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Local News

Hastings Council has offer to buy and restore former Moose building

The former Moose building at 128 North Michigan may be returned to its original historical condition if a contractor’s offer to buy and rehab the building is accepted by the city of Hastings.

Acquired in a tax sale two years ago, the city had planned to raze the back of the building to extend parking lot 8 for parking for a planned emergency services building that would take up present parking spaces. Retail space was planned for the eastern part of the building fronting Michigan Avenue.


Marvin Helder, owner of Helder Construction, specialties in residential development and redevelopment. He proposed apartments on the second floor and retail on the first floor after extensive restoring of the building.

 

City Manager Jeff Mansfield advised the council to “take a step back” and do some research before entering into any agreement. Mansfield suggested a workshop to give new council members background on the building, discuss a development plan, a possible plan timeline, and take a tour of the building to appreciate  the scope of the work.  

 

Helder, who said he “immediately fell in love with downtown Hastings,” is looking for redevelopment projects in the city, already owns the Hendershott building and is remodeling it to include retail on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floor.

 

“I would like to partner with the city in order to see another beautiful downtown building redeveloped rather than demolished,” Helder said of the Moose building. He agreed that the west end of the building could to be demolished for parking, resulting in 91 total parking spaces. His plan would bring the building’s exterior back to its original historical appearance with an estimated cost of the project, including abatement, of $100,000. 

 

“This is a very large project, and that is why I will need your help to make it possible. I would like to propose that the city sell the eastern portion…and have the western portion of the building demolished as part of the sale of the eastern portion.

“This is a great way for us to work together to continue the development of the east end.”//

 

In other business, the council adopted an ordinance amending the zoning map of the Hastings/Rutland Joint Planning Commission and approved the bids for two vehicles sold at auction: a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500HD crew cab pickup for $39,951, plus $399.51 seller’s fee, and a  2010 Dodge Charger sedan for $4,050 plus a $40.50 seller’s fee.

 

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