By Sarah Kessinger Jan 17, 2024 Updated Dec 30, 2024
The historic Koester Block in downtown Marysville contains several businesses on the ground level along Broadway. The upper stories remain vacant, except for one apartment. Photo by Sarah Kessinger
A developer who has rehabilitated historic properties in the region is taking an interest in Marysville’s Koester Block commercial buildings.
Tyler Holloman, owner of Frontier Management, recently toured the block and looked over the 19th century set of buildings in the heart of Marysville’s downtown. He liked what he saw, according to Mayor Todd Frye.
Holloman is interested in developing apartments in the upper stories of the commercial buildings, Frye said.
To learn more about Frontier’s work, Frye and Marysville interim City Administrator Jeff Pederson last week looked over two properties the preservation company is working on in Wamego and another that’s been completed in Manhattan.
“It went really well,” Frye said after the Jan. 10 tour.
The next step, if City Council is interested, is to develop a request for proposal from anyone interested in developing the property, he said.
Council would have to determine whether to engage with a developer and sell or lease the property, Frye said, or whether to leave things as they are. The buildings have several issues, ranging from leaky roofs to drainage problems to deteriorating exterior wood trim, among other maintenance concerns voiced by the six tenant businesses in the first-floor businesses.
The third story of the block’s tallest building along Broadway is the former Masonic Temple, a wide open space once used for meetings and ceremonies. All of the upper stories are currently unoccupied, or used for storage, except an occupied apartment on the east end of the upper stories. Pederson and his wife live there. The council offered them the living space when Pederson took the interim administrator job late in 2023.
The entire Koester Block was donated to the city of Marysville in the 1970s by the descendants of its original developer and city father, Charles F. Koester.
Samples of work
Frye said Frontier’s work in progress in Wamego is rehabbing a former hospital into apartments. It’s a brick building that’s been vacant since a fire. The hospital was closed years ago when the community built a new one.
Holloman showed the Marysville officials how they were replacing windows and other upgrades to meet state historical guidelines in order to qualify for historic preservation tax credits.
“ That way we could see a project in its earlier stage,” Frye said. “August is the goal to finish the former hospital.”
They then went to Manhattan to see the Community House project near downtown and see how Frontier transformed that space, including a gym, Frye said.
“That’s somewhat germane to how the old Masonic lodge could be converted into living space,” Frye said. “He showed us the combination of residential and commercial space in that building.
“We got a look at how Frontier does these projects, how they work with possible tenants and municipalities.”
Frye said Holloman so far is the only developer to initiate discussions about the future of the Koester Block’s commercial buildings. Holloman also looked inside the former Koester House Restaurant on the southeast corner, which is now vacant. The city currently is offering it for rent.
“We want to make sure we’re keeping it very transparent so all stakeholders and everyone knows what’s going on,” Frye said, “and every interested party has an opportunity. We’re not handing this to anyone by any means.
“We’re probably now going to work on a formal request for proposal that he or any other party can work on to present the city with their qualifications and any proposal.”
If council likes a proposal, he said, they could decide whether to move forward with negotiating a contract.
“Actual architectural drawings would be submitted and carved in stone what the plan is so the city can assure the historic nature can be preserved,” Frye said.
He expects public hearings and discussions with downtown neighbors and tenants in the block.
“We want to make sure the most people possible are involved so that everyone has a level of comfort.”
Frye said he’s “genuinely excited” about Holloman’s interest.
“They’ve worked closely with the state’s Historic Preservation Office, they know the rules they have to meet…to make sure it’s done right and done well.”
The council will meet next at 7 p.m. Monday, and Frye and Pederson are expected to update members on the tour.
Source: https://www.marysvilleonline.net/news/developer-shows-interest-in-koester-block-buildings/article_ec221ca6-b55b-11ee-87ce-1bb9f1e33d9b.html
