Trueblood has high hopes for a once-grand hotel
Podcast Episode
JANESVILLE — Preserving the Monterey Hotel is Steve Trueblood’s mission.
Trueblood, an ordained minister and former political candidate, said he was the last tenant of the hotel’s corner office in 1984. He has researched the Monterey for 15 years and believes it needs to be redeveloped sooner rather than later.
In an e-mail to The Janesville Gazette, he called the current owner, Jim Grafft, an “obstructionist” who is fighting with the city as the building deteriorates. He said he has no personal grudge against Grafft.
Trueblood wants the city to redevelop the hotel.
“It’s not a cell tower,” Trueblood said, referring to the antennas on the roof. “It’s a historic hotel that needs to be restored.”
Trueblood staged a protest at the hotel Friday and might make the protests a weekly effort.
He’s also circulating an online petition. In it, he urges the city council and city manager to take the hotel through eminent domain and find a developer who will “restore the hotel to its original splendor and purpose.”
Trueblood’s petition also calls on the council and city manager to “support, promote and to completely implement” his redevelopment plan.
The plan would:
- Turn the Monterey into a bed-and-breakfast hotel.
- Raze buildings between the Monterey and the Fusion 5 restaurant for patio seating and a new hotel entrance and drive through.
- Create a first-floor restaurant called the Kennedy Restaurant, in honor of the former president and his wife, who stayed at the Monterey.
- Renovate nearby Crazy Joe’s Best Deal Furniture, 314 W. Milwaukee St., into a boutique convention center.
- Make the Jeffris Flats behind the Monterey into extended-stay apartments.
- Raze homes on Dodge, Court and Academy streets for parking.
- Build a barrier wall, with garden areas and engraved bricks, to separate the parking area from Court Street homes.
- Turn the parking lot on High and Wall streets into a multilevel parking garage with boutique retail spaces.
At last count Wednesday, the petition had nine signatures, including Trueblood’s.
To see the petition, visit www.gopetition.com/online/14949/signatures.html.
Nov 14, 2007 at 4:31 a.m.
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thank you i have never seen that word used before, so i guess you learn something new everyday
Nov 13, 2007 at 10:46 p.m.
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I'm all for restoring this hotel if, and only if, it can be shown that once restored it will be self-sufficient. Meaning that taxpayer money will not be used to keep it open. Honestly though, I think if this thing had the potential to make money, the owner, or a developer would have already commenced restoration.
Nov 13, 2007 at 9:14 p.m.
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If the city really wants to revitalize the down town area, provide tax incentives to do so. Let the developer assume most of the risk, but use a carrot not a stick to promote the revitalization.
A petition? Are you kidding me? I am going to creat a petition to petition Truebloods petition, City Council are you reading this!
Nov 13, 2007 at 4:53 p.m.
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ReconTHeJon-to answer your question, the word is Raze or to demolish, not raise which means to lift.
Nov 13, 2007 at 4:33 p.m.
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The more reconstruction in downtown to suppliment the Amory, JPAC, & the Metropolitan the better for all in Janesville & the surrounding communities
Nov 13, 2007 at 3:03 p.m.
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Raze buildings between the Monterey... isn't the word raise
Nov 13, 2007 at 2:28 p.m.
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I am sure Jim Graft the business man he is, has a price. Why doesn't Mr Trueblood buy it instead of asking the city to use emminant domain.
If the public wants this done. I suggest you call Mr Trueblood and become an invester in his Monterey Developement.
Nov 13, 2007 at 12:51 p.m.
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What A waste the Jeffries theater has turned into it was completely redone and was the Ormson Theater and was very nice just not run right now its being torn down? It could have been many other things other than leveled just another waste...... What the H@^l is wrong with this city that it does'nt get involved in things to keep good things around? I remember going to movies downtown all the time and I still remember going out for dinner at the Orleans in the Montery Hotel downtown used to be nice now you have Fusion 5 and A few other places that are trying to give us something that our city manager could care less about.... My god its time for Achange and it needs to happen soon before its too late I bet our city manager has'nt even eaten at Fusion 5 unless it was A freebie...... And don't even get me started on how this city has forgotten about the southside of town!!!!!!!
Nov 13, 2007 at 12:16 p.m.
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I think Mr. Trueblood has some good idea's, and I appreciate that he has hopes for the Monterey, but lets be honest here. There is no market for a "bed and breakfast" in this town, especially, downtown. Furthermore Mr. Trueblood neesd to understand that Mr. Grafft makes his living off of re-development, he would not of bought the Monterey if he did not plan to make money off of it, and turn it back into something. I think pacients is what is needed, and encouragement should be given instead of critisim. I give praise to Mr. Grafft for taking the firs step to re-developing the hotel, with the demolition of the Jeffris, and I give him great prais for holding his cool against the city, and the publics scutiny!
Nov 3, 2007 at 5:07 p.m.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:54 p.m.
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Gee, and when it's all done, who owns the B&B, restaurant, etc?
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:36 p.m.
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Its to bad Mr Trueblood doesnt put his OWN money where his mouth is .
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