By Sarah Light, staff writer

Close to 100 downtown building owners and others interested in purchasing a historic building gathered to hear the ins and outs of historic preservation Tuesday during what city leaders considered to be a highly successful first-ever Historic Downtown Expo.

The event, which was in the Freeborn National Bank Building and Jacobson Apartment building, gave attendees the opportunity to learn about the benefits of preservation, along with how to go about beginning a renovation project.

&8220;I hope people have gained some new knowledge and tools,&8221; City Manager Victoria Simonsen said. &8220;And if nothing else, an awareness that this is a goal of the city to improve the downtown.&8221;

During the expo, owners had the chance to meet with award-winning preservation architect Pat Waddick of GLT Architects to develop facade concepts for their buildings. Vendors knowledgeable in restoring historic facades were also available to help showcase windows, awnings, signs, masonry and other services for exterior restoration.

&8220;Hopefully it&8217;s brought that spirit of enthusiasm back into the downtown,&8221; said Tami Staker, president of Destination Albert Lea. &8220;And hopefully people learned the economic benefits of historic preservation.&8221;

In attendance to share their expertise on these subjects were Bonnie McDonald with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and Michael Koop with the Minnesota Historical Society.

McDonald and Koop shared the downtown success stories of several other cities from across the state and helped building owners realize that there is much financial assistance that can be obtained during the preservation process.

This includes tax-based financial incentives, certified local government grants, small cities development funding and much more.

&8220;I applaud the work that&8217;s been done here already,&8221; Koop said.

He came here five years ago and not much had been done, he said.

Owners who were in attendance said the event gave them a renewed hope and interest in restoring their buildings.

&8220;I feel like I&8217;ve been given an excellent opportunity here, and I&8217;ve gained some positive information that I feel will re-energize my project,&8221; said Susanne Crane, owner of the Albert Lea Art Center, who has set up a foundation to raise money to restore her building. &8220;I was not expecting the city government to be able to move so quickly in this positive direction.&8221;

Crane said she was pleased to hear about the new Broadway Ridge Renewal Fund, which Albert Lea Mayor Randy Erdman unveiled at the event. The fund will offer targeted funding in the form of low-interest loans and grants for facade renovation.

&8220;I think the city has gotten activated in the preservation direction,&8221; Crane said.

Wayne and Sandy Pieper, who own the building that was formerly known as Pieper&8217;s Western Store & Boot and Shoe Repair, said they, too, were excited to hear about the city&8217;s vision for the downtown.

&8220;I think this historical preservation will be great for the downtown,&8221; Sandy said. &8220;It&8217;s exciting for the city.&8221;

Pieper&8217;s closed about a year ago after being opened for about 50 years.

&8220;I believe there&8217;s a lot more excitement than there was five or six years ago,&8221; Albert Lea Mayor Randy Erdman said of the downtown.

During the expo, Waddick was recognized with a key to the city and a certificate for all of the work he has done in restoring the exterior of the Freeborn National Bank Building and Jacobson Apartment building.