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January/2013
Kilbourne Group News
(The newsletter of Downtown Fargo's revitalization team.) |
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Kilbourne Group purchases old FRS Building with plans to make mixed-use commercial space
 | | The Ball-Loudon Building, former home to FRS Industries, is shown here before most of the building's windows were covered in the 1970s. |
FARGO, N.D. -- In its ongoing mission to revitalize Fargo's core, Kilbourne Group purchased the Ball-Loudon Building (formerly home to Fargo Rubber Stamp Industries) in October.
Once revamped, the Ball-Loudon Building could join other recent renovation projects -- like the Family HealthCare Center in the historic Pence Automobile company building -- in helping downtown Fargo's revitalization bloom beyond Broadway.
The Ball-Loudon is actually comprised of two brick buildings that share a common wall: The Ball Building, 63 5th St. N., which contains two floors of parking and empty office space, and the Loudon, 64 4th St. N., which is where the rubber stamp operation was located.
The Loudon, which boasts 22,000 square feet of space, shows excellent potential for an open, loft-style office space that showcases the structure's original architectural materials -- much like the offices in the soon-to-be-completed Loretta Building. It would be the ideal candidate for a single tenant, says KG Founder Doug Burgum. The Ball-Loudon has a long history in Fargo. The west end of the building, the Ball, is believed to have been completed in 1914 by Wilbur M. Ball for his company, Ball Auto Co. The namesake for the 1916-built Loudon Building isn't clear, although city records show a man named Samuel A. Loudon (sometimes spelled "Laudon") operated a blacksmith shop in the near vicinity at about the same time.
Last spring, Fargo Rubber Stamp Works, located in the building since 1966, moved most of its operations to Moorhead. The Loudon has been vacant since then.
Although the Ball-Loudon may look abandoned today, it holds excellent potential. When the space was occupied by FRS, most of its windows were boarded up in the 1970s as an energy-saving measure, according to The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. But historic photos show its facade was once as handsome as its poured-concrete foundation was sturdy, having been designated as a fallout shelter during the Cold War, according to Forum archives.
Tired of parking outside? There are still short-term spaces available inside the Ball Building this winter. To lease a space, email us at info@kilbournegroup.com |
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Winners of 'Inspire.13' calendar contest selected
Snowy train depots, St. Patrick's Day bagpipers and a historic theater in glorious Technicolor hues were among the 90-plus images submitted for consideration in this year's Inspire.13 Downtown Photo Competition. Kilbourne Group teammembers chose the winners whose work was showcased in our annual, full-color calendar. The winning photographers received gift certificates to downtown Fargo businesses, complimentary calendars and prime parade viewing during a Nov. 20 party in the Loretta, which coincided with the Holiday of Lights Parade. Winners were:
Dr. Niyutchai Chaithongdi, who shot the cover image, Dan Francis, Darren Losee, Bruce Crummy, Jon Forness, Scott K. Archer, J. Shane Mercer, Pauline Economon, and Dylan Berreth, 9, (youth winner).
Thanks to all of the talented photographers for showcasing our downtown in the best light! We loved seeing Fargo through your lens!
For information on the 'Inspire.14' contest, go to www.kilbournegroup.com/photos/
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"Theatre of Light," by Niyutchai Chaithongdi. |
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Family HealthCare Center opens in former Pence Automobile Company building
If the Pence Automobile Company building had been a patient, its chart might have read "critical."
When completed in 1920, the handsome Classical Revival-style building boasted three stories and glazed brick with cream-colored terra-cotta trim. It was described at the time as "the best automobile sales and service building in the Northwest."
But after decades of use as an automobile showroom, an appliance store and a printing plant, many of its original architectural details had been obscured by age and numerous renovations. Its large windows had been removed and filled with plywood, insulation and sheetrock to better suit its one-time function as a commercial printing business. The adjoining buildings, which are 15 to 20 years older than the Pence, were so decrepit that tenants worried about stepping through the floor boards on the second story.
In 2007, Kilbourne Group purchased the former warehouse/showroom and three adjacent buildings to ensure they would be preserved. As founder and chairman of the downtown revitalization group, Doug Burgum is committed to saving historic downtown buildings while infusing them with new vitality and usefulness. The Pence Warehouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, seemed to be the perfect candidate for a real-estate resuscitation.
A 'win-win' for all involved
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The waiting area of the new Family HealthCare Center is light, bright and airy, while still being respectful of the building's original architectural details.
FHC photos by John Borge. |
In 2011, Kilbourne Group sold the sturdily built concrete-and-masonry structure and its adjoining buildings to the Family HealthCare Center. Kilbourne Group and the Dakota Medical Foundation also donated a pre-study to start design work and estimate project budget.
The deal was a win-win proposition for all involved. The former auto warehouse, and the block it occupied, saw the promise of new life. The staff at FHC had a chance to work in bigger, better facilities. And, most importantly, more patients -- many of whom are underinsured, uninsured or homeless -- could benefit from FHC's expanded services.
Indeed, today's patients don't need to cram into makeshift, church-basement clinics or crowded waiting rooms to receive health care. Most exam rooms have huge windows, which fill these modern, spacious areas with warm, natural light.
And because the old Pence was restored with historic tax credits, many of its original attributes have been retained. That includes wonderful details like terrazzo floors, a pink marble staircase with metal-and-wood balustrade, high ceilings and the glazed brick backdrop to the clinic's welcome desk. (The brick, which is the same as the masonry on the FHC's exterior, was found in the basement.) Michael J. Burns Architects also designed each floor so the building's poured concrete pillars could be incorporated seamlessly into the floorplan, but not obscured.
"It's so nice to be able to serve patients in a beautiful space,"
says Samantha Kundinger, FHC's director of development."The old clinic was a tired, old, sad space to be."
FHC outgrows former home
 | | The FHC hadn't been able to accept any new dental patients for the past two years because its space was so limited. Now, patients can receive treatment from an expanded staff in roomy, modern facilities. |
The move to a new facility was long overdue. In the last few years, space limitations prevented FHC staff from treating all the patients who came to the medical clinic. The different services offered by FHC were spread out over different locations, which made it difficult for patients to access when they relied solely on public transportation. The dental clinic had not been able to take on new regular patients for the past two years because of a shortage of space. And FHC's Homeless Health Services clinic was operating out of a church basement without air conditioning, running water in exam rooms or adequate space for staff offices.
By 2007, FHC staff -- led by FHC CEO Patricia Patron -- began planning for larger, better facilities to serve patients. Tax credits, including those to encourage historic preservation, helped to finance the project. The relocation to the 56,000-square-foot Pence and adjoining buildings has doubled the center's available space. The new structure offers 30 medical exam rooms, a full dental clinic with seven chairs, laboratories, optometry services, radiology, behavioral health specialists and an in-house pharmacy. FHC staff estimate their roomier quarters will allow them to serve an extra 5,000 men, women and children per year.
One of FHC's core beliefs is that access to high-quality healthcare for those who are most vulnerable improves the health of an entire community, Kundinger says.
That includes Cass County's refugee population, which grows by 383 New Americans per year. To better serve this more diverse patient base, FHC provides professional medical interpreter services in 12 different languages, plus uses volunteer health mentors to help support New American families in their new home settings.
'A vision is something you must do'
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Even interior hallways in the FHC are filled with natural light, which is "borrowed" from clerestory windows above. |
The FHC began serving patients in fall 2012 and held its grand-opening ceremony in early December.
It was a festive, standing-room-only event, replete with city leaders, proud staff and FHC supporters.
"A dream is something you could do. A vision is something you
must do," Patron told the crowd. "Turning a dream to a vision can take a long time. For us, the dream is to have a facility that, in a very respectful way, serves those who struggle most."
Meanwhile, the FHC's fundraising is in the home stretch. It has raised $14 million of its $15 million price tag through tax credits, grants and contributions. "Now only about 7 percent needs to be raised to finish it off," Kundinger says. "With that last $1 million out of the way, we will be able to get back to our mission and doing what we do best: providing affordable, quality healthcare."
To make donations to the Joint Commission-accredited Family HealthCare Center, call Kundinger at 701.271.3344.
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SkyBarn featured in Wall Street Journal
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Kilbourne Group founder Doug Burgum hands a s'more to a dinner guest during the WSJ photo shoot. |
It's not every day that you get to be featured in the Wall Street Journal (well, unless you're Warren Buffett).
But the rooftop deck atop Kilbourne Group's SkyBarn was prominently featured in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 2 for a story on below-zero barbecues. Editors of the prestigious financial publication heard about the SkyBarn deck at 300 Broadway when they contacted Kalamazoo Gourmet, a Chicago-based manufacturer of high-end grills, for names of yearround grillers. Kalamazoo just happened to work with Land Elements landscape architect Brian Reinarts and SkyBarn architect Chris Hawley to install the deck's outdoor kitchen After seeing professional shots of the SkyBarn deck, WSJ editors were smitten, says WSJ reporter Anne-Marie Chaker. The result was a photo spread on the cover of the paper's Personal Journal which beautifully showcased the condo space. (And the guests were treated to a delicious meal and a good time in the process!)
Talk about griller marketing!
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Congratulations to our three winners!
Thanks to all of the new subscribers to Kilbourne Group's newsletter. Many signed up for our publication in line with last fall's "Bras on Broadway" fundraiser -- a community event that has raised $430,000 to fight breast cancer. As promised, we held a drawing from the pool of new subscribers. We picked three winners: Peggy Erstad,Julie Erickson and Linda Brew. They received gift certificates to three fabulous downtown businesses: Erbert and Gerbert's, Outermost Layer and Polished! Congratulations to our trio of lucky winners! Enjoy a sub tray, a manicure and some warm, comfy outdoor gear on us! |
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 | | KG's Tammy Swift (left) and the Hotel Donaldson's Alison Ottesen teamed up to 'simultaneously' (more or less!) plug in their blocks' tree lights for this year's official Lighting of the Trees along Broadway. Although the two holiday elves electrified their portion of Broadway with less-than-military precision, they still had fun. |
KG helps bring 'Shine into the Holidays'
Don't just think mall business; think SMALL business!
That was the theme of this year's Shine into the Holidays season, which were hosted by the Downtown Community Partnership's retail committee.
Kilbourne Group participated in several Shine into the Holidays activities, including the official Lighting of the Trees Nov. 15, and a Cheer-ity Auction Night (in which downtown businesses donated gifts for a silent auction, raising money for local food shelves). Other attractions included a friendly downtown Grinch, carolers and sleigh rides, extended store hours, special men's shopping nights and Small Business Saturday.
Jed Pahan, vice president of the DCP, says the extra effort to attract shoppers was worth it. "This year's Shine into the Holidays retail series of events was tremendous." Pahan says. "Over 34 downtown business collaborated together to do an entire season of holiday promotions, which is an astounding number.
"With this improved cooperation," Pahan concluded, "many retailers reported increased traffic and sales."
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 | | The Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity, named for arts advocate "K" Burgum, opened this fall. |
Home is where the Art is: Kilbourne Center for Creativity now open! After years of dreaming and planning, the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity is officially helping young artists' dreams come true. The center celebrated its grand opening in late September in downtown Fargo.
The center is a dynamic studio and exhibition space for learning, discussion and display of creative work.
It is housed in the buildings west of the museum and encompasses 25,500 square feet of rehabilitated space. The revitalized area is connected to the existing Plains Art Museum via a 50-foot Bradley J. Burgum Skybridge. The center will offer studio classes to adults, students in grades K-12, other youth, after-school groups and visiting artist residences.
One of its cornerstone clients will be Fargo Public Schools, which means young artists in the Fargo School District will have more opportunity to discover and polish their gifts. The expanded center -- which boasts numerous classrooms and spaces for creating art -- replaces the district's smaller Creative Arts Studio at Clara Barton Elementary.
By the end of its inaugural year, the Center for Creativity will have provided instruction to more than 5,000 Fargo Public School students -- mostly in grades kindergarten through five. After its first year open, the museum hopes to increase participation to a total of 16,000 students annually, including youth from other school districts. The project was completed partly through donations from the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Trust.
"'K,' as our mother was known to many, was a believer in the concept that art should be present and accessible for everyone in day-to-day life," said Doug Burgum, Katherine's youngest son and Kilbourne Group's founder. "She undoubtedly would have been a tireless supporter of the Center for Creativity and would be incredibly honored that the center bears her name."
 | | A portrait of a young Katherine Kilbourne Burgum is prominently displayed in the new center. |
For more information on the center, please call 701.232.3821 or click on www.plainsart.org. |
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KG adds two new members to its team
Kilbourne Group has welcomed two new members to its team. Mark Johnson is our new Project Manager and Jenn Lambert is our new Staff Accountant.
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Mark Johnson will be responsible for coordinating various aspects of the company's new-build and capital-improvement projects, such as budgets, schedules, design and construction.
Johnson, a native of Wahpeton, N.D., graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in facilities management in 2000. While in college, Johnson interned at Great Plains Software (now Microsoft), where he was assigned to the team responsible for the design, construction and relocation to two new buildings in Fargo.
He also was employed by Schultz & Associates, Ltd., where he worked on projects with clients such as Otter Tail County Power Co., Bobcat and Microsoft. He later was employed by CB Richard Ellis while that real-estate services firm helmed a three-year, $70-million expansion project of Microsoft's Fargo campus. Most recently, Johnson was the Construction Project Coordinator at Family HealthCare Center in Fargo. He oversaw the community clinic's move from its previous facilities while coordinating the renovation of its new location in the historic Pence Automobile Company Building.
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Lambert |
Jenn Lambert will assume accounts payable/receivable responsibilities, with a special emphasis on forecasting and financial analysis.
Lambert graduated from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Business in spring 2012. The former Woodbury, Minn., resident started at Kilbourne Group as an accounting and finance intern in May before joining us as a full-time teammember in December.
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It was a very 'Mara' Christmas
Local artist Mara Morken generously agreed to deck the halls -- or at least the windows -- of the Loretta Building for the holidays. Morken used yards of white paper, clear glass bulbs and white lights to create this effect. To cap it off, she and an assistant hung up photos representing most of the winners of our Inspire.13 photo contest.
We are so grateful to Morken for all she does to help promote art and community in downtown Fargo. Our city is lucky to have her!
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