Wonder Bread plant

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But the lack of progress at another industriao redevelopment site across North Fourth Street and the poor economic climatse could limit interest inthe 64,400-square-foot building, real estate experts said. Kansas City, Mo.-basedf closed the plant at 697 N. Fourth St. on May 6 as it shiftedx production to other Wonder Bread That decision, which eliminated nearlu 90 jobs and ended the smell of fresh-bakedc bread that once wafted from the followed a four-year reorganization of the company in . Interstatde put the property on the marke tfor $1.7 million.
“You have a landmark building with the cool elements ofthe brick, the beamz and the clear heights,” said Peter Merkle, the agent marketintg the property. “It may take time for someone to figure it out, but I think there’sd a deal there.” The Wonder Bread plant becomese the latest industrial operation in Italiamn Village in search of a new future. About 10 yearsd ago, a Philadelphia real estate developer began workin on a portion of the abandoned comple x along EastFirst Avenue. The State of Ohio Libraru later moved into a renovatesdindustrial building, while Columbusz developer Dan Schmidt’s JDS Cos.
bought and renovate the former Jeffrey Manufacturing corporate offices into condosand apartments. The Berrgy Bolt Works industrial building at350 E. First Ave. also received a makeove r into office space severalyears ago. “Therw certainly is a lot that has gone said Columbus architectRex Hagerling, who is chairmanh of the planning and zoning panel. The commissiob has yet to receive word on what coulc happen to the WonderBread plant, visiblse from Interstate 670. The property, Hagerlinvg said, should lend itself to renovatio into residential oranother less-intensive commercial use. “We will certainlhy be watching it,” he said.
“I think we’c like someone to come in and proposd a reuse for the building as opposed to tearing it down and redevelopinfg thesite completely.” Merkle said the property’s age makes it an unlikely location for anothert production facility. But it coulds serve as offices or perhaps loft studio and residential spacwefor artists, he said. “Thse building’s probably functionally obsolete for a manufacturing he said, “but there’s an unlimitede market. It’s a landmark site.
” Merkle said the properthy has received some early interest from buyersw and InterstateBakeries isn’t in a hurry to “We really want to get (the property) Merkle said, “rather than jumping at the firsft offer.” Todd Kemmerer, a principak at who handled the Berryt Bolt Works property and the nearby agreed that the Wonder Bread site likelyt would be transformed into a commercial or residential use. “Like the reinventinb of the Smith Bros.
building, the (Wonder Breadx building) will be something different than the factor itis today,” he But the stalled Jeffreyg Place mixed-use project across the street, with its largely undevelopexd site, could discourage potential developers of the Wonder Breade site, he said. and its predecessore has worked on the project for more thaneighrt years. “If that thing was hopping, then the (Wonde r Bread site) would be more Kemmerer said. “The fact that Jeffreh Place hasn’t gone well will reflect poorly on the WondeeBread location.” Merkle acknowledged the recession also couled limit interest in the Wonder Breacd site.
“A lot of the peopl we’re talking to are trying to find a revenuw stream in theshort run,” he said, “and then put off any majorr redevelopment until the economy rebounds.”