OPEN HOUSE AIRS SPACE, POTENTIAL

Locals tour historic former Eagles building on Broadway Avenue with developer

Development on Broadway in Lorain continued Nov. 14 as an open house was held for the former Eagles Building which is being cleaned out to make room for future tenants.

Gary Davis, developer of the project at 575 Broadway, is looking to make the building a destination like it was when it was a former restaurant and theater venue.

“We are little by little getting everything out of there,” Davis said. “We are trying to get some grant money. I also want to find some people that have owned a restaurant in the past or currently own one. I need someone that has that experience as I look for tenants.”

Davis said the building still has appeal.

“I like the building,” Davis said. “I wanted to do what I could to restore it. I want it to be a place where folks want to go again.”

Davis said the details of what will occupy the space are still being figured out.

“It’s going to be a mixed use building,” he said. “We are going to do a large farmer’s market.”

“If we can get that restaurant upstairs without the historic society poo-pooing it,” Davis said, “there will be a big elevator that will be on the first floor that will take you directly to the roof.

“We will also have one that will take you to each floor individually,” he explained to the group, “but the goal is to have one that will take you directly to the top. I will lay out the plans during the grant funding process, but I’m open to suggestions.”

Davis said the building is registered in the National Register of Historic Places, and the potential development of a restaurant on the roof will need to be handled with care.

“It could be determined (by the registry) that putting a roof on the building would ruin the historical significance of the build

ing,” he said. I do want to have a roof up there if I do decide to move forward with the restaurant. I don’t want wind to ruin the experience for the customers.

But, putting the roof on might remove the building from the registry and make us ineligible for tax abatements.”

Davis said demolition

will be complete in about a month, and it will then be a six-month period of apply

ing for grant money.

Davis does not have plans for the building’s theater, he

said, and he will probably donate the space for local arts use.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Uses are being debated for the second floor of the former Eagles Building on Broadway Avenue in Lorain.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL The former Eagles Building stage may be available for arts organizations on Broadway Avenue in Lorain.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL The roof of the former Eagles Building offers a view of businesses on Broadway Avenue and of Black River Landing in Lorain.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Gary Davis, front, held an open house for the former Eagles Building, as folks from Lorain walked through the historical structure on Broadway Avenue in Lorain.