By SETH CHURCH
The Alaska Motor Inn, once a symbol of disrepair and mischief in downtown Fairbanks, has finally been torn down after a successful, community-driven effort to clean up the area. The old motel, which had become low-income housing, was a frequent target of vandalism, graffiti, arson, and general chaos caused by vagrants and the homeless. As its condition deteriorated, the property became a notorious eyesore, frustrating local businesses and residents alike.
But this month, that changed, thanks to the leadership of Republican Mayor David Pruhs, who made it a priority to clean up Fairbanks. Determined to take swift action, Mayor Pruhs pushed through all the bureaucratic red tape to ensure that the property was sold and the derelict building removed. His efforts resulted in a revitalization project that will transform the existing structure into a beautiful, multi-use facility.
The mayor worked closely with the property owner and local businesses to make the clean-up a reality. In a show of local collaboration, Fairbanks-based contractor Jewel Isaac, LLC was brought on to manage the demolition and oversee the remodeling project. The company, alongside its subcontractors Worry Free, Paragon Plumbing, and Bright Electric, completed the demolition of the old building in just one week.
“This is a big win for Fairbanks,” Mayor Pruhs said. “We’ve taken a nuisance property that was attracting crime and turned it into an opportunity for growth. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together.”
The Alaska Motor Inn project is not only a testament to Mayor Pruhs’ commitment to cleaning up Fairbanks but also a success story of teamwork between property owners, local businesses, and contractors. The new three-story structure is slated to become a modern, multi-use space, bringing new energy to downtown Fairbanks.
With this successful project in the books, residents are hopeful for the future of Fairbanks as a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant community.
Seth Church is the owner of Jewel Isaac, LLC in Fairbanks.
Seth Church–is spot on! What an eyesore and what a magnet for mayhem.
Mayor Pruhs with his real estate background in the private sector, before his public service as Mayor, understands the basic building blocks of community.
Growth and economic development are critical to all communities in Alaska but Fairbanks has been in dire need of this type of vision. I applaud all the contractors and the mayoral and city council leadership on this effort. Thank you everyone.
We need a smelter at pt Mackenzie. There is no reason we are not melting these junk cars and equipment and producing rebar and ball mill balls. We live in a damn garbage dump.
Anchorage needs to eliminate the public health menace fermenting, literally fermenting, in the bum camps. Start at the east end of mountain view drive where the tarp and garbage sprawl has now rendered a large city park unsafe for kids. This is beyond a nuisance, this is dangerous.
This article smells. The city of Fairbanks is supposed to be led by Pruhs. But the city routinely failed to provide police protection when called to the Motor Inn. To the point the criminals had a much freer hand and the owners grew frustrated with the lack of competence from the city.
So, what is this costing the taxpayers? This article doesn’t tell us. What is the new property going to be? What is a multi- use facility?
Other news outlets have reported on those details and conducted interviews with Mayor Pruhs. IIRC, the money was already budgeted by the city council for removal of blighted properties in general, but they were able to avoid burdening the city with the entire cost. As for the other questions, Fairbanks has the same downtown-specific zoning as many other places, which allows for more than one type of concurrent use in a property or structure. The new owner desires to keep and rehabilitate the 3-story portion which sits directly on the corner of 4th and Lacey. If it’s salvageable, the plan is to have restaurant and/or retail uses on the first floor and offices on the other two floors. Presumably, the remainder of the property would be more valuable as parking.
Hey guess what, it didn’t cost the tax payers anything. The owner of the building paid for the entire project. The city simply helped to get the permit approved quickly to get the work done before the snow fell. It was helpful that the Mayor made it clear to the owner that they had a deadline and that if the owner didn’t handle it the city would and made sure that the city was ready to do so.
Good on David . His father was a business owner in downtown and David’s got a great vision for the community he was born and raised into ! Also he had , Great parenting ! It used to be the problem bars downtown and they are all but gone . Funny we still have issues with homeless .
What’s really sad is the Northward bldg . Once noted as “the IcePalace “ , now stinking cesspool of drug activity and lowlifes . My grandad had an apartment on fourth floor for nearly twenty years from the time it was built . It was a testament to modern living at one time .
Now a jerk company from Anchorage owns it and it’s horrid mess of humanity ! Thanks jerkwads in Anchorage . Maybe we can send you a trainload lowlifes as they are more welcome in downtown anchorage .
David great job on Polaris removal and as soon as the last floor is gone , downtown Fbks will blossom ! Oh and some jerkwad in Anchorage owned that mess of Polaris as well . I am seeing a trend here , Anchorage ownership , blight on Fbks !