After 28 Years - NuStyle Saves the Castle
Building will be completely renovatedNuStyle Development Corporation met with different organizations in Sioux City on Wednesday, July 26 to present their plan for the Castle on the Hill.
Tammy Barrett, and brother Todd Heistand, along with two other executives announced their plans for the Castle. They held four meetings during the day to enlighten the city council and department heads, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Partners, Near Northside Alliance Coalition, along with the present renters in the Castle. Former president of the Castle Association Owen Peters and Don Jensen, new president, attended all four meetings.
"This will be a historic renovation," said Tammy Barret who co-owns NuStyle with her brother Todd. "We like to do a project 100 percent and we want to make sure this thing is a good project for years to come."
NuStyle has completed more than 87 million in renovation and rehabilitation projects since 1988. NyStyle also won the 2000 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the social responsibility category.
About four months ago, NyStyle approached the Castle board about their anticipated idea for the Castle. The news they presented was received with much enthusiasm.
Some time before our board meeting, two members came to the Castle to view the building inside and out. A few weeks later NuStyle brought a group of six to tour the building to get a feel of what could be done to save the Castle.
Within about a week’s time, NuStyle attended our June meeting with a preliminary plan outlining what could be done to the building. Castle board member approved their proposal. At the July 26 meeting, NuStyle presented their updated information which included 70 apartments. Thirty would be market rate and 40 affordable units based on income. These units would include one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. Most of the classroom would be converted into apartments.
The project is expected to cost about $8.15 million with $5 million coming from private investors. The remaining funds would come from local, state, and federal grants.
NuStyle would be the general contractor, developer, and general managing agent of the property.
NuStyle and Castle on the Hill Association will be forming a LLC (LimitedLiability Company) with the developer owning 0.9 percent and COHA would be anon-profit partner, owning 0.1 percent.
After meeting with the different groups, NuStyle and the Castle members wentaway with a very good feeling about the day’s activities.
The project still needs approval by the City Council and Planning andZoning.The next step according to Tammy Barrett will be to order market feasibilitystudies, appraisals, and submit application for tax credits.
If all the pieces of the puzzle fall together, construction should begin inlate summer of 2001 and be completed by mid-summer of 2002.
"There’s always roadblocks, but never a project we haven’t completed,"Barrett said. "We definitely persevere until we get it done."
NuStyle is committed to improving the lives of people, by providing highquality living and working environments. They have four values;
1)Reputation is number one
2) The people make this company
3) Work hard/play hard
4) The company is perpetual
COHA benefits with Auditoriun, GymnasiumNuStyle Development will lease the auditorium and gymnasium to the Castle Association for $1.00 per year. COHA then sublease the space for different events in both the auditorium and gym.
Renovation of the auditorium will cost approximately $400,000. Since construction on the main part of the auditorium was started in 1913 and opened in the fall of 1917, it was suggested that the decor be in the 1919 era.
Because the auditorium has near perfect acoustics, it is ideally suited for concerts, plays, and other activities. The gym can also be rented out for wedding receptions, banquets, basketball activity, and small business meetings.
Since we are a non-profit organization, we need to be aware of when we might cross the line between non-profit and commercial. To stay within our limits, it has been suggested that we allow our auditorium and gym to be used by non-profit community groups at a very nominal fee.
Questions about NuStyle from an alumniQ: What will happen to the CASTLE’S statusin the National Registry of Historic places?
A: NuStyle will not do anything tothe outside of the building, consquently it will remain on the registry.
Q: How will this affect COHA’s mission statement, non-profit status and ongoingprograms?
A: Our mission statement reads in part preserve and restore; NuStyleis doing that. We, at this point, do not know the outcome of the programsalready in place.
Q: Is the restored classroom part of the space to become living space? Allclassrooms will become apartments.
A: As yet, we do not know the space forCOHA. Architects are still working on the design. But there are a few roomsthat cannot be used by NuStyle.
Q: Will the paintings/murals be preserved and accessible for viewing on tours?
A: Yes, they will be.
Q: Will we still have tours?
A: Yes.
Q: Will the halls and stairways be ‘common’ space?
A: The halls and stairways areto remain as original. the problem they are working on is how to separatethe activity in the aud from the renters and vice versa. NuStyle has notencountered this problem in the past but have said they either work aroundit, under it or through it. In other words, they will find a solution.
Q: Will building access be ‘limited’ or ‘controlled’.
A: This will have to bedecided after the final plans are revealed. Most likely there will be atleast two entrances for renters and one for COHA.
Q: Proposed security?
A: Preliminary plans call for a door combination and/or a "slip card" (like motels use). COHA would have their own.
Q: NuStyle’s estimate of $8 million for the project seems low?
A: Recently NuStylein their press release raised their estimate to $8.15 million. Those higherestimates included special designed windows to preserve displays and otherexpensive designs that will not be needed.
Q: How likely is it that they will be able to secure the necessary $ fromprivate investors?
A: NuStyle has said that they are 99.9% sure of getting thetax credits for $5 million and they would seek grants and funding fromlocal, state, and federal sources for the remaining costs.
Q: Is the mix of market rate and affordable housing viable? Or will it becomeall affordable by default?
A: According to NyStyle, rates are to be based onincome and market value. (No rent subsidy by the government) They do acomplete search of all prospective tenants as to their income, ability topay, do they pay their bills on time, work record, etc. No, it will notbecome affordable by default.
Q: What is the projected income for COHA from this venture?
A: NuStyle will restore the aud and gym. COHA will lease both parcels for $1.00 per year. Auditorium will be able to have concerts, plays, meetings, etc. The gym area will havewedding receptions, meeting rooms, reunions. In time, we can allow non-profitgroups to lease both at a reduced cost. COHA could become a community basedcenter.
Knights and Ladies require assistanceKnights and Ladies was organized almost 18 months ago to assist COHA in meeting some of the monthly expenses. Members agreed to donate $10 monthly.
For one reason or another, COHA lost a number of the original members. Castle on the Hill is in need of additional members, expecially during the coming heating season when gas prices are expected to rise 50%.
COHA elects slate of officers for 2000Castle on the Hill Association held their annual meeting July 10. Don Jensen was elected president, Gary Olsen,vice president, Teresa DenHartog, scretary and Mike Prosser, treasurer.
Other members of the board include Dr. Randy Bergen, Caroline Conkey, Frank Conkey, Sandra Fry, Bev Kolbe, Jerrit Munch, Shirley McLeod, Chuck Neswick, Josh Olsen, Linda Olsen, Joy Peters, Owen Peters, and George Zeitner.
Past Events
Open House May 7
June 16-17 Class of 1955 45th
June 30 Sioux City Black Homecoming
July 7-8 Class of 1960 40th
July 29 Plymouth County Wrestling
September Events
Sept. 9 Plymouth County Wrestling
Sept. 22-24 1950 Class 50th Reunion
Sept. 23 Plymouth County Wrestling
(Note: Plmouth County Wrestling is a group of young men who promote wrestling tournaments in Sioux City and LeMars, IA. The group rents the gym for these tournaments and charges a $3.00 admission.) |
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