Preserving and finding new purpose for the Hall of Waters is central to a far-reaching proposal submitted recently by partners Stacy Macy and Chris Phillips.
But they say reintroducing mineral water to the iconic, Art Deco-era building – and making the water free for people who drink it – is of equal importance in their quest to revive Excelsior Springs’ most famous structure.
“Our intent is realigning the Hall with its original purpose, which is ensuring the health of people,” said Macy, who discussed the plan shortly after she and Phillips made it public in a press release (Excelsior Springs Standard, July 26). “Without water is it (the Hall) really Excelsior Springs at this point? The water is essential to the vitality of the community.”
The Macy-Phillips proposal is one of two received by the City of Excelsior Springs, the current owner and occupant of the Hall of Waters. A second plan, submitted by Dr. Kenny Davin Fine, a Texas physician-musician-businessman (www.finerhealth.com), is also under consideration.
Macy, a corporate attorney who no longer actively practices law, said she and Phillips, a consultant to businesses, haven’t talked to Fine, but would given the opportunity. He has, however, been in Excelsior Springs to meet informally with a member of the city council.
The city has said it’s in no rush to make a decision on either proposal, but that it will form a committee to evaluate the plans before making a recommendation to the city council.
Macy told The Standard that restoring mineral water to the Hall is far more complicated than turning a number of valves and reopening the water bar, the building’s first-floor centerpiece.
At its height, 10 varieties of water were produced by local wells and eventually piped to the Hall. The building itself is located above one well, with two others nearby, Macy said.
She said she and Phillips employed a Kansas City engineer to evaluate the prospect of restoring water to the building. The news was problematic, Macy said, and the solution expensive.
“It’s the opinion of the engineers that none of those wells is viable,” she said.
That’s not to say, however, that uncontaminated mineral water isn’t available at a deeper level beneath the Earth’s surface.
Should the city endorse the Macy-Phillips plan, the first step would be to drill test wells to see where pure mineral water is available.
To read the rest of this story please see the Friday, July 29 issue of The Standard