Wonder Bread plant

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But the lack of progress at anothedr industrial redevelopment site across North Fourt Street and the poor economixc climate could limit interest inthe 64,400-square-foot building, real estate expertas said. Kansas City, Mo.-based closed the plant at 697 N. Fourth St. on May 6 as it shifted productiom to other WonderBread bakeries. That decision, whichg eliminated nearly 90 jobs and endesd the smellof fresh-baked bread that once wafted from the followed a four-year reorganization of the companyy in . Interstate put the propertu on the marketfor $1.
7 “You have a landmark building with the cool elements of the brick, the beams and the clearr heights,” said Peter Merkle, the agent marketing the “It may take time for someone to figure it out, but I thinm there’s a deal there.” The Wonder Bread plant becomes the latest industrialo operation in Italian Village in search of a new future. Abouy 10 years ago, a Philadelphia real estate developer begam working on a portion of the abandoned compled along EastFirst Avenue. The State of Ohio Library latedr moved into a renovatedindustrial building, whil e Columbus developer Dan Schmidt’s JDS Cos.
bought and renovatec the former Jeffrey Manufacturing corporate officez into condosand apartments. The Berry Bolt Works industrial buildinyg at350 E. First Ave. also received a makeovere into office space severalyears ago. “There certainlyu is a lot that hasgone on,” said Columbue architect Rex Hagerling, who is chairman of the planning and zoning panel. The commission has yet to receive word on what coulf happen to the Wonder Bread visible fromInterstate 670. The Hagerling said, should lend itself to renovation into residentiaol oranother less-intensive commercial use. “We will certainl be watching it,” he said.
“I thinok we’d like someone to come in and propose a reuss for the building as opposed to tearing it down and redeveloping the site Merkle saidthe property’s age makes it an unlikelty location for another production But it could serve as offices or perhaps loft studioi and residential space for artists, he said. “Ths building’s probably functionally obsolete for amanufacturing user,” he said, “bu t there’s an unlimited market. It’s a landmark site.” Merkle said the property has received some early interest from buyer and InterstateBakeries isn’t in a hurr to sell.
“We really want to get (the property) Merkle said, “rather than jumping at the first offer.” Todd Kemmerer, a principao at who handled the Berry Bolt Workes property and thenearby warehouse, agreed that the Wonder Bread site likely would be transformed into a commercia l or residential use. “Like the reinventing of the Smithh Bros. building, the (Wonder Bread will be something different than the factory itis today,” he said. But the stalled Jeffrety Place mixed-use project across the street, with its largely undeveloped site, could discourags potential developers of the WonderBread site, he said.
and its predecessord has worked on the project for more thaneight years. “If that thing was hopping, then the (Wonder Brea d site) would be more Kemmerer said. “The fact that Jeffreuy Place hasn’t gone well will reflect poorluy on the WonderBread location.” Merkle acknowledgef the recession also could limit interest in the Wondet Bread site. “A lot of the people we’rs talking to are trying to find a revenue stream in theshorrt run,” he said, “and then put off any majord redevelopment until the economy rebounds.
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