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Tuesday, September 11, 2001

For some people in Albert Lea the Western Grocery building in downtown next to the County Law Enforcement Center is just an abandoned ugly structure. But in preservation experts’ eyes, it is not only viable to reuse but also has a potential to become a core of downtown revitalization.

Three architects hired by a citizen group that advocates to preserve the Western Grocery building in downtown Albert Lea started their three-day-long on-site consultation yesterday. The group organized a meeting at Riverland Community College to inform the public about the process of their $9,000 reuse study project.

The architects visited the building Monday to assess its physical situation. They also started interviews with local representatives to compile a master packet of information on the Western Grocery building, also known as the Stevens Hardware building.

Thomas R. Zahn, project manager, emphasized in the meeting that the arcitechts were impressed by the rawness of the building.

&uot;In many of reuse studies we have done, we had to deal with buildings that have been modified severely since they were originally built. But in this particular case, we are dealing basically with a raw brick building that is adaptable to a number of uses,&uot; he said.

Robert Claybaugh from Claybaugh Preservation Architecture said he found the frame structures, floor plans and the ceiling heights of the Western Grocery building enables them to facilitate a variety of reuse alternatives.

The architects will focus on not only physical soundness and architectural importance of the building but also economic viability of reusing it.

&uot;We are not freezing history,&uot; said Charles Nelson, historical architecture specialist, &uot;we also have to respect utility.&uot;

In many cases, they said, the cost for reusing is less than constructing a new building. They also point out there are various financial advantages reusing a historic structure can obtain whether the restoration is operated by public or private sector.

The architects pointed out that the approach for the Western Grocer building could be utilized to facilitate other preservation attempts in Albert Lea.

&uot;I have seen many communities turn their back from the issue and their downtown declined,&uot; Nelson said, &uot;You have to educate your community to realize the value of resources that are here. How they can develop and capitalize them.&uot;

The team has conducted reuse studies for more than 35 historic architectures. The past investigations include Johnston Hall in Faribault, the Spina Hotel in Ironton and St. James Opera House in St. James.

The architects will finish the on-site consultation in Albert Lea by Wednesday, and bring back the data they gathered to the Twin Cities where they are based to write a report. The final report will be submitted in one and a half months.