02-01-10 Regular Meeting of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors minutes

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A8. BTF is raising private funds for the design and construction of facilities that will complement the Visitors Center while assisting in presenting the world's last dreadnought-type battleship. We plan to construct, in cooperation with TPWD, a wharf adjacent to the ship on its north side. The north side ofthe existing berth is the "spoil area" where the material from the original 1948 dredging was deposited. This location was selected specifically to minimize any adverse impact on possible Battlefield artifacts. The wharf would not be functional, of course, because the Texas will not be in the water, but it will be outfitted to depict the ship in mid-World War II, in the process of being resupplied before returning to action. The wharf will have a building which will house amenities that will help tell the ship's history, will provide exhibit space for the presentation of ship's artifacts, will incorporate workshops where visitors can observe on-going ship's restoration projects, will include several offices and climate-controlled storage for the photos, documents and other Texas artifacts that are not being displayed. It is possible that the building will include a multi-purpose facility which could take the form of a briefing room, where visitors are "briefed" on an upcoming convoy escort mission (like many the Texas supported in World War I) or a gunfire support mission in support ofa World War II island invasion. The exhibit space will present a photographic history of the ship, including the many famous personages who walked her decks. The restoration shop will be a fully functional work space, where members of First Texas Volunteers as well as members ofTPWD's restoration staff, will be conducting the on-going restoration of the ship. The entire wharf and amenities may be designed to look like 1940s-vintage construction, but it will be a "green" building, with solar panels for electricity and with a low-maintenance design. An additional benefit of placing these new facilities on the north side of the existing berth is that, once they are in place, the existing buildings on the south side of the berth can be removed, along with two existing parking lots. Removal of these structures and parking lots will allow the entire south side of the berth to become part of a completely restored Texian Camp, a significant addition to the history of the Battle of San Jacinto. Dry-Berth Project Rationale - The economic rationale for a dry berth is to avoid the cost of periodically placing the Texas in drydock to repair and maintain the ship below the waterline. (The U. S. Navy rehabilitates active-duty ships in drydock at least every 8-10 years.) The Texas was last dry-docked in 1988-90 at a cost of over $15 million. During that time in drydock, only 15-20% of her underwater hull plating was replaced. Rather than spend in excess of $15 million (of Texas taxpayer money) every 15 or 20 years to patch the hull, TPWD searched for a more cost-effective alternative. Starting in the mid-1990s, several "Master Plans", both for the ship and for the Battleground, were proposed and discussed. More information on the "Master Plan" is presented below. 5