By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

The Litchfield Park City Council is set to vote Wednesday, March 19 on a proposed lease agreement with the P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center, paving the way for the restoration and operation of the historic Litchfield House.

The agreement, which will be considered during the council’s regular meeting at the Litchfield Park Branch Library Community Room, outlines a 40-year lease with four optional 10-year renewals, allowing the Heritage Center to renovate and manage the property as a museum and event space.

The city has owned the 20-acre La Loma Homestead, including the Litchfield House, since 2009. While efforts to revitalize the historic site have been ongoing, a major step came in fall 2024 when the council approved the construction of a new library on the hilltop and an intergovernmental agreement with Agua Fria Union High School District for an arts academy.

Both projects are expected to be completed by fall 2026.

The P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center has long been dedicated to preserving the site and has planned a two-phase restoration.

Phase 1 will include renovating the top floor of the Litchfield House, creating eight galleries, a temporary entrance and gift shop, a catering kitchen, a workspace and archives, handicapped parking, and landscaping.

Phase 2 will expand the facility with an assembly room, storage areas, a rotating exhibit gallery, a permanent gift shop, and an elevator for accessibility.

Under the lease agreement, the city will charge the Heritage Center $10 for the initial 40-year term and $10 per 10-year renewal. The city will also provide utilities and road access while waiving building permit fees. The Heritage Center, in turn, will be responsible for site maintenance, insurance for operations, and the completion of Phase 1 renovations within 30 months.

The lease also includes an annual $33,000 operations support payment from the city, contingent on matching contributions from three other cities. Additionally, a Litchfield Park City Council member, currently Councilmember Allen, will serve on the Heritage Center’s board of directors.

Mayor Thomas Shoaf emphasized the significance of the project, highlighting its role in fulfilling Paul W. Litchfield’s vision for the property as a cultural and performing arts space.

“We have the property because the Litchfield family wanted to make sure it was used in a way that was consistent with what Paul Litchfield envisioned back in the 1920s — a cultural and performing arts area,” Shoaf said.

The La Loma Homestead revitalization effort dates back to 2002, when a planning committee met with members of the Litchfield family to explore potential uses for the site. In addition to the Heritage Center’s museum, the larger project includes a Fine Arts Academy & Performing Arts Center in collaboration with Agua Fria Union High School District, public trails, and spaces for community events.

City officials view the lease as a strategic investment, as the city’s costs for parking, utilities, and infrastructure will be offset by the Heritage Center’s privately funded restoration of the Litchfield House.

The Heritage Center will be present at the council’s work session before the regular meeting to answer questions about the agreement.

Visit litchfieldpark.gov or attend the city council’s study session before voting at 6 p.m. for more information.