Council Considers Several Development Projects

(GOPHER'S GRILL DEVELOPERS NICK SCHUETTE, AARON NIEBRUGGE AND KEVIN HOENE WITH CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TODD HULL)

Effingham City Council members Tuesday considered several economic development projects.

One project involves renovating the current location for The Zone on Jefferson Avenue downtown. The plan is to develop a business in the location to be known as Gopher's Grill, which will feature a bar and grill style restaurant, TVs, arcade-style games; "someplace where a family can have a nice meal and have some fun", according to partner in the enterprise Aaron Niebrugge. Niebrugge, Kevin Hoene and Nick Schuette are the partners. As part of the project, The Zone is relocating. Reports are The Zone will relocate to the former YMCA building on Wenthe Drive.

The partners plan to remove the panels on the front of the building and bring the building back to its original look. The structure was built by the Austin family around the turn of the 20th Century as an opera house. The Knights of Columbus Council met in the building for a period of time and Jansen's Department Store was downstairs for several decades. A radio station was located in the upstairs area for about 20 years.

The exterior project is estimated to cost $114,000, with the City covering $50,000 of the cost. The City's downtown rehabilitation fund exists to assist with exterior improvements up to a match of $50,000. Niebrugge said the interior will be remodeled to have an "industrial look". The hope is to have the project completed around the first of the year.

Another project considered is a renovation of Baymont Inn and Suites. Developer Gautam "Tom" Patel obtained the Baymont Inn franchise and will completely renovate the motel as well as the restaurant and bar known for years as "Chasers". The project is estimated to cost $193,284, with the City contributing $75,000, the maximum amount in the City's hotel/motel redevelopment program.

Still another project is renovation work at Pro-Lube on Henrietta Street. Duane Lewis and Duane Lewis, Jr. are planning to work on the roof, paint the exterior and place new signage on the building. The work is estimated to cost just over $14,000 with the City splitting the cost. Lewis, Jr. said the project is part of an overall plan to acquire the Abe Lincoln Motel across the street to the north, tear it down as well as two houses to the east, and place a car lot on the site.

City Economic Development Director Todd Hull said that the downtown rehabilitation fund is exhausted. There was discussion about transferring funds from other economic development sources since Hull said there are two other projects awaiting a chance to utilize the funds.