Jake, do you know of any other upcoming businesses coming into this neighborhood? I live 1 block from the Chalet, and considering all the new businesses, medical clinics, etc. being built all around me, I'm getting a bit nervous about what the long-term plan is for my neighborhood.
Dave and Frank Holappa recently purchased the Chalet Motel property and buildings from Steven Boese. Dave Holappa owns the Holappa Commercial Real Estate brokerage firm; Frank is his father.
The motel was built in 1955 as the London Manor.
Penny, I don't think this neighborhood is under too much of a threat. Steve Boese (Chalet owner) has been trying to sell the place for years. There's nothing bad here it was just the Chalet's time to go.
I don't think Walgreens headquarters is going to the site of the former Chalet Motel. That land and the buildings were all purchased by a local commercial real estate firm. I understand they are planning to build a small office building there; similar to the one on the corner of 13th Ave. E. that is being torn down to make way for the new Walgreens. At least that's what I've been told by people close to the folks who bought the property.
I always reserve the right to be entirely wrong. I feel it's one of my strengths. Come to think of it I'm not sure where I even heard that Walgreen's thing. Either way, they knocked the crap out of the Chalet.
The last of the old-school motels that made up London Road Motel Row. What happened to the Lake View Motel? When was that torn down?
I always stayed at the Viking Motel in the early days. That was always a good spot as it was not too far from the Lake Aire Bottle Shop. London Road was the happening place back when, all the drive-ins and everything. Good places to hang out and eat. We had a lot of fun many years ago using that as a base for our stays.
On one side of the Chalet Motel sign, the boards have been removed and you can see the old "London Manor Motel" sign. Photo posted at the News Tribune Attic: http://attic.areavoices.com/
The loaded hashbrowns at the Chalet Restaurant are the best breakfest in town ... and bloody Marys ... when I saw the post at first it was scary. I was like how could a place with good grub close ... glad it's still open but no more off-sale.
Rumor has it that there will be a 3 - 4 story mixed commercial office building built there. Street level is rumored to be some sort of nicer sub shop style place with the upper floors being more traditional office space.
As much as I thought the Chalet was unique and that it wasn't as blighted as people made it out to be, I'm all for the further commercialization and modernization of London Road. Additionally, I think that removing the Chalet will only help spur additional home and rental renovation in the Jefferson neighborhood. I can't even count how many times the police have been called there and how how many times I've been yelled at by drunks on the balcony as I pass by.
London Road (along with Central Entrance) are two of my least favorite, under utilized (at least properly utilized) streets in Duluth and I'm glad to see nice new buildings going up.
If you want to know more about the London Road rezoning, you can read about it here:
http://www.duluthmn.gov/planning/staff_reports/documents/StaffReportwithAttachements.pdf
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Penny
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