TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a one-year reciprocal agreement with Long Beach Heritage Coalition for service and use of the Bembridge House, located at 953 Park Circle Drive; and authorize City Manager to execute amendments to extend the agreement for two additional one-year terms. (District 1)
DISCUSSION
The Bembridge House (Homesite), a historic Queen Anne residence located in the Drake Park area, has graced the west side of Long Beach for nearly 100 years. Until the acquisition by the nonprofit organization Long Beach Heritage Coalition (LBHC) in the year 2000, the Homesite was maintained as a private residence. As part of its plan, LBHC intends to “relate and connect the story of this historic glace with the
contemporary community through ongoing preservation, interactive educational programming and community outreach.” Last fall, LBHC contacted the Department of
Parks, Recreation and Marine (Department) to explore how they might be able to collaborate with the City, sharing resources that would have mutual benefit to both
parties. Noting the proximity of Drake Park, discussions included ways to enrich the surrounding community through expanded park programming and tours to grow the
community’s historical awareness. LBHC and the Department have developed a proposal for a reciprocal use agreement
that would grant the City use of the Homesite in return for limited maintenance and landscaping services to be provided by the Department. To confirm a basis for reciprocity, City staff identified community center rental rates for the cities of Anaheim, Cypress, Lakewood, Los Alamitos, Signal Hill and Long Beach. Because the Homesite is a historical venue, Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos (Ranchos) were also surveyed. The survey revealed that use of the historic sites is limited by the Ranchos’ foundations and site amenities. Consequently, the Ranchos were not
applicable to the rate survey. The proposed rental rates are compar...
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