided by experts who have an executive director and grant experience with nonprofits,” Bappert said. “We have a couple of donors who are considering some very large donations to us. Hopefully, those will come through.”
The ten-member volunteer board receives advice from five committees with expertise.
The organization, which started less than a year ago, can only use the first floor until fire suppression sprinklers are installed.
Original requestNonprofit wants city-owned former Putnam Funeral home for civic center
Coldwater purchased the historic 1856 home in September 2020 for a dollar to save it. Council members hoped a developer would find a commercial use for it or convert it into apartments. There was little interest with conversion costs estimated at over $2 million.
So far, the city has invested over $120,000 in necessary repairs to protect and preserve the building.
SubscrieKeep up with local activites. Scribe to the Daily Reporter
Baker allowed the group to gain access to the building in July to clean up the first floor so the public might see the mansion and plans of the committee. Council members were surprised by the community efforts and agreed to the one-year lease.
The city and nonprofit will renegotiate the lease in a year.
— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater leases Putnam Funeral Home to nonprofit
