Project Spotlight: Commercial Rehabilitation Project in Lincoln

A long-vacant historic building in downtown Lincoln has found new purpose as Post Rock Fitness, providing residents with a much-needed fitness center while preserving an important piece of the community's history.

Many of the building's defining historic features were covered prior to the project in the building located at 113 W. Lincoln Avenue in downtown Lincoln, Kansas. (Courtesy Photo.)

For years, Lincoln residents recognized the need for a local fitness center. Community leaders even formed a committee to explore the idea, but funding challenges made the project difficult to achieve.

When Kelly Gourley purchased the vacant building at 113 W. Lincoln Avenue in 2019, opening a fitness center wasn't part of her original plan. As she explored opportunities for the historic property, however, conversations about the community's need for a fitness facility led her in a new direction.

Today, Gourley owns and operates Post Rock Fitness while also serving as Executive Director of the Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation.

Bringing New Life to a Historic Building

Post Rock Fitness opened in August 2022 at 113 W. Lincoln Avenue in the newly renovated historic building in downtown Lincoln. The membership-based fitness center offers walk-in passes, one-week passes, and monthly memberships. Members have access to the facility 19 hours a day, seven days a week through a mobile app.

Transforming the vacant building into a modern fitness center required years of planning and significant financial investment. Outside funding played a critical role in making the project possible.

In 2020, the City of Lincoln was awarded a $250,000 Commercial Rehabilitation grant through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Additional support came through the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) Program and State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, made possible by the designation of the community's historic downtown district.

"Although I knew a fitness center was a need in the community, I knew it wasn't going to be able to support the level of renovations the building required," Gourley said. "The CDBG program was able to bridge the gap between the cost of renovations and the financing the business could support."

Renovations helped bring the building back to new life as a fitness center and were made possible through funding from the owner, awards from the CDBG Commercial Rehabilitation and HEAL programs, and State and Federal Historic Tax Credits. (Courtesy Photo)

Overcoming Challenges

Like many construction projects launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the renovation faced unexpected obstacles.

Because the CDBG program is federally funded, local contractors had to meet additional program requirements, and rapidly increasing construction costs forced the project team to scale back the original scope of work.

"Because CDBG is a federal program, there are requirements that local contractors have a hard time meeting. Even more challenging was trying to launch the project right as the cost of construction was skyrocketing after COVID," Gourley said. "Once the project finally got under construction, it was exciting to see several years' worth of planning finally coming to life!"

Due to rising costs, the project focused primarily on:

• Roof repairs

• Electrical and plumbing updates

• HVAC improvements

• Insulation

• Repairing damaged floors, walls, and ceilings

Gourley has since completed additional improvements to the building's front façade.

Partnership Made the Project Possible

The North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) provided planning assistance, grant writing, and project administration for the CDBG Commercial Rehabilitation portion of the project.

Other key partners included Bruce McMillian Architects of Manhattan, Kansas, and Wiens & Company Construction Inc. of Hutchinson, Kansas.

"I could not have done this without the help of the NCRPC, especially Bri Beck," Gourley said. "She is a pro and made sure that all of us were always staying on track with the requirements of the CDBG program."

More Than a Fitness Center

While restoring a vacant historic building and opening a business were the primary outcomes of the project, its impact extends beyond the building itself.

Today, Post Rock Fitness enhances quality of life for Lincoln residents by providing a place to improve their health, connect with neighbors, and participate in activities like Wednesday night yoga classes that bring the community together.

To learn more about the business, visit postrockfitness.com.

Published: December 14, 2023