DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The site of a major fire in De Pere is finally being cleaned up….but future plans for the piece of property are far from certain.
The owners of two historic buildings, heavily damaged in a fire on April 24th, say they will not rebuild after demolition and rubble removal is complete.
The buildings at 100 and 106 South Broadway had been the home for 15 businesses like XO Fitness, Ogan Restaurant, and Mary’s Canvas. There were also several apartments on the upper floors.
Owners Jerry and Judy Turba had hoped to renovate & restore but the cost has been estimated at half a million dollars and they plan to keep some of the history alive.
Standing in front of two stories of bricks and dust, the Turbas recall the 30 years of work they put into the historic building.
“it’s a loss. It’s a loss on many levels,” said Judy Turba.
“We brought back the original floors from 1900 the original wooden floors were underneath, so we showed those. It’s been a joy doing it. I enjoyed the journey of it and nothing can take that away. Even a fire,” said Jerry Turba.
De Pere Fire Chief Alan Matzke says investigations could not determine what caused the fire. The official designation is now “undetermined”.
It’s important for the Turbas to see this history continue.
“Best Enterprises is trying to salvage and reuse many things whether it’s the bricks, beams, columns posts, all sorts of things are being reprocessed and being put back out into hopefully other buildings,” said Jerry Turba.
You may even see some of these old features pop up in some newer De Pere construction.
“We met today with a business that’s opening up. I don’t think I can say yet, but they’re coming in on their days off to help them recover some items that they want to use in the new business that they want to open here in the area here in De Pere. They like the idea of being able to reuse and re-purpose these things,” said Jerry Turba. “This, unfortunately, was the sacrificial lamb in the fire. This stopped it from going down all the blocks,”
Right now part of the building is still standing. Next week it will be torn down and this entire lot will be empty. What’s next for the space?
“They’ll fill in the lot compact it with sand,” said Jerry. “And then we’ll put it up for sale. If I were another 20 years younger I might be the developer,” said Jerry Turba.
Displaced residents and businesses are still working on relocation.
