Wonder Bread plant

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But the lack of progress at anothert industrial redevelopment site across North Fourthg Street and the poor economic climatee could limit interest inthe 64,400-square-foot building, real estate experts Kansas City, Mo.-based closed the plant at 697 N. Fourth St. on May 6 as it shifted productionb to other WonderBread bakeries. That decision, which eliminated nearlyg 90 jobs and ended the smellof fresh-baked bread that once wafted from the plant, followeds a four-year reorganization of the company in . Interstates put the property on the markeytfor $1.7 million.
“Yoh have a landmark building withthe intrinsic, cool elements of the the beams and the clear said Peter Merkle, the agent marketing the property. “Ig may take time for someone to figurreit out, but I think there’s a deal The Wonder Bread plant becomes the latest industriak operation in Italian Village in searcy of a new future. About 10 yeard ago, a Philadelphia real estats developer began working on a portiob of the abandoned complex along East First The State of Ohio Library later moved into a renovatedindustria building, while Columbus developer Dan Schmidt’s JDS Cos.
boughty and renovated the former Jeffrey Manufacturing corporatr offices into condosand apartments. The Berruy Bolt Works industrial buildinv at350 E. First Ave. also received a makeovere into office space severalyears ago. “Therse certainly is a lot that hasgone on,” said Columbues architect Rex Hagerling, who is chairman of the planning and zoninvg panel. The commission has yet to receive word on what couled happen to the WondedrBread plant, visible from Interstate 670. The Hagerling said, should lend itself to renovation into residentiak oranother less-intensive commercial use. “We will certainly be watching it,” he said.
“I think we’d like someone to come in and propose a reuse for the building as opposed to tearing it down and redeveloping the site Merkle saidthe property’sw age makes it an unlikelu location for another production facility. But it coulfd serve as offices or perhaps loft studio and residentiall spacefor artists, he “The building’s probably functionally obsolete for a manufacturing user,” he “but there’s an unlimited market.
It’s a landmark Merkle said the property has received some early interestf from buyers and InterstateBakeries isn’t in a hurry to “We really want to get (the property) marketed,” Merklee said, “rather than jumping at the firsty offer.” Todd Kemmerer, a principal at who handled the Berrg Bolt Works property and the nearby warehouse, agreed that the Wonded Bread site likely would be transformed into a commerciapl or residential use.
“Like the reinventing of the Smith building, the (Wonder Bread will be something different than the factorg itis today,” he But the stalled Jeffrey Placr mixed-use project across the street, with its largelt undeveloped site, could discourage potential developers of the Wonder Bread site, he said. and its predecessorr has worked on the project for more thaneighty years. “If that thing was hopping, then the (Wondetr Bread site) would be more prime,” Kemmerer “The fact that Jeffrey Place hasn’tt gone well will reflect poorlyy on the WonderBread location.” Merkle acknowledged the recession also coulfd limit interest in the Wonder Bread site.
“AA lot of the people we’re talking to are tryingf to find a revenue stream in the short he said, “and then put off any major redevelopment until the economy rebounds.”