Progress on downtown development languishes
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Jim Grafft stands in what was once the center of the Park Place Cinemas, tucked in the shadow of his Monterey Hotel building in downtown Janesville. Grafft has sparred with the city over the demolition of the theater site, and the progress of the redevelopment of the landmark hotel.
Photo
James Grafft
JANESVILLE — Tearing down an old building is perilous, especially when it’s attached on three sides to other buildings.
If you bash down a wall, will you inadvertently wreck your neighbor’s property?
That’s one reason the demolition of the old Jeffris Theater property in the 300 block of West Milwaukee Street is taking so long, said property owner Jim Grafft.
The project is even more complicated because the demolition is tied to the revival of the building next door, the old Monterey Hotel.
The hotel has stood empty for years, frustrating those who hate to see a beautiful structure waste away and those who think it could be a major asset in downtown revitalization.
Grafft plans to convert the hotel into apartments, and those plans involve tying the hotel to the Jeffris building.
A portion of the demolished building will become a parking lot.
Last fall, the city threatened to step in and finish a demolition job more quickly. It issued a condemnation order, citing safety concerns.
The order still is in effect, said Jay Winzenz, director of administrative services for the city.
Winzenz said the city was interviewing contractors for the work when Grafft began an earnest effort to complete the job. So rather than step in, the city stood back in hopes that Grafft would come through with a plan to redevelop both buildings, Winzenz said.
That’s what Grafft said he intends to do.
Grafft said he thinks the city backed off because it found out that it could get into trouble by tearing out walls with asbestos in them. But Winzenz said the city had gotten clearance from the DNR, and asbestos wasn’t an issue.
Workers still are tearing down parts of the building by hand. Three workers could be seen on site Wednesday.
The theater was built in 1923 and changed in the 1950s and 1990s. It was not built soundly, which further complicates the demolition, Grafft said. Problems arose as parts of the structure were exposed.
Grafft said he would have started the project five years earlier, but he had trouble getting cooperation with the owner of Jeffris Flats, the building abutting to the rear. An exposed stairway at the rear of the Flats was bolted to Grafft’s building, and Grafft could not move forward until that issue was resolved, he said.
The YWCA has since taken over that building, and the staircase issue is resolved.
YWCA Executive Director Kerri Parker said the YW hopes to work with the city and neighbors to make the downtown a pleasant and safe living environment for women and children.
The former rear of the theater will become a parking lot. But the façade facing Milwaukee Street will be improved, and a portion of the building behind the façade will remain, Grafft said. That building is destined to become part of Grafft’s hotel plans.
Grafft said one phase of the demolition should be done in a month or so, which will allow him to draw up plans to complete the revamping of the theater building.
“That’s what were waiting for at this point, and we’re trying to be patient,” Winzenz said.
The hotel’s old kitchen, a two-story structure at the rear of the hotel, also is scheduled for demolition. Grafft plans to rebuild those two stories and make a large deck on top of it and the theater building for hotel residents.
Grafft said he is waiting for approval of his plans from state and federal historic authorities. Approval is needed so he can get tax credits for the project.
Grafft was reluctant to guess how long it would take before the hotel would be ready for tenants, but when pressed, he said it would be at least a year.
Rehab on hotel many months away
Jim Grafft’s plans for the Monterey Hotel include apartments with balconies and a large, L-shaped deck for residents.
Conceptual drawings in his office show a hotel that has been turned to good use while preserving its beauty.
Grafft was so concerned that apartment residents have a pleasant view that he bought an old house on nearby Dodge Street. He’s having the house rehabbed, he said, to keep it from becoming an eyesore.
And yet the rehabilitation of the hotel itself is many months away, something Grafft is keenly aware of.
“I’ve known what I wanted to do with this place for many a year,” Grafft said. “But without tearing down the (next-door) theater, nothing can start.”
One way to deal with such frustration is humor.
As he walked from the house back toward the hotel Wednesday, he stooped down to pick up a dusty penny.
“See? It’s making money for me already,” he joked.
May 3, 2008 at 2:14 p.m.
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i was correct he bought it in 2006.
http://gazettextra.com/news/2007/nov/01/...
May 3, 2008 at 10:18 a.m.
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seems to me that it is moving SLOW- didnt he purchase this property 10 years ago?? My thoughts maybe the city finally said FIX IT UP and take it down. We wouldnt want to take it down. where would ho put all those towers that he makes so much money on that should fund this project easiely???
May 2, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.
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I may have been a little to broad, but I am complaining more about the lack of major development than Jim's efforts. Yes, this is taking a long time because Jim is doing this on his own, which of course is his perogative. Your first link proves my point:
"Ultimately, redeveloping the hotel will be up to Grafft."
"“It’s going to take a lot of resources, a lot of money,” Price said. “I think something could happen there, but unfortunately, in a society like ours, things have to make money to survive."
"Grafft said he has no timeline to redevelop the hotel. He said it all depends on parking, which he plans to create once the theater is gone."
It's a shame this is taking so long, even with the complexity of the project. I am just disappointed that there aren't other major developers working to improve downtown.
May 2, 2008 at 5:24 p.m.
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Zoom,
How is it "It is obvious that Jim Grafft doesn't have the recources to complete this project in a timely fashion"? Because of the time its taking on the theatre? read the articles again and find out why it going so slow. Old structures have asbestos and lead and steel piping. The have to be fitted with fire sprinklers and new plumbing and wiring to pass modern codes. This takes time. Also, with the Theatre, there was some poor construction making demolition a dangerous and painstaking job. Also due to the walkway being connected to the flats behind, he had to work with its owners as well as the city to even begin construction. The big whammy that was holding up investors from remodeling the monterey was the extreme lack of off road parking in the area. That is one of the most troubling issues for everyone who is looking to construct downtown. One other hurdle is the fact that almost all of those old run down buildings are are the historical register.
There are many grants and loans that can be made to interested investors if they work with the city and historical boards to return the structure to a useable building.
You may want to research next time before making such a broad statement against someone who has done alot for this city.
P.S. The Monterey Hotel has been closed since 1986. The building has already been gutted of interiors and asbestos. I have always had interest in the Monterey and have followed its story. It is built on the grounds of, and parts of the former Grand Hotel. At one time the lower level was re-drywalled but from my understanding there was a water leak and it destroyed the work that was done. And Gold leaf is baked into the black terra cotta details at the second floor. Some of it's most famous guests were John F & Jackie Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Louis Armstrong and the founder of Time Inc. Henry Luce. It is one of the last true Art Deco building in the area.
Heres a few links to research about the monterey...
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2007/nov...
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2E3...
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save...
http://www.hedbergpubliclibrary.org/post...
im not associated with any of those website, but they do provide insight.
May 1, 2008 at 10:19 p.m.
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Where are our civic leaders? Where are our visionaries? I was in downtown Beloit today, and the turnaround they have made is amazing. The late Ken Hendricks may have been the spark that started the transformation, but it takes leaders and doers to make changes happen. It is obvious that Jim Graft doesn't have the recources to complete this project in a timely fasion. Is their nothing our civic leaders can do to help?
May 1, 2008 at 9:47 p.m.
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Whatever Jim Graft does the city of Janesville jumps in and blind sides him. The city of Janesville has made it their mission to harass Graft! This is one of the few articles I have seen praisisng him, the last was when he fell through a roof.
May 1, 2008 at 9:44 p.m.
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That old theater was haunted. I've seen a couple midnight movies there when I was in high school and my buddies worked there. We bolted out of there one time. SCAAAAARRRY.
May 1, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.
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Its easy for people to complain about Grafft being slow at demo or w/e, but he has redone many buildings in Janesville, and he still owns few project properties also. least he gives a crap about this city and is using his money in this area and especially downtown. You don't see Mercy or Dean or Wal-Mart etc. building thier new complexes downtown, do you? we need to remember he could take his money and business out of Janesville.
He has the resources to make the Monterey a reality, but it is going to take a long time, and a lot of money for such a big building. I doubt within a year anyone will be living in the Monterey.
But best wishes to him, I hope the project is a huge success. Maybe that will promote other companies to build downtown again, It has to start somewhere.
May 1, 2008 at 5:19 p.m.
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I'm glad that this project is finally moving forward. It was disheartening when there were threats of the city taking action during the stalled demolition last fall.
I could be wrong, but I think the Olde Town Mall on Main Street was one of Grafft's projects. And I don't think this was lining his pockets as much as it was an improvement to the downtown. His motive may have been the income potential, but the outcome has been mutually benefiting to the city, imho.
May 1, 2008 at 4:45 p.m.
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It is bizarre to me that headlines in the Gazette frequently do not reflect the actual story. It's plenty true that the work HAS "languished," but this story reflects some pretty concrete forward momentum. This is common in the Gazette recently.
May 1, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.
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The historic preservation tax incentives are designed to favor *affordable* housing. This is not the same as housing with full Section 8 support. Residents have to meet income guidelines, but whether they receive rent assistance is another matter entirely.
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There are also sliding scales that may permit at least some of the structure to be exempt from the affordable requirement.
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Here are some similar (and successful) implementations including two very comparable ones in smaller Iowa cities:
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/Affor...
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There is no connection with the Jeffris Flats (which is a non-profit property). The Jeffris Theater building remnants are what is meant.
May 1, 2008 at 4:25 p.m.
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The article says NOTHING about having apartments for low income families.
May 1, 2008 at 4:21 p.m.
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kittykat1 inplied it was for low income- and possibly the referance to "tying into the jeffris flats " is the other
May 1, 2008 at 3:51 p.m.
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Were does it say this will be housing for low income residents?
May 1, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.
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buddyb- yes spending all the money he gets from the towers on the roof. also if it is low income housing i believe he will get guarnteed rent from gov paid by the tax payers. what a great more income w/o risk for him. He may lose money if he turned it into something grand as it was before. Sorry I havent heard of any good intentions from this man to benifit anyone but himself and more overflow to his pocket book
May 1, 2008 at 3:32 p.m.
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it is great that he is finallly doing something with this building but i thought a nice hotel with fine dining as it once was would have been wonderful. and for those how visit downtown venues could stay over night close to the venue and shop downtown. there isnt anywhere downtown to stay over noght. i dont know of any city BUT jvl that doesnt have hotel downtown.
May 1, 2008 at 3:28 p.m.
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okay i will try this again. i worry with low income tenants that they wont take care of it as if it were their own and treat the building with respect and it will turn into what other low income rentals look like
May 1, 2008 at 3 p.m.
May 1, 2008 at 12:33 p.m.
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I think its great that someone is finally doing something with the hotel. It is such a beautiful old building that has just been sitting there. I personally would have liked to see the building shown as a more historical place but I guess apartments for low income would be my second choice especially with the economy only getting worse. I hope that once everything is done with the hotel they have an open house to show everyone the changes that have been done.
May 1, 2008 at 11:54 a.m.
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It's nice to see some favorable press about Jim Grafft. It's easy to complain about progress downtown but he is actually spending the money. Nobody else has stepped up to the plate, he deserves some credit.
May 1, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.
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Will always have a fond spot in my heart for the old Jeffris Theater. Loved the art deco lobby and when I was little I always thought being the girl in the ticket booth was the coolest job a person could ever want to have. When I think of the Jeffris Theater, what comes to mind first and foremost was that massive gargantuan curtain and the anticipation of waiting for it to rise. Waiting...waiting...and then hearing it start to slowly crank upwards into beautiful scallop folds. Everyone, somewhere in their lifetime, should see "Gone with the Wind" on a huge movie screen. That memory still enthralls me.
May 1, 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
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It's kind of sad to know the theater will be gone. I love hearing the stories from my family about growing up in Janesville and going to see what we now consider classic movies in "the old Jeffris Theater", as they so affectionately call it. I did get to see a few movies there growing up also, but the old stories are always nice to hear.
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