Eager Building Conversion Wins Award 

Commerce CDBG Project Best Commercial Rehab Category in the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation's 2009 Preservation Awards

Back in 1900, the City of Evansville's main street's "Economy Store" was the second largest retail store in the state. However, over time the 27,500 sq. ft. building, which was an anchor in the Rock County city's downtown, was subjected to numerous business comings and goings, neglect, disrepair and ultimately a 1984 fire that caused the roof to collapse and extensively damaged the building.

City officials were prepared to demolish the building for a parking lot based on the assumption, later proved false, that the façade structure had been compromised by the fire. Enter a group of local investors (Dysis II) who were willing to buy the building and save it from the wrecking ball.

In September 2006, the group approached the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to see if the building would qualify for assistance from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. It did.

Or rather, the community did. The city applied for, and was successful in obtaining a $300,000 grant from Commerce to help with the acquisition and administrative costs for the $2.3 million project which resulted in affordable housing, job creation and downtown revitalization.

"The renovation of the Eager Building was an attractive project for Commerce because of the multiple benefits of the project," said Commerce Grants Specialist Caryn Stone, who assisted Evansville officials. "The plan of the developers and the city to create affordable housing, as well as job creation and downtown revitalization, meshes nicely with Commerce goals. Additionally, the renovation created a great deal of local interest because the Eager Building is in Evansville's Downtown Historic District. This restoration continues the City's efforts to enhance their reputation as a city with a historic past and a vision for the future."

The community was honored on May 7 at The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation's 2009 Preservation Awards held at the Orpheum Theatre in Madison. Receiving the award were owners Roger Berg, Jeff Farnsworth, Ed Francois and Rick Francois, along with Melissa Destree of Destree Design, whose firm was hired as the architects for the project.

The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit organization established in 1974 to help preserve the architectural and historical heritage of the greater Madison area through advocacy and education.

-- Barbro McGinn