Springfield EDA discusses

sale of historic Lehrer building

Development must contribute

to business district

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- Several citizens attended a public hearing Monday held by the Springfield Economic Development Authority, about the possible sale of the Lehrer building.

The large red-brick building, located at 3 N. Cass Ave. at the east end of downtown, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built by Springfield businessman Michael Lehrer, the building formerly housed a Ford dealership, an auto parts store, a bowling alley and a dance hall.

Mark Veglahn, EDA coordinator, said a cash bid of $16,000 was received on the building from Springfield businessman Jim Miesen.

Miesen owns a flooring business, Miesen's Color Center, which is located several buildings west of the Lehrer building.

A development agreement on the Lehrer building requires that it remain on the National Register and contribute to the downtown Springfield business district.

Miesen's tentative plans include expanding his carpet stock, cutting carpet, and storing scaffolding and bulk lawn care products on the first floor of the Lehrer building. Currently, he cannot cut carpet and has to rent space to store many of his products.

Miesen wants to add historically correct replacement windows and repair the building's roof.

He would reserve the second floor of the building for future development.

Corwin Brand, owner of Springfield Lanes and Pro Shop, just north of the Lehrer building, would lease space in the building to create a restaurant.

Brand said he was interested in creating a family-type restaurant with pizza, specialty breads, hamburgers, chicken, fries and onion rings.

He said he wants to retain the integrity of the building, designing the restaurant around the theme of automobiles and the history of the building itself.

"We would like to feature photos of local people's restored vehicles and old shots of the building," Brand said. "We would like to schedule cruise-ins every so often. We have talked to the Minnesota Historical Society about it and do not want to forget what it was."

Brand said the restaurant would be open year around, which is something he said the community needs.

Springfield livestock farmer Robert Kratz said his son was interested in creating a Christmas gift shop in the building.

EDA President Brian O'Leary said new bids would have to be accepted for that to happen.

The EDA has not decided on the fate of the building yet.

The EDA also:

* Heard about a housing study to be funded through a Minnesota Planning grant and the City of Springfield. The total estimated cost of the study is $7,875.

The EDA and City of Springfield would share $5,250. The planning grant would pay for $2,625 of the study cost.

The housing study, presented by Wes Judkins and Gayle Jones of the Region Nine Development Commission, will determine the type of needed housing based on population, lifestyle, income, location and preference.

It will make funding source recommendations on existing rental and new construction projects.

Region Nine will facilitate task force meetings, prepare the survey, analyze the results, provide a housing study document and further guidance.

The task force of 10-15 people should include EDA members, business owners and employers, city councilors, builders, realtors and school board members.

* Elected the following EDA officers: President Brian O'Leary, Vice President Paul Pieschel, Secretary Mark Veglahn and Treasurer Gary Hale.