Ups & Downs of the Arcade

[Jeffery]

I had the first comment to the op-ed.  Suprisingly there were over 40 others, so at least a few still care (discounting the cranks who use any issue to score political points).  Some of the comments were pretty good. 

[MRICEAVE]

Nice post, Jeffrey.  Symbolic or not, it is a shame we can't find the collective vision to save such a magnificent structure.  What could possibly replace it that would have and significance that the Arcade has/had?

[lifeindayton.com]

I'll leave the reporting for the media but I just watched the arcade sell for $615,106 to Dayton Arcade LLC.

[Bill Pote]

Historic downtown landmark sold at auction
By Joanne Huist Smith
Dayton Daily News
Thursday, March 12, 2009

DAYTON — Gunther Berg and Wendell Sturtz of Plymouth, Wis., purchased the historic downtown Arcade for the minimum bid at auction Thursday morning, March 12.

The two men have formed Dayton Arcade LLC for the purchase and plan to restore the complex to its former glory within three years.

"(Berg) believes in restoration, not renovation," Sturtz said. "The way it was is the way he wants to bring it back."

(Read Full Article)

[Bill Pote]

More on Gunther Berg - who also founded AIM Engineering LLC in Plymouth, WI:

When plan B is better
Wisconsin Builder
October 2008
German immigrant Gunther Berg moved to Wisconsin with the intent of selling architectural products from his home country first and remodeling buildings second.

The weakened U.S. economy and dollar interrupted that arrangement.

But with his first American project complete, Berg found that plan B proved to be the better alternative.

His company, AIM Engineering LLC, renovated the 100-year-old building at 411 E. Mill St. in downtown Plymouth.



AIM Engineering project manager Dan Wolf said the success of the difficult project opened the door to new opportunities, and the Plymouth company now focuses on its remodeling business.

“It’s like we got our foot in the door and the door now keeps opening by itself,” Wolf said. “We’ve had I-don’t-know-how-many possibilities arise and it’s not because we are knocking on doors; it’s because people are knocking on ours.”

Wolf said preserving the building’s 100-year history, while at the same time bringing it up to code, was the overriding challenge of the project.

To bring the building’s R-value up to date, the company decided to drill holes in each of the building’s ceiling tiles and then pump in an expanding foam.

Wolf said the process cost more and took more time than installing a drop ceiling, a common technique used when remodeling old buildings.

“It was time-intensive and cost-intensive, but worth it to us,” Wolf said. “People walk in and it gives them the wow factor.”

Plymouth-based AIM Engineering named the 13,000-fquare-foot building’s first-floor retail suites after its former uses as an additional step to preserve its history.

The building was used as a Ford dealership and repair shop in the 1920s. In 1936, a local family turned the building into a theater and it remained as such for about 40 years.

(hat tip to Mike Martin for the article link)

[Bill Pote]

And here is info on a tenant of the Historic Plymouth Theatre Building that was restored by Gunther Berg and company:

Why is Reel Yoga called “Reel Yoga”??
Reel Yoga, LLC is in the 411 E. Mill Street building in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Originally, the Schneider & Son’s Brewery was built here and around the turn of the 20th century, the existing building was erected. It is believed that the same foundation was used as in the brewery. The building then became a Ford dealership and repair shop in the 1920’s.Historic Plymouth Theatre Building

In 1936, the Brown Family turned 411 E. Mill Street into the Plymouth Theatre. This business was in the building for nearly four decades and it is in respect to this piece of history that the name “Reel Yoga” was chosen.

After the theatre closed, the building was turned into a Coast to Coast Hardware store and then later an office furniture and carpet store. The building then went through a major remodel in 2007 to its current space of beautiful suites.

There was particular effort to keep the story of the building alive. Throughout the building , there are suites named respecting the history of the building. One can see the Ford Suite, the Theatre Suite, and the Coast to Coast Suite all on the first floor.

[metromark]

^ At first glance, this looks very promising. Berg and Strutz appear to be serious preservationists. I'd like to see the plan they're talking about . . . the "new plan" which was finished late last night. My concern is that they don't fully understand the amount of work and resources that will have to go into this project to open the Arcade in just three years. They're restoration in Plymouth looks impressive, but the Arcade is a massive undertaking (five buildings) that will take much more work than what they apparently have done so far. I wonder (and hope) they've talked with Bob Shiffler on this.

Whatever happens, the Arcade appears not to be heading toward becoming a parking lot . . . at least for now. I wish Berg and Strutz well! 

[Michael Martin]

This is without question the most hope and best consideration for renovation or restoraton of the Arcade.  Mr. Berg has a track record for historic preservation and successful reuse for historic buildings.  Judging from what we can learn about him in a short amount of time, I am extremely excited about the purchase by his partnership.  Given some of Dayton's German heritage (Oregon and St. Anne's Hill were heavily populated by German immigrants...St. Anne's Hill had a majority of German-speaking population at one time and yet today is still home to the German Liederkrantz), I think it is even more exciting.

[Siquomb]

I think "new plan" simply refers to a new financing plan they worked up, after previous attempts to buy the property. While I'm encouraged that someone has purchased the Arcade, I am minimally impressed by this "restore it to its former glory" stuff.  That's a nice sentiment, but finding an economically viable use(s) for the buildings is the important thing...or it will just remain vacant. I wonder if these investors (about whom there is virtually nothing on the internet, which concerns me) have any clue at all about the Dayton market and what they are facing here. Call me...hopeful but skeptical.

[MRICEAVE]

Let's hope the best. One nice restoration in a small town versus a monster project.  Hope they have deep pockets.  We've been  disappointed by out of towners before.

Wonder what happened to Bob Schiffler?  I had heard just the morning from someone that allegedly knew Bob that he was going to be a bidder.

[Jeffery]

Bob Schiffler. Lets see what he does with the old Moraine Apts and 25 South Main.

But for the Arcade:  Tschermans!  Tschermans von Visconsin!

Who actually bid on the building on e-bay for $700K and Staub wouldn't sell. Then they spend months negotiating and they could never reach a deal with Staub and the leinholder.  I wonder if anyone expected them to show up and bid today?

Do you think they bought this site-unseen or maybe they had an inspection tour during the negotiations?

[MRICEAVE]

I hoped they looked at it! Otherwise we will have "The Last Picture Show".(great movie).

[Jeffery]

I have to say this came totally out of left field.  Of all the speculation floating around this was the least expected.

I like what Berg & Sturtz have done in their little town in Wisconsin (which is between Fon du Lac and Sheboygan), but I really don't see where they are going to get the $50M or so to do the renovation, not to mention the tenants.

[metromark]

^ Well, there's the New Arcade and the Casino initiative.

Seriously, I agree. But let's wait to see the unfolding of the details. I think these are no-nonsense investors. They want a mixed-use facility (commercial, retail, residential), but this should be in conjunction with the other plans for use of properties in the Third, Ludlow, Main, and Fourth St. areas. I hope they consult with Bob Schiffler. Don't forget the possibility of a multi-use facility (i.e., hockey arena) at DHP.

[FTLOD]

I'm hopeful that they will shore up enough capital to stop the building's slide and then start renovating it for residential use and more.  Perhaps all the energy that is flowing into downtown will continue to collect and form something close to a critical mass and the Arcade can survive and one day, thrive.