Daisy Wall Supporter Pushes Plan for Park and Pavilion

Mark Malcolm of Plymouth feels a plan to turn the Daisy Wall, the facade of the former Daisy air rifle factory in Plymouth, into a pavilion would be the quickest way to find a resolution for the free-standing wall that some feel has become a local eyesore.

Malcolm, the CEO of Tower Automotive, has worked with the Plymouth Preservation Network to devise plans for and fund a project that turns the historic wall into a pavilion with an adjacent park that will be given to the city.

The plans would remove the top floor of the former building, which was added in 1905, to return the structure to its original 19th-century height.

When the Daisy Square condominiums were built at the site in the 2000s, the wall was planned to be part of Daisy Square condominum units, but the developer, Daisy at Plymouth LLC — part of Chicago-based Joseph Freed and Associates — went bankrupt before that became a reality, leaving the future of the wall in doubt as development ceased on additional units. PNC Bank now owns the property.

Under pressure from condominium residents who have grown tired of looking at the wall and are fearful of declining property values, the developer has offered to tear down the wall and build a monument park in its place, noting the site's place in Plymouth's industrial history.

Malcolm argued to the Plymouth Planning Commission on Wednesday that his group's plan preserves the wall and offers an attractive addition to the area. Additionally, he said, his plan is the only option that can be completed this year.

For Malcolm, the advantage of the pavilion option is more than just timing; he said the plan honors the city's heritage by leaving intact the facade of the iconic company, which relocated to Rogers, AK, in 1959.

In his presentation to the commission, Malcolm said the pavilion is "the quickest, best and most reliable outcome" to please the community.

The plans come with a pricetag, though, but Malcolm said much of this would be offset by the $120,000 the property owner had offered to demolish the wall and create the park. He estimated an additional $80,000-130,000 would be needed to create the pavilion and said the Plymouth Preservation Network has received pledged funds to cover the cost. The group will need to come up with the total by the May 6 planning commission meeting.

"We're not doing this for any kind of profit motive," Malcolm said. "We all live in this community."

Resident cautiously supportive of idea

Rich Chylla, who serves on the condominium association's board, said the process of determining the wall's future has been a headache.

"It's a frustrating process for us," said Chylla, who moved to the Daisy Square condominiums in January 2007.

He said the presence of the free-standing wall dramatically affects property values for himself and his neighbors, and he feels residents should not have to bear the financial impact of the ongoing saga.

Chylla was the only Daisy Square resident in attendance at the meeting.

He said he supports the pavilion idea, but has concerns it could create a place for people to loiter, which could be a problem given its location alongside private property.

Commission votes to secure financial obligation from property owner

Planning commissioners voted Wednesday to mandate a financial commitment from the property owner, PNC Bank, and developer Joseph Freed & Associates to offset the costs of moving forward with the pavilion or park plans before it agrees to negotiate a new Planned Unit Development (PUD) planning document for the property.

The document, which has been in negotiations since 2011, would separate the area with the Daisy Wall from the condominium property, converting the area to green space for the city. Representatives from Freed & Associates are expected to attend the May 6 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at .