The historic Dickinson Elks Building sits silently downtown on First Street West and there's a lot of chatter going on behind the scenes. It won't be long, however, before contractors bring in the noise.
"I have met with the city and the fire marshal and they provided some input and we are now drafting up the preliminary plans," said Granville "Beaver" Brinkman, who purchased the building from the city through Dickinson Elks LLC.
Brinkman said the general plans are the same as they have always been. Condominiums are targeted for the top floor, a combination of office space and condos are slated on the second floor and either office space or a retail shop on the ground floor.
"We have just secured financing for the project," Brinkman said.
He said although the financing contracts aren't signed, it won't be long before construction gets under way inside.
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Brinkman originally expected to secure financing in early 2007. However, Brinkman said the financing had been in a holding pattern until the plans and uses for the building were completed.
"Hopefully, by the first part of May we'll get those plans to the city and start on certain portions of the project at the end of May and the first part of June," Brinkman said.
He said the extent to which the tenants want their condos to be customized will determine the length of the construction period. However, Brinkman said the construction period should not last more than 12 months.
"We have four people interested in condos on the top floor, and we're just starting to work with them on layout and design," Brinkman said.
He said tenants have not been solidified for the first or second floors yet. However, he said there is some interest in putting a restaurant on the ground floor.
Brinkman said the construction would be done by a combination of local contractors and his company. Because the exact plans are not prepared, Brinkman said he has not yet solicited for bids on the project.
When Brinkman signed the contract to take ownership of the building, he was given a deadline of the end of 2008 to have construction completed. Brinkman said that time frame should not be a problem.
