BROOKINGS (9-24-26) — Plans for the downtown armory have changed. After a public-private partnership deal to convert the armory into a hotel fell through, city officials have announced new plans to convert the area into an open, park-like public space.
Deputy Mayor Nick Wendell… “it would have an outdoor performance stage that could serve as host for Downtown at Sundown and other programs. It could be a space where folks could convene right downtown in a green open space. We’d like to design it in such a way that it can be used year round, so it maybe has some utility in the winter months as well with warming huts or we could flood a portion of it and use it as an ice skating rink. We’re exploring those options.”
He said this would involve demolishing the armory… “You go through the Historic Preservation Commission locally and the state level to consider the demolition of a historic building, so that’s a multi-month review process. We’re forecasting it will take between six and nine months as we get through the various levels.”
Wendell said the city did reimburse developer Linchpin Corp for work done at the armory… “Some folks are saying, well you invested $306 thousand in the building and now you’re telling us you’re going to tear it down? On it’s face that would seem silly. A portion of that $306 thousand was acknowledging that we both tried and made some considerable investments in rehabilitating the building. That’s not going to happen so we’re going to reimburse you for a portion of that. The lion’s share of it though is mitigating asbestos and lead, and moving a gas line that has to happen. That wasn’t about about rehabilitating the building. That mitigation just has to happen whether we use the building or we use the land it’s sitting on.”
Mayor Ope Niemeyer said city staff has discovered this property was a park before the armory was even built… “(Assistant City Manager) Samantha Beckman has been doing a lot of research for us, and she kind of did the legwork as far as coming up with a rendition from (design company) HDR. But she did found out that way before the armory was there, it was a city park. And so we go all the back, we’re doing almost like a whole turn, a whole circle going back to a park and a public space.”
The proposed project would involve Front Street south of the armory as well as the 72-hour parking lot on the south side of Third Street.
— Brookings Radio News
