Residents show concern for Mat-Maid building

Grass-roots project could turn warehouse into art gallery, museum

By DANIEL SPOTH-Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- A grass-roots organization in Palmer recently formed to promote "Alaskan visual arts and the preservation of the history and culture of the [Valley] area," has shown interest in the Matanuska Maid warehouse building at 325 E. Dahlia. The Matanuska Cultural and Historical Project, as the group has named itself, recently rolled its articles of incorporation off the presses and is investigating

The group envisions a renovated Mat-Maid warehouse building, complete with spaces for art workshops and classes, a museum for a permanent collection plus local and invitational exhibitions, art lectures featuring guest speakers, art films, and a library of artistic books, videotapes and electronic media. Also possible are plans for a historical museum, a community public meeting room, or rented commercial space. These projects would likely be run by the borough, city or state, should the group find interest in the building's fate among these entities.

"There's a lot of options being kicked around," said Sherri Williams, interim executive director of the project. "We're just seeing what we can do at this point."

There's a long way to go, however. On the group's agenda is the exploration of the building's title, formation of subgroups to deal with different aspects of the process, acquisition of grants and loans to obtain the property and pursuit of an independent contract for its renovation. "It would be nice to preserve it, but it's a daunting task," Williams said.

The renovation process might receive some aid from the Palmer Historical Society. Fran Seager-Boss with the society believes that she might be able to procure some funds for renovation or maintenance of the structure, should the group's plans come to fruition. "It's an expensive proposition," she said, "but I think the city's sympathetic toward anyone who's willing to breathe life into this structure."

The building is currently being held by Heritage Properties, and is offered for sale at the price of $650,000. The New Deal-era warehouse in downtown Palmer once served as a storage facility for produce harvested by all of the Valley's farmers, and is thus a unique historical structure in the city's eyes. It already appears on the city's register as contributing to the Palmer historical district.

The group has already nominated the building to appear on the state's list of its 10 most endangered historical buildings. Presence on this list would make the building eligible for more grants and financial aid. The building would qualify as endangered in large part due to its vulnerability to fire and vandalism; the nearby Matanuska Maid Co-op building was destroyed by an intentional fire last February. The Cultural and Historical Project fears that the same thing might happen to the remaining building; holes in the roof and in the northwestern wall make it prone to forcible entry and possible damage.

With more than 20,000 square feet of usable space, the warehouse building is an attractive prospect for local businesses and institutions. Among these is Mat-Su College, which, according to project member Mike Chmielewski, might want to use the structure for dormitory space, should the college be interested in expanding to a Palmer campus.

Williams doesn't mind if another organization wants to take charge of the building. "What we want to do with it is not in competition with anyone," she said.

The fledgling organization is only beginning to delegate responsibilities to its members, and seeks support from legal, financial, architectural and real estate specialists in the area. Williams emphasized that volunteers are always welcome, "People need to know that there's a serious group out there looking at the building with interest."

Chmielewski agreed, saying that he believes "there are people out there like this group who would like to see something done with that building."

The group has a long way to go, but members are optimistic about possibilities for the property. "There's a spirit to that building that needs to be brought out where people can enjoy it," Williams said.

The Cultural and Historical Project's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in the basement of the Palmer Moose Lodge.