Owner of Case Feed building put on notice
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Gazette file photo
A group of Janesville residents proposes the city use $450,000 in community development block grant money to turn the former Case Feed building at the corner of Rockport Road and Center Avenue into a new community center.
JANESVILLE — Janesville's community development department on Friday issued a citation to the owner of the historic but dilapidated Case Feed building, giving the company seven days to secure the structure by boarding it up, replacing broken windows and repairing brick.
If the owner, North American Group of Companies, Madison, does not comply, city crews will secure the building, and the cost will be charged against the property, said Gale Price, manager of building and development services, in a memo to council members.
An additional citation will be issued if the work is not completed within the timeline, Price said.
The continued deterioration of the building at 922 Rockport Road has upset neighbors and led to ongoing discussions between the owner and city officials, Price said.
Staff has tried to work with the owner and potential new owners on a project for the building, he said.
A prospective owner earlier this year asked for a $450,000 grant to rehabilitate the building into a mixed-use project to include offices on the first floor and a residence on the second. A community center was proposed for the warehouse section.
But the Community Development Authority said the grant would use up most of its federal block grant money for a year and asked the prospective owner to return in the summer with a revised request.
The development department has asked the owner in the past to secure the building, Price said.
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May 21, 2009 at 8:35 p.m.
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For anyone to do anything with the old feed mill or the Monterey, the downtown area would have to "offer" something to tourists. As it is, the Fourth Ward has a bad reputation and has had, for many years. The downtown Janesville area is sparse of anything that an out-of-towner would want to check out. Between the bars, run down buildings and bums wandering the streets, why would anyone want to do business there?
May 20, 2009 at 4:26 p.m.
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A few years ago, Graftt said that the Monterrey would be high-end condos.
May 20, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.
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There may or may not be a market for a downtown hotel now, but if it is completed and transitioned, it would be a great pull for the downtown area. I support the idea, but don't know the proper channels to take.
May 20, 2009 at 2:21 p.m.
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I actually called a realtor last week asking about going thru this building. I think it has a lot of potential and would love to purchase it. The MLS sheet on the door said they were asking $250,000. Too rich for my blood.
May 20, 2009 at 12:58 p.m.
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Bob, have you seen how the foundation is bowing out? Would it be worth it now to save it when they've left it in such disrepair? How unfortunate because it is a beautiful structure!
May 20, 2009 at 11:49 a.m.
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And money.
May 20, 2009 at 11:49 a.m.
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It's amazing what can be done with a creative mind and some hard work.
May 20, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.
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It's too bad this historic building is falling into such a state of disrepair. janesvillean-I'm not sure the building will ever get used for anything other than a one-family apartment with a small store below it; there is no room for any other type of development there. I hope it can be restored instead of being torn down. If the current owner has no interest, can't the property be seized in "eminant domain", to be restored to it's former condition and serve as a cornerstone for the 4th Ward neighborhood?
May 20, 2009 at 1:15 a.m.
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prevention, there hasn't been a market for a downtown hotel since passenger rail ended and the train station closed. That's why it became an SRO in the first place.
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luluberry, I agree that the Case Feed building is nothing architecturally spectacular. It is, however, a contributing structure in the Old Fourth Ward Historic District, and a remnant of a nearly-gone business district that itself marks the existence of the former platted city of Rockport (it disappeared when Janesville was incorporated around it). As such it has some historical importance, and if renovated in the manner of the Speakeasy/Bennison & Lane building, would create a very attractive gateway to the Fourth Ward and Downtown. I don't think the stars are turning toward such an outcome, though.
May 19, 2009 at 8:19 p.m.
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Wow! Sounds like we could turn the Monterey Hotel into a hotel? That's concept. Until it is renovated, they could make the transition from residential to hotel over a period of time. Can we just say REVITALIZATION of the downtown area.
May 19, 2009 at 7:28 p.m.
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I think the Monterey Hotel is beautiful...
Case Feed building, not so much.
May 19, 2009 at 6:23 p.m.
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It's already cost us too much money with the time the city has spent in serving citations and just the manpower! As far as I can tell, the owner(s) have been in violation the entire time I've lived in Jville. What would it cost to just pull the first floor and collapse the building? I would love to have the bricks from the building!
May 19, 2009 at 5:33 p.m.
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Here's the article from August 8, 2008:
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/aug/08/...
May 19, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
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There was an article quite awhile ago about a father/daughter team working on the restoration of the Monterey Hotel. Can't remember any more details though.
May 19, 2009 at 5:22 p.m.
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Does anyone know who owns the Monterey?
May 19, 2009 at 4:38 p.m.
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Well, the Monterey is empty, but not in anything like this severe a condition. Both are buildings that would qualify for historic preservation tax credits if an appropriate rehab project could be financed.
May 19, 2009 at 4:34 p.m.
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and the Montery hotel?
May 19, 2009 at 4:25 p.m.
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Save the city money, just tear it down.
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