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From
The Daily Union, May 20, 2003:
By GAIL PARSONS
The Daily Union
Tax credits from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing have been
approved for the renovation of the Bartell Hotel, former city commissioner
and local attorney Dick Pinaire said this morning.
Pinaire is one of several local residents who fought for the past few years
to preserve the nearly 125-year-old building. He said news of the tax credits
from Lt. Gov. John Moore was one of the most important pieces of the project
puzzle.
"I think it is pretty much on track," he said.
The project was approved for $170,505 worth of tax credits a year for 10
years for a total of more than $1.7 million. The project also was approved
for $500,050 in federal historic credits and $300,090 in state historic
credits, said Curt Rasmusson, tax credit allocation coordinator.
"To get those you have to be on the Federal and State Historic
Registries," Rasmusson said.
Gaylynn Childs, director of the Geary County Historical Society, who has also
been pushing for renovation of the building, said she was really excited to
learn about the tax credits.
"After all of this, it is going to happen," Childs said. "It
will make a difference in the revitalization of the community as a
whole."
Two more grant applications that are part of the project proposal won't be
acted on until autumn. However, Childs said the project can move forward
without them.
"They are smaller grants," she said. "It is a possibility we
can be under construction by the end of the year, but likely not until spring
(2004)," she said.
Several factors were taken into consideration regarding the project's
viability. Rasmusson said renovation of the building and its intended use for
senior housing were significant factors.
"Everyone would like to build a nice new 150-unit apartment complex, but
it is real important to renovate an existing building downtown," he
said. "That should be a real nice project when it is done."
Rasmusson said the Department of Commerce and Housing's score for the Bartell
project, based on a four-page list of criteria, was high.
Last week, the Bartell Hotel renovation project received confirmation of a
U.S. Department of Agriculture $1 million loan to Homestead Affordable
Housing, which will do the renovation.
The renovation includes removing the back portion of the former hotel at
Sixth and Washington streets to make room for resident
parking.
The top and middle level floors will be renovated for low- to moderate-income
senior housing and the ground-level floor will be divided into retail and
office space.
Gail Parsons can be reached at (785) 762-5000, Ext. 142, or
gparsons@dailyu.com.
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