Severs Block Building
Oklahoma
When an early morning fire tore through the two-story Severs Block Building in downtown Muskogee, Oklahoma, the planned rehabilitation of the 1890 building appeared doomed. The structure once housed the first bank in what was known as "Indian Territory" and later, a bustling cotton exchange. A husband and wife team with strong ties to the community was poised to convert Muskogee's oldest extant building into ground floor restaurant/retail space and upper floor offices when the fire hit. With the building's roof and second floor now heavily damaged, the City threatened immediate demolition. Officials feared a public safety hazard and a lengthy closure of downtown streets that would disrupt traffic and commerce during rehabilitation. The developers, Judy McKie and Nick Ondrejka, rallied to win a court-ordered demolition stay and save the building but they faced a daunting task. The fire's damage more than doubled rehabilitation costs, drastically expanded the scope of work and shortened the City's patience for the building's transformation.
The developers, known as the Severs Block Holding Company, moved quickly to bring in the Community Revitalization Department of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help plug the gap. The department's National Trust Loan Fund stepped in with a $450,000 construction loan to help cover hard and soft costs associated with the $1.9 million project. The Southwest Regional Office referred the team to the Small Deal Fund, a historic tax credit investor that will provide $275,000 in equity in exchange for the federal historic tax credits generated by the rehabilitation.
Mr. Ondrejka had this to say about partnering with the National Trust for Historic Preservation: "Without the resource assistance, financing, encouragement and support provided by the National Trust, saving this historically significant building from demolition would have been nearly impossible. Specifically, the loan from the National Trust Loan Fund and the in-person meeting with the National Trust Loan Officer were instrumental in convincing our local bank, Armstrong Bank, to underwrite the primary construction financing. This type of targeted program helps the local community participants make the right decision about preserving and supporting their local historic resources."
Now, nearly two years after the fire, the Severs Block Building bears little resemblance to a building on the verge of demolition. Major exterior work is done, including a new roof structure, and HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems have been installed. The next phase will outfit the interior space to meet tenant specifications.
While work may still be ongoing, Muskogee is already reaping benefits from the project. Since the Severs Block rehabilitation began, three other historic rehabilitations efforts have been launched downtown. The city was named one of two Oklahoma Main Street communities for 2008, in part because of the preservation ethic demonstrated by the Severs Block rehabilitation. This designation opens the door to the comprehensive revitalization of the city’s commercial corridors through enhancement of its existing older and historic fabric. The Severs Block project is also a bold demonstration of the value of Muskogee’s heritage; that the redevelopment of its historic assets can have a catalytic effect and be a key contributor to the city’s economic vitality.
For more information contact:
National Trust Loan Fund
email: NationalTrust_LoanFund@nthp.org
