Jasper Cabinet owner reporting to city on cleanup efforts

The owner of the Jasper Cabinet property is reporting to the city on its cleanup efforts.

According to City Attorney Renee Kabrick, the owner of the Jasper Cabinet property, Jerry Fuhs, has taken several steps in cleaning up the property.

Kabrick reported that the owner was to have repaired the gates to the property, mowed the grass, and cleaned up debris around the building by May 15.

Fuhs has supplied the city with invoices he has paid as confirmation the work is being completed.

“They have begun that process. I have received invoices that total not quite $5,000 based on work that has been done on the property,” she reported. “Those [invoices] basically show how much trash has been removed; trees that have been taken out and the removal of fallen roofing. There has also been a large pile of debris behind the building that has been removed.”

Kabrick also reported that the city has given the owner a deadline of July 1 to repair or replace windows and secure the building from entry.

The Jasper Cabinet building has been empty since 2001 when the company declared bankruptcy.

Fuhs has stated in the past he would like to turn the property located at 129 Jackson Street into housing or some other use but development to do so was impeded by its location in a floodway. With the passage of House Bill 1289 in 2013, housing or abode-type units are now allowed in the building if they are at least two feet above the 100-year flood level. Read that bill here.

The building has also played a prominent role in the Jasper Downtown + Riverfront Master Plan where it has been visualized as a housing development or hotel with attached businesses. A street aptly named New River Road was included in the plans to connect Jackson Street with the Mill Street between the train depot and cabinet building.

Despite some push for the building to be razed, Mayor Terry Seitz has maintained that the city needed to examine other uses for the it. The new law and finalized CityVision plan have drawn interest in the location, according to the mayor.

Last week, the Jasper Common Council heard the Jasper Redevelopment Commission would be creating a request for proposal on the development of the downtown area in accordance with the ideas demonstrated in the Downtown + Riverfront Master Plan. (Story here)

Below are some slides from the Master Plan outlining ideas for the Jasper Cabinet property and the area surrounding it.