BTW- as far as "all the taxes he pays"
they are all write offs(losses) because nobody is in those three building. Just think of all the taxes he could contribute if he FIXED those places up.

". Few people have any idea how the City has unfairly harassed Jim Grafft for years and years."
fix you stuff while it is falling down and maybe they would stop.
As people mentioned it is a "gem" and if he doesn't do something about it it will have to come down. I would assume he is getting very special treatment already because the shape of this building in a normal scene would be CONDEEMED! (SP)

"whocares77
Aug 21, 2012 at 10:17 p.m.
Suggest removal "
lol- he already tried to get free money for work on the building. He has enough of his own money to fix the place "with all those who he employs.. he makes tons of money"
Now you want the public to work on it for free.
If he didn't have any money sure I would help but he does.

The people making negative comments about the Graffts clearly have never owned a commercial property in Janesville and know nothing about the real issues involved. They also clearly pay nearly nothing in property taxes compared to what the Graffts pay. If the City would get their collective heads out of their collective *****'s, good things probably would be happening. Few people have any idea how the City has unfairly harassed Jim Grafft for years and years.

Next week's article: "Nothing Happening at GM Plant".

whocares77, just to be clear, you are suggesting people volunteer to clean up the Monterey building?

I'm sure janesville is saving up for the day the "over the river parking lot" has to come down. That will cost only 2 million or so.....

Maybe Forward Janesville will get involved and get a few million in tax payer money to "recreate the downtown area." I'm sure EVERYONE in janesville would be happy to pay more property tax to fix up this old building.

Jim Graft lied about remodeling the Monterey ? Jim Graft tells lies ?
Wow! That is a real revelation ! I never would have guessed that he would be accused of being shady and sneaky and untruthful....Jim Graft? Wow !

Jim Grafft is nothing but a slum lord and what he has done to the Monterey is a community degrace. He said back in the 80's that he was going to restore it to it's original splendor and purpose; he lied!!! He let a beautiful, historic treasure sit and rot for decades and every few years the Gazette runs another story and the people forget again. You have everything you need to restore the west Miwaukee St. area- you just have a obstructionist in your way and he's got a hold of one of the cities' treasures.
Hey Jim, it's not a cell tower, it's a historic hotel; show some respect!

It would be nice to have this building restored. All Janesville ever does is get rid of our history and build eyesores like the courthouse. Just wish someone would get on the ball before there is nothing to save.

some of you people are just plain idiots. this guy has done so much for janesville. I can't tell you how many people jim employs. He must be in the top 15 employers in the city with all the small companies he owns. If the complainers would get off their butts, away from their jerry springer, judge judy or the price is right t.v. shows and do something productive in a day, like volenteer to help clean the place up, you be able to provide yourself with a better self image. I sure jim does not even worry what you think of him, he has all the self confidence he needs. P.S. while your walking to the mail box to get your govt lazy check, please bend over and pick up some of the cig butts that are on the ground. keep jvl clean.

Yes, lets have the owner fix it and at least make some apartments out of it. That was once a beauty of a building with a super restaurant. Wish it could be again. Best bakery products around too.

Let's force him to sell or repair the building!

Let's force him to sell or repair the building!

http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/oct/02/...
this guy is a joke - reread this article from 2009. Let the water come in and wreak the builing some more so you wont have to pay for demo. Compared cost of this to the Time Out building. Well buddy if you keep letting it decay it will cost more. Had leaky roof issues 3 years ago. Has them now. Must be really gross in there!

I knew if I looked hard enough I would find out how much tax he pays. assessed at $285k and pay $8500 a year(remember a loss write off!)
historically it was 15 S High but now listed as 5 S High.

http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/index.asp...
interesting you can get tax info on the old park place movie theatre and his office next to it but not Monteray. theatre is $1200 a year. Just another write off anyway!

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=...
to bad we cannot get closer look

"jvldss
Aug 20, 2012 at 4:18 p.m.
Suggest removal

As soon as the communication towers fall through the rotting roof and that income goes away for Grafft, then Grafft will have no reason to hold on to the building and let it keep rotting away. It can't be worth much as is.

They "want it done right"...sure they do...that's why nothing has been done by the Graffts in the 16 years they have owned the property.
"

Very true but only a guy with a half brain could figure this out.

Why do rich people want stuff for free (grants) You bought it YOU pay for it. Again use the cash you get from towers!

"What made you believe this company would destroy the historic integrity?"
They didn't offer him enough MONEY! GREED is all it is.

hdonlybob
Aug 19, 2012 at 11:04 - WELL SAID!

http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/aug/08/...
"In June 2011, The Gazette published a story about how the Grafft family was set to start a three-year plan to remodel the building into four floors of high-end apartments anchored by a restaurant and offices on the first and second floors."
Better read your own articles Gazette and report better. They said this in 08!!

The guy doesn't give a craP ABOUT his building only the CASH he gets from the towers.
Says "picking on me" what ever. They would like to keep this building from falling down and wish you would put a roof ON IT! Why is this picking on you. It needs a roof. It is already falling down inside they say.
I wish they would just take it away from him. How much moeny does he collect from the towers? Pretty sure 16 years of cash would cover fixing this building. How much do you "write off in LOSS" Sell it to somebody who will fix it and stop with the junk about "fixing it" delay bla bla bla!!

Hire the same guy that took care of Trax--problem gone.

As soon as the communication towers fall through the rotting roof and that income goes away for Grafft, then Grafft will have no reason to hold on to the building and let it keep rotting away. It can't be worth much as is.

They "want it done right"...sure they do...that's why nothing has been done by the Graffts in the 16 years they have owned the property.

anyone ever seen the bomb shelter? couldnt fine it pretty scary in there. but anyways i think youre right fix up the bar atleast make it a 50's style speakeasy kind of theam use the profits for the remodle the rest of the building, it would be a start atleast..if i had the cash i would make it into a hotle the bottom floors apt. up top with the bar open for brunch, just saying. who does, im sure if they had 3 mil just laying around it would already be up and running im sure you guys who are saying "fix it or remove it" couldnt even buy light balbs for the place belive me ive seen it myself, there is a lot to do, way more then some lead paint.

I would like to add that in addition to this hotel rotting away in our downtown, it is also a major hazard. There are mounds of rubble behind the building and a rusty old excavator. The only thing to keep people out is an orange plastic fence that has been ripped down. I have seen lights on inside the hotel at night which I assume means that there are people using it for shelter. Something needs to be done to make it safe again. I pray that someone out there has the money and the investors to make things right again!

Its funnny how some people can get away with having MANY eyesore properties with no fine. Then others get a fine for grass being too long, roof needs to be replaced etc. Just not right....

Two parties are to blame for this..one the owner, and two the City of Janesville..
The owner is a moron (IMO) and the city has let him ignore (Or squeeze by with minimal stuff) to let this keep deteriorating.
Both should be ashamed of themselves...just like the old jail building down by the river some years back...get some (male reproducing parts) Janesville....

wow...who really cares????

I am taking a guess that after 16 years of ownership, if you haven't done anything with the building by now, you probably won't. It is either paralysis by analysis, or flamboyent incompetence. Either way, a sad situation. The city wouldn't even have to be involved if project/plan/investment was managed properly.

The new owners were going to ruin the historical integrity of the building? As opposed to letting it collapse from disrepair?

Nothing will get done on this with Gale Price giving the orders, he never does his job!!

It appears there is an unknown agenda. Get on with the restoration or sell it to someone that will.
What made you believe this company would destroy the historic integrity? Did they disclose their plans? And what does sitting on your hands doing nothing do to the building? I do not know the first thing about large scale renovation, but I can pick out conflicting statements.It is a beautiful building. The owners have a responsibility to give it new life.

He's just a rich kid having fun.

why is grafft any different than anyone else? the city orders a repair order and he dont fix it, then the city repairs it and charges him. if the cost is out of line, tear it down. grafft excuses has expired a long time ago. fix it or down it goes, plain and simple. this will turn into a case feed, keep stalling until its a public safety problem.

Seems like Grafft is losing money so it would be best to cut his loss's and sell. If nothing is done soon, probably end up having to tear it down. Maybe that is what he is really waiting for.

The Graffts once again didn't get what they wanted and they took their ball and went home. They did not get a big enough grant to fix the building that a grant bought for them and they would have had to invest out of their own pocket. What a change it would have been for them to not use the system just once and revive such a historic place. Not selling because buyers did not propose for a fair price, really? It has been almost 20 years since you bought it and all you have done is let it rot, made the paper a few times because your still own it, and then say you have plans so the city gets off your back for a year or so. Grafft's go out and get a job your good at and let the city give grants to a business who will put it to good use.

Jim Grafft and Family...seriously you are worried about someone else that wanted to buy it ruining it but what you and your family are doing by leaving it sit and not fixing anything isn't ruining it. Really!!! Also if the city tells you to fix something then fix it. I am thinking there should be no argument there. Unfair really. Are we all children now?

How many historic buildings have been knocked down in that area? Quite a few. Why does the city think they manage other peoples property? They city cant even manage what it owns. let them do what they want with the building, its theirs.

[quote]"We felt that they were going to ruin the historic integrity of the building in order to fit their needs (for the space)," Grafft said. "It wasn't a fair offer financially. They were basing the price on what they would have to do in renovations."
[/quote]

And YOU are doing any better Jimmy? Graffts had this building for how many YEARS and have done NOTHING?