Descriptions of downtown buildings

First National Bank Building:
Built by First National Bank as their headquarters building, this structure has been immaculately cared for since first opening. The interior has marble detailing with elaborate bronzed teller areas. The beautiful safe door is visible from its lobby. The bank has no intention of selling it, and would only consider it if they decided to establish a new main office elsewhere. However, the bank's Board has been concerned for many years about the condition of the adjacent property, the Rivertown Hotel, and the nearby Discount Shoes building, and considers them blots on its image.

Rivertown Hotel:
The hotel was once a well-known and important building in the downtown, and many important personages have stayed in its rooms. But it has few tenants now. There is a small coffee shop on the ground floor and some inexpensive rooms on the second floor which are rented out by the night or week. The condition of the structure is problematic. As can be seen on the drawing, many of its windows are boarded over and there is some obvious structural damage. It is unknown what extent of work would be necessary to rehab the structure for rooms or apartments with commercial space on the ground floor.

Sports World Store:
The building has had many tenants over its history, and has always been a rentable downtown commercial space. Its second floor has always been used as a large open space for storage. The mansard front was added in the 1970s, and covers Italianate style windows. The first floor display windows are also from the 1970s "modernization."

Feldt Toys and Games:
This structure has vertical plywood siding with cedar board trim, stained to a weathered gray color. The building is still in fairly good condition, but needs some normal maintenance rehab. It is currently a toys and games store owned by old Mr. Feldt, who very much enjoys sharing his passion for games with neighborhood kids.

Rivertown Railway Building:
The Rivertown Railway building is a focal point for the older downtown district. Its durable masonry construction and slate roof has kept it in good condition, with little regular maintenance necessary on its exterior. The building is no longer being used as a railway station (only one freight train comes through Rivertown each day; no passenger trains). The larger spaces in the building are being used (underutilized?) as an antiques store. Other areas are vacant. At this time, it could be difficult to find a tenant to fill the large building even if it was rehabbed.

Dawson Law Building:
This well-maintained office building is considered a gem of the downtown. It has been used for law offices since it was built in the 19th century. There have been few alterations, and it is considered one of the most historic buildings in the downtown area. The attorneys who currently lease the building intend to stay at this location as long as the structure is properly taken care of. However, they have expressed a lot of concern about the deteriorated condition of the adjacent Discount Shoes building.

Discount Shoes:
This building is in very poor condition. It has pigeons in the attic space, and significant water damage around the roof. The floor bounces some. The building is currently vacant and was last used as a discount shoe store. The current owners are absentee owners, and will accept offers through their local representative, bank manager Norman Tyler.

Smith Hardware:
This structure has a successful hardware store business on the ground floor. The current tenant would like to stay in this space, even if the building is sold. The second floor has rented apartments. The third floor is vacant and is suffering from some needed roof repairs.

Shoe Repair Shop:
The building is a very small one-room shop of brick construction and no distinguishing characteristics. It was built in the 1940s by an immigrant shoe repairman, Stan Kolawalski. Although Stan died in the 1980s, the building has continued to be used as a shoe repair shop by his son, Jed.

Rogers Auto Store:
This building is currently an auto parts store on the ground level, and is vacant on its upper two levels. The upper floors are large open spaces; the third floor formerly was used as a fraternal organization's meeting hall (until the 1950s).

Miller Manor:
Miller Manor is a large Victorian era home that has been converted to a single room occupancy rooming house. It has low-income tenants, and is in need of major repairs.

Wenkel's Pharmacy:
This structure was formerly a five and dime store, but has been the only drug store in town since the late 1950s. The second floor is used to store boxes for the drug store, and the third floor is vacant and deteriorating from a leaky roof.

Clifford's Hair Salon:
Both floors of this building have been renovated recently with a techno-European look. The women customers love it, and it is a popular spot in the downtown.

Rivertown Music:
This old building still has a lot of character on its interior and exterior. The Schneider family has owned it for three generations. They realize, however, that the sale of traditional sheet music and CDs is not good marketing at this time, since most of those products have become online sales. They now are thinking of closing the business and retiring.

Video World:
The Video World store recently closed, replaced by online sales. The one-story building is in good condition, but sits vacant.

Vi's Deli:
Violet Katzenheimer has created a very successful downtown business with her sandwiches and baked goods. The store is well known for its Turkey Reuben sandwiches and yoghurt parfaits.

Church Street Residences:
The houses on Church Street two blocks west of River Street are all older single family residences. The exception is the Tyler house, where the bank manager lives. The bachelor owner rents two rooms to students from the college.

Green Gables Apartments:
Green Gables was built a few years ago and contains 26 apartments for the elderly; most are market rentals, and a few are government subsidized units. Tenants enjoy a variety of services and amenities at the facility. There is a waiting list for available apartments.

Burnham Residence:
Daniel Burnham bought one of the town's most interesting houses when he recently moved to Rivertown to become the city's planning director. He and his wife now realize they own a home where many people say the spirit of Constance Biltmore, daughter of town founder Amos Biltmore, resides.

Library:
Originally one of the earliest residences in the city, this structure now contains the city's public library. Space is very cramped in the facility.

Bus Depot:
The Depot is still used only as a depot. Four inter-city buses stop at the depot daily. It is also used for the city's two on-call mini-buses, the city's only public transportation.

Story Residence:
Clara and Gus Story live in this house on Biltmore Avenue. Clara, the town's unofficial local historian, has packed the house with antiques and memorabilia, much of it relating to the history of the city.

Biltmore Mansion:
The mansion was built by the second-generation Biltmore family, and for many years was the residence of Amos, Jr. For the past twenty years it has remained vacant, still containing much of its furniture and maintained through funding from the family, who now live in California.

Lemma Residence:
Local politician Delores Lemma has lived in this house since the 1940s, where she raised her large family. She now lives there on her own.

Peeples Residence:
Ima lives with her middle-aged daughter in this house on Elm Street. Ima is concerned about any change in the downtown and how it will impact her residence, and has complained many times to City Council about various development or improvement proposals.