Talks continue on Hoosier Desk collaborative project with Jasper Library

Jim O’neal, WITZ AM/FM News Director contributed to this report

A joint meeting between the Jasper Community Arts Commission and Jasper Library Board is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, June 8 at the Library Annex building.

The conceptual plans created for the conversion of the Hoosier Desk building into a multi-use building that could fulfill the needs of the Jasper Library as well as bring the Jasper Arts closer to downtown will likely be revealed then.

“What has come out of the last couple meetings is that everyone is very excited about this project,” Jasper Arts Director Kit Miracle said during the Jasper Community Arts Commission meeting Tuesday. “Just the synergy of the whole thing is very exciting.”

City Attorney Renee Kabrick agreed that efforts between all the entities had been moving forward amiably. “Part of the excitement is how readily that space fit into the needs for both the library and the arts,” she said.

After Monday’s meeting, the Jasper Library Board will likely consider a course of action to hit a self-imposed deadline to have the question put on a 2016 referendum. On the table are two options; a collaborative project at Hoosier Desk or building a new library at the library’s current location on Main Street.  Adding onto the existing library building has been abandoned due to how the age, construction methods and deterioration have made the option too cost prohibitive.

The Jasper Community Arts Commission has been seeking an expansion to their existing facility for quite some time. A proposed expansion was put on hold when the city built the sports complex on West 12th Avenue. They did continue fundraising efforts and now that the bond has been paid on the sports complex, the arts board has decided to continue its pursuit but now want to move closer to the downtown area.

The Jasper Library Board has been wrestling with the need for a new building since about 2004.

Hoosier Desk — located at the intersection of Mill Street and Third Avenue — was identified in the downtown riverfront plan as an area that could be developed into a location for arts, library, housing and restaurants. Currently the 133,000 square foot building is largely empty and both entities have decided to explore it as a potential solution.

If the collaborative project moves forward, the building will house both entities and potentially create a cultural center with retail, restaurants and housing closer to downtown.

“I saw a post on Facebook recently that said something about re-purposing Walmart,” Jasper Arts Commission president Mike Jones said at Tuesday’s meeting. “This is exactly what the Jasper Community Arts Commission and Jasper Library Board are trying to do with the old Hoosier Desk building if it passes structural and environmental tests and is a cost effective alternative as a separate expansion for both facilities.”

The library would like to have about 29,000 square feet of space, while the Arts Center wants about 26,000 square feet. During the upcoming joint meeting, it is expected that new renderings will be presented to both boards that will show changes to the building’s layout to accommodate both entities.

Kabrick acknowledged that there will be issues that must be addressed regarding the Hoosier Desk building. If the decision is made to move forward with a project, efforts will have to be made to bring the building up to code for its new use. Additionally, any structural and environmental problems that are found will have to be addressed to ensure the viability of the facility going forward for use by the arts, the library and other spaces, including housing and other small businesses.

A reminder, the City of Jasper is a taxing entity that regulates the budget for the arts department. The Jasper Public Library is its own taxing entity that exists within the city limits. The two are separate entities with separate budgets. To proceed with any partnership involving the Hoosier Desk building, or any other property, will require the approval of the Jasper Common Council as well as the Jasper Library Board of Trustees.

Ken and Paul Sternberg own the Hoosier Desk building. The two purchased it in 1987 — about four years after the manufacturer closed its doors — with intentions to use about 10,000 square feet of it for storage for their business, Sternberg’s Furniture.

The rest would be rented out to other local businesses.

Since 1987, a myriad of businesses have used different areas and spaces in the building. Currently, it is being used for storage by several companies as well as home to a photography and fitness studio.

Ken and Paul have made many repairs and improvements in their efforts to help businesses become established. A gorgeous showroom was created in a 10,000 square foot section along Mill Street for Obermeyer Yamaha, who has now moved.

“When we bought this place it needed a lot of repairs,” Ken said. “This building had no quality roofs. It had all wood floors and they were sagging. We had to replace about 40,000 square feet with concrete and we put in all new roofing.”

Companies and businesses of all types have come and gone in the building. It currently has nine tenants that range form a photography studio, hair salon and fitness facility to a leather manufacture and warehousing.

Ken sees it as a great location to bring the Downtown Master Plan together. “There is more room than the library, arts and housing will need,” he said. “And, they will have room to expand if they need to in the future.”

An asking price for the building has not been made public, but according to Ken an appraisal a few years ago came in at $1.4 million. The collaboration between the different entities and the necessary repairs to the building will likely dictate how much is paid for the building if the project is approved.

The Sternbergs are hopeful for the project. According to Ken, the building built in the early 1900s is part of Jasper’s history.

“I have my own office here and I love it.” Ken said. “The old building just has the feel; it’s just as neat as it can be.”