We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
A group of 10, mostly anonymous investors, have come together to purchase the old VFW building in Harlem. The groups intent is to form an LLC and donate one side of the building to the Harlem Civic Association to used as a Community Event Center. The other side, the bowling alley will be converted into storage units and will help cover the utility costs for the entire building.
Sale of the Bowling Alley equipment will hopefully net more that $20,000 to help with the remodel of a 36 unit storage facility. The goal of the storage facility is to generate enough funds to cover all expenses of the entire building, including the Community Center that will be located in the other half of the building.
When the Harlem VFW closed its doors nearly a year ago and the Bowling Alley had returned its last ball on May 31, 2018, many wondered what would happen to the building.
For years the building served the community in more ways than just a VFW Club. It was used to host parties, wedding receptions, banquets and so many other functions. With its closing the community was left without a venue to hold special events.
The VFW building was left in the hands of three Officers, including the Commander of the Harlem Post, Don Richman. "I'm the Commander of the VFW, and there's three of us officers that can still work with the bank. Instead of making them repossess the building, and go through all of the rigmarole, we agreed that we close and said, "enough is enough". We agreed I would sign a deed back over to the bank if they needed it. Since I got it sold to these investors, we are just going to bypass all of that, the bank has already agreed to pay the closing costs, and to do the deed back into our name from the three officers of the VFW."
The move was a cost saver for everyone involved, "We saved a lot of paperwork, a lot of expense, and a lot of lawyers that didn't need to get involved," added Richman
Last fall Richman approached the City of Harlem with a proposal to purchase the building. The two sides were unable to reach an agreement after several weeks of deliberation. The future of the building certainly was in doubt, but Richman wasn't giving up on the idea of a Community Center.
Richman made just a dozen calls and had lined up 10 investors willing to each put up $10,000 to purchase the building, "We haven't signed the papers yet. I got all the checks, I was waiting for the last $10,000 investor and I got that today (Thursday). I'm going to meet with the bank Monday (April 1st) to sign the papers," said Richman.
Richman and his group of Investors are looking to form an L.L.C. and are community minded in their approach, "My goal, is for the group to finish renovation of the kitchen the bar area and the main room used for events. We intend to have that all done and paid for and then donate it to the Civic groups where it will stay a 501-C3 - a nonprofit organization.
The Bowling Alley would be converted into a 36 unit storage facility. Looking down the road in Chinook at Ham's Storage facility, Richman knew where to turn for advice, "I had Darren Hamilton down, I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. He did all that over there so I had him come down yesterday, so I know what to do in here. Then I know how to get this done a little faster. He's got a wonderful system and we are going to have the same."
"The bowling alley building space is 120 ft long by 39 ft wide. I measured it thinking that 16 ft by 10 ft could have 24 storage units, if we go with Darren's design, like we're going to, we can get 36 storage units," Richman said.
As far as a time table to complete the storage units, Richman expects it to take some time, "I already have a number rented out so now I just have to get them built."According to Darren it took him 45 days, I have a crew, but it will take a little longer, but I'm thinking if we have this done by September I'll be tickled to death," said Richman. "We got to tear all the bowling alley stuff out of here - hopefully one of three people that are talking to me will come through."
Richman has potential buyers for the bowling equipment, "There's an outfit in Missoula, and a guy in Williston, North Dakota that are both interested in everything. They're looking for storage space right now because they don't have the bowling alleys built yet, but they say they're going to buy it. Havre is also a potential buyer."
Whoever does purchase the equipment is getting a great deal. In 2016 everything was rebuilt and there is nearly $100,000 worth of equipment and group is selling it for $20,000.
The cost of the sale of the bowling equipment will go a long way towards the remodeling of the community center and the renovation of the storage facility.
"We bought the building for $90,000 and I got 10 investors, that's $100,000, so that extra $10,000 will help build this storage unit. If I get this sold (the bowling alley equipment), for $20,000 – that's $30,000 we got to put towards the storage facility. There's a steel container that I sold to the city of Harlem for $4,500, so that's $34,500. We're close to having enough to pay for all of this," added Richman.
"My whole goal when I put this together was Harlem needs a place to have events; that can host wedding receptions, funeral gatherings, golf banquets, etcetera. I've already got a schedule for five events," state Richman.
The group has the vision of the Community Center being ran much like the Commercial Building at the Blaine County Fairgrounds does for the city of Chinook.
"We want to bring that to Harlem and do the exact same thing, except we're going to charge a little less. It's going to cost $200 per event to have it there. We will also ask for a $250 cleaning deposit, but we'll give that deposit back if you clean up when you're done"
The electricians have been in and the investors have been busy perfa-taping, painting and getting the facility ready to start hosting events.
The kitchen has been improved and has two stoves and the tables and chairs that are on hand will remain. The idea is to have one big wide open space capable of handling many types of events.
The investors L.L.C. would own the storage facility while the Civic groups would own the Community Center, but the L.L.C. would use the money generated from the storage units to maintain the entire building. They would ensure power, heat, water and all necessary utilities are covered and to remove that burden from the Community Center.
The Liquor License held by the VFW was non-transferable and went away with its closure. "I'm also chairman of the Harlem Golf Association, and our goal is to obtain a beer and wine license and have it located here. So that when they have events they can have beer and wine," commented Richman
The top of the walls are going to be a light tan and the bottom will be a little bit darker brown. All the coolers still work and will remain on so that those using the facility can stock their supplies prior to the start of their event.
"If the golf and beer thing works out the coolers will be stocked for events. People who rent out the building just have to replace used inventory," said Richman.
The stage lighting will remain as will the dance platform, so that if anyone wants to have dances they can. Their will also be a Veteran Wall, a honor wall for veterans with awards from VFW. The whole wall will be dedicated to them. The VFW will also have access to one of the storage units.
In the end the commitment of theses 10 investors, the most of which want to remain silent and anonymous, have secured a location that will benefit the community of Harlem for years to come. In the end they are the real winners of the whole deal.
