C'mere, Hannah. You're on my very last nerve.

I think the oldest commercial building in janesville is the old wagners on main then the second oldest commercial building in Rock co. is the Tallman perfume factory on cherry st. in janesville. Maybe Maurice Montgomery could verify this.

To beenthere1968:
Your comment is so random and weird.
Perhaps you should do your homework before posting such silliness.

Zachow's Bar has not been "Zachow's Bar" since 2005- when it was sold to the current (3rd generation) owner.
The building is not "run-down" nor is it "crying to be saved".
Had you ever been inside, you would see that it is a very nice neighborhood bar and was remodeled in 2005 !

They have a wonderful following, getting quite busy on weekend. They currently sponsor more dart teams than any other bar in JVL and overall, (considering the current economy) they are doing very well.

The ONLY accurate comment in our post was the fact that the building does have a long history and has been in continuous operation since 1934.
From 1934 to 1937 it was called Knight's Cafe and was owned by Frank Knight, it was a restaurant, ice cream shop and bar all-in-one. When the remodel was done in 2005, numerous receipts from 1934-1937 were found in the ceiling-which were preserved and are on display.
Please take the time to educate yourself before making such random, weird comments.

I will say having close observation of the process that the city is almost 180 degrees from past attitudes toward historic preservation. In the Myers Opera House and Corn Exchange days it was different and they welcomed redevelopment and teardowns. Even the N Main TIF district (M&I bank, Garden Court, etc.) tore down a lot of buildings that contributed to Janesville's downtown look, and that was a good development on balance that has stood the test of time.
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banyan99 is pretty on the money. If this comes to fruition it's fantastic news, for the building, for the neigbhorhood, and for the taxpayers (although the owner will surely seek federal tax credits). Everyone should be cheering when this happens instead of backbiting. As to why the buyer did not emerge until the last minute, often that is what it takes to get someone motivated to intervene. Also, after a year of the credit crisis, lenders are opening up cash drawers again.

MOONstone, learn some manners and why didn't you or why don't you form a group for the preservation of old buildings. And, by the way, the city is not on a rampage to tear down buildings -almost 100% of the people of Janesville know this. Owner irresponsibility and the market place is determining the fate of razed buildings.

I was only able to skim the posts. But if anyone suggested that this "new buyer" is just a ruse, you are probably correct.

Andreah is a merchant of chaos. Her obsessive need for attention leaves her the "beneficiary" no matter the outcome of any of these issues. She is a ideologue in the worst possible sense.

Why don't they turn this area into a corporate jet landing strip for the GM commuters to Kansas City?

LMAO!! OMG you all crack me up! This is so funny. You have been griping since this started about two things: 1) not wanting the building torn down because it is historically significant 2) not wanting taxpayer money involved. Look, your prayers have been answered! This is usually where rational people smile and call it a good day. Super big high five to supportivefam, if not for your fam taking a risk stepping into this circus, this COULD have ended with a parking lot, or a lot more wasted taxpayer money. A big thanks to your fam! I, personally, can't WAIT to see what becomes of this building that was moments away from being lost forever =) I apologize again that your family has to use my mom as a realtor, but she’s the listing agent, nothing you can do about that!

Here's the thing. I don't have to tell you anything but what i've already said. And yes, I can read. Can you?

there is a meeting on the site today between Gale Price and the prospective buyer along with a team of subcontractors to bid out individual jobs - hvac-masonry-windows-excavating-ect. Numbers will be put together by the potential buyer so that private financing can be persued. lots of work will need to be done to get the building ready for occupancy. There are items which the city will want taken care of first so that the building is no longer a safty concern. After those items have been addressed the focus will be on opening up the store to start generating revenue followed by the rennovation of the appartment. After an offer has been accepted by the current owner, a scope of work specifying cost, intent, and timetable will be presented to the city.

Janesville loves to spend the tax payers dollars like there's no tomorrow and if preserving history is such an important undertaking, let's try to buy Zachow's Bar outside the GM plant. You know "a little bit of heaven at the gates of hell". After all isn't that another rundown historic building crying to be saved?

You know what Hannah? You are not worth my time. Go find something else that has nothing to do with you to worry about.

I don't understand why everyone is in such an uproar about Andreah. She has nothing to do with this except that she is the real estate agent. I listened to the podcast, which was mistaken. I'm saying here so everyone can see, once again. There will be no art gallery, no classrooms, nothing like that. I know this because it is my family who is involved in this project, and it's all that's been talked about for months. I really don't appreciate people telling me things, like I have no clue what i'm talking about. Because I do. Besides, no one besides this family and the people directly involved has anything to do with it, so people need to just sit back and watch it unfold. And I repeat, for the last time: THE POTENTIAL BUYER IS NOT ASKING FOR MONEY FROM THE CITY! That was the PREVIOUS potential buyer, not this one. I wouldn't get so defensive if some folks would not jump all over me.

Gale Price referred to possible art studio and appartment.

Ahhh gazette, how you amuse me so.

Hannah, yes artists do give lessons. But that is not what this is about. There will be no art gallery. I don't understand why that was in the article, and neither does the artist, who I spoke to earlier!

hannah, I'm sure we agree about her professional qualifications. The assessment was 2007 along with everything else in Janesville. The last sale, btw, was $36K in 2004.
http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/Scripts2/...
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It says there, incidentally, that the construction date is 1910. The Hayes Block was built in 1855, so there are definitely other older commercial structures. This one is important for its location anchoring the remainder of the Rockport ("Monterey") neighborhood that grew up to serve the mills here at the lower dam.

She is simply the real estate agent. The end.

P.S. There will be NO ART GALLERY OR SCHOOL! Believe it or not, the Gazette made a mistake! *gasp!*

You have to understand that B'moon has wanted to run a community center for years. She just finally thought she had a pony to ride and this poor guy Ngobi was the hapless horse. It was a very typical B'moon move to ask for 90% of the city's rehab budget (which comes from federal block grants, btw) for this one building (and then would want annual city funding for the center, including a salary for a director, who would be ....). The proposal was probably designed to be rejected to that she could again proclaim herself the victim of city discrimination. That's her pattern. I really think this guy Ngobi was another of her victims (they all are, it's just some take longer to figure it out than others). I don't know what the property is really worth in this condition but as a real estate agent her job is to help the seller set a realistic price. Her incentive is a faster sale and her commission! One hopes that this deal in the works is something that's acceptable to the owner so it will go through, but it probably isn't at the asking price, so that's really not a consideration.
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supportivefam, you need to realize you're stepping into a den of contempt for B'moon and everything connected to her. People are going to be skeptical, assuming it's another scheme. I am hoping that the endorsement of Gale Price shows that this new party is indeed independent of her and her toxic legacy.

You have got to be kidding. You don't think, you don't think, you don't think very much, do you?

The price tag for the building is reletivly cheap. The real expense will be renovating the building so that it will be able to draw a future income. What ever that expense, I am sure it wont be no $250,000 - How much can possibly be owed for back taxes? the current owner has had the building for not even 10 years. How much do the fees amount from the city for the work they have done. From what I can see they have erected a fence around the building which has been rented from J.P. Cullen, and put some 2'x 2' peices of plywood over the brick veneer and covered the broken windows. other fees included mowing and snow removal. I dont think that these fees will add up to very much.

Wow, again i'm baffled. I will say no more aside from this: the person who is trying to purchase this building has nothing but the best of intentions. So i'll let you people keep arguing about something that has nothing to do with you.

The potential buyer will be seeking private financing for this project. The previous potential buyer was looking for the city to foot the bill in the neighborhood of $450,000. The intention of the previous potential buyer was to turn the building into a Rec Center for teenagers. Not a very profitable buisness in these economicly tough times (in my opinion). here is an excerpt from the article - Gideon Ngobi came forward earlier this year hoping to turn the building into a mixed-use development with a teen center. But he wanted the city to chip in $450,000—far more than the assessed value of the property—to renovate the building.

The city suggested Ngobi look for other funding sources and return with a smaller request, and the deal fell through. -
And this is what Gale Price had to say about the potential new buyer (not Gideon) - “It appears this prospective buyer would be able to move forward with private financing and not with significant public financing…” he told WCLO radio. “There’s a significant difference in what the overall package would be and what the use would be.” - On a different subject does anyone know exactly how old this building is? I have seen articles stating that this was a grocery store in the 1880's - does it have any history beyond that? - Whatever the history of the building, it is great to see an interested party seriously considering rehabing the building. Janesville does not need another empty lot. Janesville needs more small buisness to generate revenue. If the building comes down that potential revenue is lost. Anyone who thinks that this would be a great site for a new building should direct their eyes to the parking lot across the street. That building burned down and is now a glorious looking piece of pavement. If the Case Feed building comes down I would bet that nothing would be done with that lot for at least a decade and maybe longer. Lets support the poeple trying to save this building and promote small buisness. These people do not have the intention of putting the price tag on the backs of the tax payers. They are ligitimate hard working people trying to improve this area. They have my total support!

I would think I would know a bit about it, after all, i'm his brothers wife. I'm his SUPPORTIVE FAM. So kiss it.

Actually, the way this article is written, you can't tell if the potential buyer is asking for money at all.

Ya both need to put your glasses on...lol. The owner of the building is Nadeem Syed. Gideon Ngobi asked the city to chip in $450,000. There is an un-named potential buyer that doesn't seem to be asking for any hand-outs. It sounds to me that this person may be an artist him/herself and plans on living upstairs perhaps? Maybe teaching in the studio below? Sounds interesting. I hope they can swing it!

My heart just bleeds for poor supportivefam . The new buyer is looking for cash too , he just wont give the figure at this time, so making the point that they are not looking for money is completely false. By the way big time six posting poster ,by the looks of your name you support "fam" (??????), and somehow that makes you an expert on the case feed storie .Blow it out you wahoo you yahoo !!!

That's the spirit!!! :)

Where's the sign-up sheet to get on the list to live on the second floor? I've always yearned to live at that intersection!

Maybe you should put your glasses on. The man that is the CURRENT owner is the one who asked for that money to make a rec center, not the potential buyer. The city laughed in his face. And don't you think, that by my name, I could possibly know a thing or two about this? Go find something else to cry about. Maybe YOU should bend over.

Once again, I am truely in awe at the attitudes of some fellow Janesvillians. No one has asked you for anything. People in this town are SO greedy and rude. Maybe that's why after 25 years, I left. I stand FIRMLY behind the interested party, and I won't budge. Oh ye of little faith!!!

I've heard this claim that it's the oldest -- it's certainly among them -- but I'm not sure I've heard it substantiated. The original settlement of Janesville was at Main & Milwaukee (the Janes tavern and ferry, where the Hayes Block is now). A lot of buildings there have been rebuilt, of course.
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The building could be made safe for a lot less money. I hope they can do it.