City development staff say there have been “productive” discussions with the owners of the Eagles Club on efforts to save the historic building from demolition.
But with time running out before the owners’ previously-submitted raze permit takes effect in October, many key elements remain at a standstill.
Owners Dan and Gene Madrigrano and Eugene Brookhouse have sought for months to raze the historic structure at 302 58th St. due to extensive water damage. Combined with additional costs to fix the roof, install fire insulation and bring the building up to ADA compliance, the owners say repair costs could range between $1.5 million and $4 million.
The Historic Preservation Commission, which is charged with preserving and maintaining the city’s historic sites, has been trying to find ways to save the building, which dates back to 1921, and was among the last venues where Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens ever performed.
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In May, city development staff presented the owners with a list of recommendations to help either restore the building or find a new buyer interested in adaptive reuse. Recommendations included listing the building on the national Preservation Directory, applying for historic preservation grants and tax credits from the state, and putting out requests for proposals on potential adaptive reuses of the building.
But the owners said all prospective buyers they’ve spoken to have only been interested in the property’s land – not in the building itself. And with repair costs in the millions, they say they’re not interested in footing the bill to restore it.
Touring the site
An undated photo submitted by the Eagles Club’s owners to the Historic Preservation Commission shows damage to the inside of the historic building.
Commissioners had expressed interest during their June meeting in touring the building to see the damage for themselves.
Those efforts seem to be at an impasse for now, after city staff advised commissioners against signing a waiver presented by the owners to tour the property. City staff members cautioned that the waiver, which would bind the signatories to assumption of all risks and prevent them from filing a lawsuit against the owners for injuries, was overly broad.
Owner and attorney Euguene Brookhouse said at the July 30 meeting that the waiver utilized standard legal language, and that they’d be willing to work with city attorneys to come to an agreement.
“If you think that those documents that we provided for waivers are excessive in some way, please take a red line and modify it,” Brookhouse said. “We’d be happy to review it and move to something different than what we presented.”
Soliciting proposals
The owners have gone back and forth with the city over which party should put out a request for proposals on adaptive reuses on the building. The owners have maintained that restoration of the Eagles Club is “financially impossible,” and as such said that they’re not required to make a request for proposals.
But the owners said they’d be willing to cooperate with the city if they chose to put out a request for proposals.
“Under all of the circumstances, the City, through the Historic Preservation Commission and Department of City Development, would be an appropriate entity to solicit proposals for the preservation of the property,” Brookhouse said in a letter submitted to the city on July 9.
But that, too, seems unlikely. Rachel Gasper, a planner with the city, said the city wouldn’t put out a request for proposals on a property they don’t own. Gasper also said the city doesn’t have the funds to conduct a study on adaptive reuses of the building, which was quoted by a consultant at approximately $14,000.
“Our discussions with city administration is that’s something we could not pay for,” Gasper said.
However, Gasper said that the city remains open to a public-private partnership.
“It really just depends on what proposal comes forward, and then we’d be able to budget and move it forward from there," Gasper said.
Next meeting
The commission's next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27. At that time the Eagles Club owners have said they plan to provide updated estimates on repair costs, as well as a report on their marketing efforts to sell the building.
City staff did not provide any new recommendations. “From a staff perspective, I think we’ve exhausted what could potentially be done,” Gasper said.
