Visions for Vacancies: Pabst Building

Have you wondered what's going on with the Pabst Blue Ribbon building on St. John Street?

So have we.

Last week, Mayor Wayne Dougherty shed some light on a recent deal that fell through involving the property.

Responding to a question at Bulle Rock's candidate night about his plans for retail, Dougherty said that a developer was interested in the old Pabst building for a residential-commercial development but the financing fell through at the last minute.

"...a developer wanted to put a four-story building there for mixed use," Dougherty said. "There was going to be residences at the top and retail at the bottom.

"Everything was going well wtih the state, there was demolition money being applied for—it was over $1 million—and it looked like it was going to go, and at the last minute, the money backers backed out," Dougherty said.

"I think it would've been something fantastic for the downtown," he said. "We have the bricks and mortar; what we need are new ideas."

In the past, Patch readers have suggested putting a grocery store or a 300-space parking garage at the old Pabst building.

What do you think should go there? Tell us in the comments!