Café coming down

When the Coders purchased local eatery higbee’s, the plan was to renovate and reopen as swiftly as possible. Unfortunately, the Sundance City Council heard last week, it has proven impossible to rescue the building.

Due to complications met during the process of refurbishing, Jason and Darlene Coder have made the difficult decision to demolish the structure. As Darlene told the council on Tuesday, the goal is still to revitalize and turn it into something “amazing” for the community.

However, because it is so difficult at this time to secure a contractor and the cost of building materials at this time is high, it’s unlikely that the project can be completed this year.

“We won’t be able to build till next year – hopefully the prices go down,” she said. In the meantime, she added, the Coders are considering the idea of renting space on the land to vendors during, for example, Rally week.

Bearing in mind the financial implications of removing the old building and replacing it, Darlene asked the council to consider granting a discount on the cost of disposal at the city’s construction and debris pit.

“We’re getting an art gallery over a very similar deal,” responded Mayor Paul Brooks, referring to a deal in which the original owner of the North Pole Meat Locker was offered the opportunity to dispose of the rubble free of charge.

At that time, the intent was to build a veterans’ hall on the site; the city agreed to allow free disposal as long as construction began within a set timeframe. However, this did not happen, and the city was obliged to recoup the costs of disposal from the owner.

In the process, the city acquired the plot of land, which was then sold to Bruce Speidel to promote economic development through his project to construct an art gallery. Brooks suggested that a similar agreement would be appropriate with the Coders on the basis that the location of higbee’s makes it essential to the health of Sundance’s downtown area.

Brooks said he would have no problem offering a discount, “As long as they sign an agreement that they will build something on that corner.” Council Member Callie Hilty asked for clarification on the deal, asking if it would be possible for the Coders to rip down the building for free and then just sell it.

City Attorney Mark Hughes responded that this could be tackled in the agreement.

The council approved a motion to offer disposal for 35% of the city’s going rate, on the condition that the Coders start construction within 18 months and reach completion in no more than three years. If that condition is not met, the Coders will be asked to pay the full cost of disposal.