Renovating the Klink Building

There has been much speculation over the last few years as to the fate of the Klink Building on the corner of Fifth Street and Broadway.

Amanda Moeller, CEO of the Economic Development Company (EDC), provided us with an inside peek at the building.

Two of the storefronts on the Broadway side of the building were spruced up on the outside a few years ago, but on the inside there is still a lot of work to be done.

Where Mac's Bar once was you can still see the ceramic tiles that ran the length of the front of the bar, but there is some water damage to the walls and the ceiling isn't in the best of shape.

A large section of the wall between that space and the space next to it has been removed and Moeller indicated one of the suggested uses would be to make the two storefronts into one larger space, although they could be kept separate depending on the potential renter's needs.

Renovations to this section would have to include everything from water to paint, flooring and even updating the bathrooms as the narrow doors are nowhere near ADA compliant.

Moeller said businesses looking to relocate are really looking for move-in ready, remodeled spaces and there aren't a lot of choices in town when it comes to renovated, useable space.

Moving upstairs, a fine layer of dust covers everything.

The amazing things is, even though the building is 100-years old, all of the offices, doors, even the paint is still in relatively good shape. As old as it is, the old girl's floors don't squeak as you would expect, showing she was built to be used for a very long time.

Moeller said the EDC has a contractor coming in to take a look at things this month and give a run-down on possible renovation costs. Things were up in the air with the late owner as he didn't really want anything changed, but since his family now owns the building, they are excited to see what can really be done with it.

Apartments are a very real possibility with the space, combining two or three of the offices into a living space suitable for a single person or a couple. A couple of the spaces are large enough they could actually be renovated into family units.

Moeller said she has been contacted by different businesses looking for long term rental space for traveling employees. The Klink Building would be an excellent solution.

Updating all of the electrics, plumbing and HVAC would be a top priority along with energy efficient windows.

There is beautiful dark wood that has been painted over that could be stripped down to its original state and many of the original light fixtures are still in place that could add a delightful nostalgic touch.

One of the more expensive items is sure to be the removal of all the asbestos tile that covers a majority of the floors on the second floor, but beneath them, the original hardwood is still in place. The craftsmanship is obvious, even under all the dust.

This isn't an overnight project and will still take a few years to become reality, but seeing the Klink Building buzzing with people again would be a wonderful "new" addition to downtown.