Person of the Year: Steve Grimshaw

by Dale Bohren
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 9:38 AM MST

“I’ll finish this project if it kills me.”

These words of determination were uttered by Steve Grimshaw, the developer converting the historic Wyoming National Bank Building into affordable housing in downtown Casper, while the structure was still cooling from a roof fire in June of 2006.

And finish he will. This week the first tenants will move into the building located at Second and Wolcott in Casper.

In spite of a minimal number of available rentals in Casper, and a need for affordable housing in general, Grimshaw’s proposal to create affordable rental apartments in the City-owned Wyoming National Bank Building generated more concern than support in the beginning.

The six-story building on the corner of East Second and Wolcott streets was built in the 1920s during Casper's first oil boom. It housed the headquarters of the Midwest Refinery Company on the upper floors and Wyoming National Bank, plus a mix of retail stores at street level.

The building was occupied until the early 1990s. It was owned by a disinterested out-of-state investor when it became and remained totally vacant.

In 2002, the City of Casper focused on the property. They were aware that the historic downtown landmark might sit dormant until it was unsafe, be sold to another out-of-state owner only to be left as a pigeon-blighted eyesore for many more years, or even possibly be demolished and made into a parking lot.

The City Council ended up purchasing the building for about what the previous owner owed in taxes and construction liens. They began exploring options for renovation and eventually asked developers for proposals.

Grimshaw, responding to the council’s request for proposals, presented a plan for returning the building to its 1920s grandeur on the outside, and creating centrally-located, affordable living space on the inside. Grimshaw’s was the only proposal that did not require the City’s financial backing for the project.

But it was a controversial proposal because of its scope and end use. The proposal squeaked by the City Council by one vote. Then it squeaked by the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) by one vote.

It also met some resistance from other downtown property owners who didn’t like the idea of affordable housing and the impact the project would have on parking in the downtown area. According to City officials, Grimshaw “rose to the podium” to address every concern throughout the process.

Once approved, Grimshaw purchased the vacant building, at market rate, with a City-financed zero percent short term loan, and secured a combination of two housing tax credits programs through WCDA and a developer loan to finance the $5.4 million project.

But the rocky road did not end there. In June of 2006, a fire burned the roof off the building. It was one of the only features of the existing building Grimshaw did not plan to replace. It was a setback, but did not stop Grimshaw, who was back at work before the fire department left the scene.

This week, as tenants begin to move in, they will be greeted by a nicely remodeled building that still retains the feeling of its historic character. In other words, the building survived the remodel.

The apartments are nice; they feel solid and new and safe behind their six-panel solid-core front doors. Many of the hallways are lined with the original marble, which was removed and reinstalled. And the beautiful deep window sills are marble like too.

Care obviously was taken to make sure the building’s character survived even as it was gutted and reconstructed.

Grimshaw has leased space for a grocery store on first floor. I think the downtown needed that in any case. Remember the convenience of a visit with Nick Brattis on the Sandbar on the way home from work? And with a nod to the building’s new use, an indoor playground is under construction next to the common area for children.

So who is going to move in? The income qualifications are federally mandated and the property will be closely controlled. But from all indications, the tenants will be a full mix; young professional adults, single men and women, handicapped individuals, single parents, senior citizens and married couples. The children range in age from babies to teenagers.

Everybody starts out someplace, and this place is nice! If it were you or me or a family member moving in to the Wyoming National Bank building, you’d count your lucky stars to have one of these units. The building was 100 percent rented before the first tenant even moved in.

I believe the reconstructed Wyoming National Bank Building is going to be a big asset to the downtown. With more than 45 new residents on the block, there will be some adjustments to make. I’d guess some of the adjustments won’t be easy.

But these new residents will bring lots of energy to a building that has been vacant and increased vitality to the downtown neighborhood. With more foot traffic and shoppers, there will no doubt be other new development possibilities. The benefits will outweigh any inconvenience of the changes.

Given all the initial controversy, I laughed at the irony when I overheard a mature downtown pedestrian saying we need two more projects just like it.

I’m not sure about that, but I certainly assert that with the project headed toward a crisp completion and a bright future on the near horizon, this is a very positive event for downtown Casper and a good shot in the arm for workforce housing at the same time.

Given Grimshaw’s history of constructing complex projects and then running them, I doubt he really needed all the headache of this project. I think he did it because he wanted to do it; take something old and make something new.

For that reason and the fact this renovation positively addresses workforce housing, we name Steve Grimshaw as the Casper Journal’s Person of the Year.

Thank you for your hard work, congratulations on finishing the project before it killed you, and good luck.

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