ROGERS — A grant to remove the awning on the Model Laundry buildings is the first major change planned for the structures facing the 200 block of West Elm Street.
John Murray, owner of the complex, sold the dry cleaning and laundry business last year, leaving the four buildings vacant. Plans are to convert the industrial space into businesses that will be a draw for downtown, said Brad Vandris with Boston Mountain Ventures, which will oversee the project.
“When the awning is removed, people will be able to see that there are four buildings in the complex, and (it will) return the buildings to their original look. That’s when we will begin to renovate the former laundry,” Vandris said.
At A Glance
Model Laundry Complex
Four buildings comprise the Model Laundry complex. As each building was added, doors were cut to connect each together.
The original Model Steam Laundry, at the corner of Elm and Third streets was built in 1897.
Model Laundry was built in 1926-27.
The two other buildings added to the complex were built in the 1950s.
All four buildings have the same address, 221 W. Elm St.
Source: Staff Report
Main Street Rogers officials applied for the $39,203 grant from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
“We had no idea whether we would get the grant,” said Dana Mather, Main Street Rogers interim executive director. “As it turned out, we got the largest grant from the program.”
“The plan is to remove the awning which starts on Elm Street and wraps around the corner of the building on Third Street. Once the awning is removed, the facade of the buildings will be repaired to match each building,” Mather said.
She estimates it won’t take long to remove the awning and make necessary repairs, as soon as weather permits.
Development of the space is slated to begin soon, Vandris said.
“There are different size spaces in the complex, but there is connectivity between the buildings as well,” Vandris said. “We plan to convert the buildings from industrial space into a mixed-use format, for entertainment, restaurants and retail space. John wants to create a venue that will bring more people downtown,” Vandris said.
Murray referred all questions to Vandris.
Converting older buildings for mixed uses is a national and statewide trend, said Samantha Evans, assistant director of Main Street Arkansas.
“We are seeing a move toward renovating bigger downtown buildings that once housed major retailers like (JCPenney) or Sears being converted to small spaces for smaller shops and one of a kind businesses,” Evans said.
“It’s not just happening in Rogers. Much of Northwest Arkansas is working to develop and revitalize their downtown areas,” she said.
“It proves that the historic buildings downtown can be renovated to change the core use of the building, while keeping the exterior historically correct to give the area that hometown feel,” Evans said.
Plans for the Model building are nearly complete, and Boston Mountain Ventures is in the process of talking with possible tenants,Vandris said.
“We can create almost any size space a tenant may want, from 1,800 square feet to a very large space,” Vandris said. Overall, there is about 18,000 square feet of space available.
“We are excited about developing the building and being part of downtown,” Vandris said. He said he plans to have tenants in the buildings by late spring.
Vandris praised the interest city officials and private investors have shown in downtown, and the money spent to improve the district.
“There are several reasons we think it’s a good time to invest in downtown. The renovation of the former City Hall into apartments, the revitalization of Lake Atalanta, the bumpouts the city built and the scheduled downtown master plan,” Vandris said.
Business owners who consider moving into an area often visit the downtown as a measure of how strong the local economy is, Vandris said.
“A master plan for downtown will give merchants and others thinking about moving downtown a guidepost to the future of the downtown,” he said.