Eyesore no more
Work begins to restore long-vacant downtown building in Medford
For more than three decades the Brucker Building on the corner of Main Street and Division Street in downtown Medford has sat vacant and decaying.
There is a gaping pit in the floor. Sunlight can be seen filtering in through gaps in an exterior brick wall. The old tin plating on the ceiling is hanging in some places and in others is exposing the joists and the floor above.
Where others see decay, Doug, John and Luke Gasek of Medford see opportunity to bring new life to an historic downtown anchor with plans to renovate and restore the building to include a wine, book and cheese shop to be called The Prickly Pear on the main floor and apartments in the upstairs portion.
Doug recognizes the task ahead is a daunting one, but his eyes are on what will be and the potential of the space rather than what is there now. They are working with Huotari Construction of Medford for the building renovation with crews at work removing debris and working to stabilize the brick walls and exterior. Doug said they plan the renovation to take between three and four months. Depending on variables including the supply chain, they hope to be open sometime this fall.
The building at 238 S. Main Street was originally built as a commercial bank. Over the years it has held a variety of other businesses including resale shops and a dry cleaner. Since its construction, it has been a landmark of the city of Medford with its distinctive brick facade featured in countless historical photos of the area, For the past few decades it has sat vacant, slowly decaying.
Mayor Mike Wellner praised the plans to restore the building and bring it back into productive use. He said the building has been a focal point for years in a less than positive way for the city with many calling for it to be torn down and turned into parking or green space. Wellner said they worked with Taylor County to acquire the property to be redeveloped. He praised the Gaseks for having the vision to see the potential in the building.
Medford Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Billie Hartwig echoed Wellner’s excitement about seeing the building renovation begin and looked forward to the continued growth of the downtown and the entire Medford area.
According to Doug Gasek, financing for the project is being done through AbbyBank and they received support from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) through the Community Development Investment Grant program which supports urban, small city and rural community redevelopment efforts by providing financial incentives for shovelready projects with emphasis on downtown community-driven efforts.
