Abandoned buildings have become such a common sight that they often slip quietly into the backdrop of our cities like an accepted part of our landscape. The Polaris Building in Fairbanks has stood empty for over a decade. How can we learn more about the stories behind this building and how can it better fulfill our needs and dreams today? Add your thoughts to the building and below! The Alaska Design Forum presents Looking for Love Again, an interactive public art project by Candy Chang that will collect everyone’s stories and ideas about the Polaris Building to help us better understand the history and forces that have shaped Fairbanks, while tugging at the heart strings of those who might be able to make our dreams come true. A giant sign has turned this vacant high-rise into an emotional beacon pleading for love, and chalkboards at the street level invite people to share their memories of the building and hopes for its future. See photos and learn more about the project. Created April 2011 and ongoing through Summer 2011.

Contribute your thoughts to the base of the Polaris Building — or right here! Thank you for sharing your stories – they have touched many hearts. And thank you for sharing your ideas – they will be used to help inform future possibilities.

    well macauley here is there web address address ,give them a call , mention Howardsy give you there number

    -- Howardleaten

    We were so young, married just two weeks earlier, when we rented our first home together, a fourth-floor apartment in the Polaris. The year was 1962. My husband was an Army bandsman at Ft. Wainwright, and we were so poor that I couldn’t even afford nylon stockings. One-room efficiency apartments in the Polaris Building rented for over $400. per month, which was almost as much as my husband earned! We lasted there for only a few months, then found far more reasonably priced housing elsewhere. In order to save our deposit, we spread paste wax on the floor when we were getting ready to move. My husband dragged me around on a towel in order to give a high lustre to the waxed floor.

    -- Elizabeth Fisher

    In 1974 I opened up my first coin shop in the basement of the Polaris hotel, thanks to Wally Burnett, the owner of the Polaris hotel. We unofficially worked together even after I moved the store to 2nd. & Lacy. In 1976, again with the help of Mr. Burnett, I left the Lacy store in the capable hands of my then employee Dick Hanscom, and opened a second store in Honolulu. After a couple of years I moved on to greener pastures, but Mr. Hanscom continued on with the shop in Fairbanks and eventually took it over . In 1988 Mr. Hanscom, with Jerry Cleworth, went into business and are still in Fairbanks on 2nd Ave operating as Alaska Rare Coins. I visited them all in 2009 and almost accepted a position with a local airline as a Professional Flight Engineer, which I had been for 29 years, 4 of those years flying to the north slope with rinky-dink non-sked airlines, what an experience. My wife, Patricia, who was with me at the time, stated in no uncertain terms that she would not move from Florida, where we live, to Fairbanks. The salary the airline offered would not cover the cost of my commuting, so I had to turn down the offer. I still miss Fairbanks, the people, the town, and the metal detecting and treasure hunting in the boonies. I should have never left.

    -- George C. Rietzel

    The great Tiki Cove Restaurant that offered the best view in Fairbanks. I used to go there when I was young before goldpanner games…kind of a family tradition before they closed. Great food, great service and the best view. It was always exciting to walk through the doors of the Polaris and go up the 11 floors to the top.

    -- Michael Wood

    The creepy walk to the basement – and the magic that awaited there (Tiki Cove) replete with drinks in coconut shells and fruit on skewers with little “hats”. Good food, good service – regardless of the problem of my age (16) and ordering Mai Tai’s anyway!

    -- Karen M.- Fairbanks then & now

    hello hope yous had a nice xmas and heres to the new year
    alfred beilin

    -- alfred beilin

    I am joyful to find so countless beneficial info now in the course of the article, we require develop extra techniques inside this regard, thanks for sharing

    -- Lindsy Kennard

    I was in the army & lived in the Polaris during 1954-56. My wife & I had a 1 room studio & our first child was conceived there. My wife has passed away 8 years ago, but I still remember the good & sometimes difficult times we had there. I did not know the building was in such disrepair.

    -- Dr.Marvin Handler

    ok

    -- vil

    My friend Jimmy who was a police officer doing the downtown beat (who has since passed away) took my 4 year old daughter and I on a tour through the building and showed us a “perch” window where he could keep an eye on downtown and radio officers on the ground. This was 13 years ago.

    -- Tim Murphrey

    Driving by when I was four. I want to come back

    -- Tara M.

    You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

    -- Jackqueline Quintard

    We lived on the 4th floor for six months back in 1975, while waiting for housing to become available during Pipeline construction. We ate out three times a day and walked the streets in safety to explore all the local businesses. It was a wonderful way to get to know downtown Fairbanks.

    I looked out the window every day at the new GMC Blazer in the car lot across the street, and became so attached to it that we bought it.

    Of course, some nights we were awakened by knocks on our door. Apparently the professional women had a room at our location on another floor. We sent them on their way and went back to sleep.

    Loved the Firelight steak house and the Drop Inn and the little Jewish deli in the Northward Building. And of course the Co-Op Diner and the Star of the North Bakery. Fairbanks had a lot of great steak houses back in those days!

    -- Name

    My very first memory is looking down from a corner room on to 2nd Ave. My folks had spent several months in Fairbanks while my dad was finishing up his involuntary stint in the Army. Right about the time we were leaving, on a whim, he put in an application for a job – and got it. So we turned around and came back. While we were waiting to move into our place on 9th Ave, we stayed at the Polaris, and on a bring sunny day I saw the sign for the Lacey St. Theater and folks out walking.

    -- Diane Fleeks

    My late wife’s folks lived in the Polaris when she was born. The Tiki was her favorite restaurant when it was below the Mecca, but she really loved it on top of the Pole. We used to meet for lunch at the Black Angus before we married. Dinner at the Firelight Room.

    -- JD

    I bought land from Wally & Ruth Burnett in the early ’80s. I used to go down into his office in the basement to make payments. It was like Aladin’s cave down there. Musty and dank, full of papers and books everywhere, with rows and rows of beautiful ivory carvings of all shapes and sizes.

    -- Joyce B.

    i remember as a kid going to the tiki for sunday dinners with my grandparents……it’s hard to believe it’s all boarded up

    -- Name

    I used to run the stairs for exercise when I waitressed at the Black Angus, back in the early ninties. The hotel and restaurants were owned by Wally and Ruth Burnett at that time. Very good people!

    -- Carrie

    It was the Petroleum Club.

    -- Name

    As a kid back in the 1970′s I could go to the gift shop and purchase real tobacco for my fathers pipe as a holiday or birthday gift. I also enjoyed the elevator ride, you never know which floor you would stop on. Also one summer early in the 1980′s I was awaken to the sound of a fight on 2nd Ave. Some guy named Ed was causing some kind of trouble and wouldnt give up until he ended up laying on the street with abloody nose. All the other patrons went back inside to finish their drinks following the show.

    -- Im not Ed

    I remember family style dinners at the Tiki Cove (I was too young to imbibe) during my childhood. I remember looking out the windows at the city in awe, because we were eating in the coolest place and in the tallest building in Fairbanks.

    -- Anonymous

    I lived on the 9th floor from 1958 to 1962. I was right in the middle of the statehood celebrations. I could walk to a drugstore in the Northward and a grocery on 10th. My view was the river, an outdoor swimming pool and the USO was across the street where Golden Heart Plaza is now. There were two movie houses on Second Avenue. A bustling and safe place.

    -- Mary Ann Nickles

    I remember a meeting with a local helicopter service–strictly a business meeting about using a helicopter in an upcoming heat island study–at the Pipeline club back when I was a graduate student. I’m female. We were asked to leave, to the great embarrassment of the helicopter service representative.

    -- Sue Ann Bowling

    My Grandpa lived there when he would come back from the North Slope, when he couldn’t afford to fly home to Galena… He had a space there for all of his stuff that he could leave there while he was up north and that way he didn’t have to pack anything back and forth… That building made it possible for me to see him a lot more often than I normally would have if he had to stay elsewhere, for my parents and I lived in Fairbanks. Wish something could be done with it again.

    -- Megan L. Fairbanks, AK

    Remember when the Pipeline Club was on top and women could be “guests” but not “members”?

    -- from the chalkboard

    I remember all my family occasions were celebrated here. My great grandparents built it!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Tiki Cove special oil lamp

    -- from the chalkboard

    A lot of family memories. Stayed here for 30 days waiting to have my son, who will be 17 yrs

    -- from the chalkboard

    I miss the top floor restaurant

    -- from the chalkboard

    Remember partying big time

    -- from the chalkboard

    Where I met Skeet

    -- from the chalkboard

    Tiki Cove overshadows this very short “creepy” feeling. The view of FBKS was all I remember – it was great. P.Penatac

    -- from the chalkboard

    Awesome view

    -- from the chalkboard

    Pat Moore’s 40th birthday at the Tiki Cove

    -- from the chalkboard

    Having a beer at the Ravens Roost and watching the ice fog

    -- from the chalkboard

    Black Angus hamburgers

    -- from the chalkboard

    It was always just a big steel building

    -- from the chalkboard

    The view!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Drug induced exploration

    -- from the chalkboard

    Tracy Easton, Polaris maintenance ’88-’92

    -- from the chalkboard

    Tiki Cove dinners with a view of the hills

    -- from the chalkboard

    Haunted places of Fairbanks

    -- from the chalkboard

    5th floor Natives only

    -- from the chalkboard

    After hours breakfast @5:30am

    -- from the chalkboard

    Always wishing the stone went farther up, so that I could climb up it.

    -- from the chalkboard

    Tiki Cove yum!

    -- from the chalkboard

    It was always a special treat when our parents took us to the Tiki Cove for dinner. It was the tallest building I had ever been in until I moved to Mpls.

    -- Delia

    Lobster tank in the Tiki Lounge

    -- Jessie Desmond

    Lotta action here in the 1970s!! Bring back some high class action and a restaurant with a view!

    -- from the chalkboard

    In memory of my grandparents Rudy + Mary Hill, dad Jay Hill, uncle Jack Hill, who built this building with lots of love and hard work. – Melinda Hill-Miles, Ginny Hill-Monsma, Cindy Hill-Reed, Jay S. Hill, Tim Hill, John Hill

    -- from the chalkboard

    Tiki COve had the best Cantonese food ever. But it has been gone a LONG time. Now Bamboo Panda rules…. and it isn’t downtown!

    -- Name

    I saw his red hair. I fell in love

    -- Alexandra

    Freddie McBride – April 14, 2011 at 7:42 pm
    I was stationed at Fort Wainwright from 1965 to 1967. I got married in 1966 and brought my wife here and the Polaris was our first home. We both would like to see it refurbished, not torn down. We shall never forget the memories of that building.

    -- Freddie McBride

    Ode to Tiki Cove

    tropical cocktails
    beautiful Fairbanks viewscape
    happy grad students

    -- Eli

    I remember some wonderful dinners at the Tiki Cove when I first came to Fairbanks. The Pina Coladas were awesome! Another vivid memory is having to “walk” a tour group there when it was on its last legs. It was scary then and the tour group was not happy!

    -- Buzzy

    Loved the view from the Tiki Cove!

    -- from the chalkboard

    A creepy old building for people to break into

    -- from the chalkboard

    Haunted building of Fairbanks. Where’s my Mommy? Ghost of room 303.

    -- from the chalkboard

    Lady Di lived here! The ’80s rocked!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Great meals at Tiki Cove

    -- from the chalkboard

    I remember ice lions on either side of the entrance – not really that long ago…

    -- from the chalkboard

    I remember drinking beers at the Raven’s Roost bar on the top above the ice fog below.

    -- from the chalkboard

    Was there a Tiki lounge on the top floor?

    -- Mike

    the ideas are booming, very impressed with the creativity i’ve read, wow :)

    -- Parrish S. Spohn

    omg, the idea for the roof to be a skate rink ?! abbbbbsolutely. wow :) so creative.
    that would give people SUCH wonderful memories for their future….how could you forget ice ksating on the top of a building !?
    i think every floor should have something different…if you turn it into low income housing (which, yes, is necessary) i feel as though it would be treated poorly. clinic ? yeah, have that on one floor. have a blood donation place, art gallery/studio for people to get together and share their art and work on the masterpieces with other influencial and creative minds wandering around. have a bowling alley, a bar with a different theme every weekend where everyone comes dressed up and happy alongside a restaraunt. wow. there’s just so much that can be done with it. i know that whatever is decided upon will be with best intentions in mind and leave for great future memories….. <3

    -- Parrish S. Spohn

    Construct a new building in its spot…taller, brighter to show what Fairbanks and the people are about.

    -- Michael Wood

    I know nothing about the history of the Polaris other than what I have read. But I would hope this building could be turned into some sort of rehabilitation center for individuals dealing with both physical and psychological issues. :) We all deserve to be happy and live a healthy life. Some of us just need more help than others. <3

    -- Sarai Etheridge

    I have never been to the Polaris building before and no nothing of it, I live in Wales UK. After reading the memories some people have of the building and being touched, close to tears, I hope that it continues to be turned into something else which will continue to give memories for years to come

    -- Wales

    I agree with the writer below: If they were serious about having businesses downtown, especially ones that catered to locals, they wouldn’t have torn down Samson Hardware for that absurd bridge.

    -- icefogger

    “Downtown will fail if it doesn’t cater to the locals.”
    – Jessie Desmond

    (Pretty sure Downtown failed as soon as Samson Hardware was Torn down to put a Bridge of Failure in.)

    -- Anonymous

    My hopes are the same as anyone else who has the appreciation of pure and simple Nostalgic things.

    I would Love for the Polaris to become an Apartment complex, But chances are who ever was in charge of planning would end up modernizing it as much as possible.

    The Only thing that can be Done with the building is Wait until someone has a Large Wad of Cash and buys it and Does what they want with it.

    Until then, we will stare at it in awe of a time before. A better time. A simple time. When little things were all you had, yet…you were perfectly content, because you could have less.

    I would personally love for them to just restore downtown to her previous face, which she wore not that long ago.
    This isn’t a game, this is our lives, and we have allowed our town to look like a Cheap 2 dollar Lady of the Night.

    Like the Buckner Building in Whittier, the 4th Ave Theater in Los Anchorageos, Spenard Alaska. They are all just Little windows to the past, all we can do is be happy that there are memories.

    But, they are our Memories, no one else’s.

    -- Random Thoughts.

    Leave it the way it is for street art.

    -- Sub Zero

    mohmed lottfy are looking for love

    -- cas mellar

    It be used for a free clinic.

    -- Tara M.

    Rooftop Roller rink.

    -- Name

    Apartments.

    -- Name

    Make an indoor summer scene. Or several. About every four floors or so, make a different scene. Fake or not, that would be to the coolest and best place to be during the long winter months. You could do homework there, have meetings with friends or teachers. Even go on a date :) That would be awesome

    -- Charlotte M

    Make an indoor summer scene. Or several. About every four floors or so, make a different scene. Fake or not, that would be to the coolest and best place to be during the long winter months. You could do homework there, have meetings with friends or teachers. Even go on a date :) That would be awesome

    -- Charlotte

    bakery

    -- Misha

    Could be an art gallery!

    -- Michael

    An indoor park complete with grass, trees, flowers..you get the point a place for picnics and concerts – it would be kept at 70 degrees in the winter – make sure you keep enough space for an indoor year round community garden…and a small section to sell the goods. Who pays for it, I have no idea but it would be cool. Good luck with the campaign. Way to think creatively – AWESOME!

    -- Name

    A small high end mall with a food court on the top floor (perhaps a glass domed roof). Bring the locals downtown. Parking? Sure. Right across the street in the parking garage.

    Downtown will fail if it doesn’t cater to the locals.

    -- Jessie Desmond

    Community garden on the roof, for certain

    Maybe a sort of member’s only shopping center, Fairbanks is too wonderful a place to not have the opportunity to shop locally for nice clothes.

    Recreation center, there needs to be a safe place younger people to enjoy themselves. I’m 20 with a 26 spouse and let me tell not being able to hang out with our friends this winter was not very fun.

    -- Mia

    Uptown condos would be great. But anything really to keep from tearing this wonderful old building down. I just hate to see the older buildings being abandoned and torn down.

    -- Shelia

    Since Alaska has such high statistics for domestic violence, why not partner up with Halle Berry and any other famous person who does a lot of work in that field and turn it into apartments for domestic violence victims who need somewhere safe to go. Halle Berry has recently been in the news for providing apartments/shelter for domestic violence victims and I’m sure there are many other “stars” that would gladly help with a project of that sort. Make it into a full domestic violence center with offices on the ground floor that can help victims with legal issues and apartments above for those who need somewhere to start over in a safe environment.

    -- Name

    Texas bar-b-que!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Condos

    -- from the chalkboard

    Grocery

    -- from the chalkboard

    A greenhouse!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Bistro bar

    -- from the chalkboard

    Place for the kids to be active in winter!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Artist studios

    -- from the chalkboard

    A small Trader Joe’s
    A gym
    A department store
    A roof top bar atrium

    -- from the chalkboard

    Low-income housing

    -- from the chalkboard

    Skate park

    -- from the chalkboard

    Golden Corral

    -- from the chalkboard

    Sometimes it’s time to say Goodbye and move on. May a beautiful vibrant family friendly downtown rise from its ashes.

    -- from the chalkboard

    Indoor aquarium

    -- from the chalkboard

    Bookshop

    -- from the chalkboard

    3-floor skate park

    -- from the chalkboard

    Residents downtown

    -- from the chalkboard

    Return of the Tiki Cove!

    -- from the chalkboard

    I want to live in the top floor

    -- from the chalkboard

    Bar with a view!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Tear it down!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Green space

    -- from the chalkboard

    Art co-op

    -- from the chalkboard

    Dave and Busters

    -- from the chalkboard

    Fix it up!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Great shops and condos that are really cool

    -- from the chalkboard

    Movie editing studio

    -- from the chalkboard

    0 bars

    -- from the chalkboard

    Theatre

    -- from the chalkboard

    A tenant for the parking garage

    -- from the chalkboard

    Museum water park

    -- from the chalkboard

    Indian restaurant!

    -- from the chalkboard

    State offices, Skybridge to Courthouse duh

    -- from the chalkboard

    The last thing we need is another bar!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Ultra Energy / Environ Condos – Time Share
    Gardens on top – solar powered
    Green grocery stores – shared
    Space for kitchens / great rooms

    -- from the chalkboard

    Farm

    -- from the chalkboard

    Zoo

    -- from the chalkboard

    A better mall

    -- from the chalkboard

    Theater themed restaurant

    -- from the chalkboard

    A home for squatters

    -- from the chalkboard

    A Thai restaurant

    -- from the chalkboard

    Offices

    -- from the chalkboard

    Help desk

    -- from the chalkboard

    For it to live again!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Apts

    -- from the chalkboard

    Shops

    -- from the chalkboard

    Studios

    -- from the chalkboard

    Restaurants

    -- from the chalkboard

    Ballroom dancing

    -- from the chalkboard

    A giant funhouse

    -- from the chalkboard

    It could house any kind of housing or office space… but is remodeling worth it??? Is the clean up worth it??? I doubt it… needs to be torn down and built in a more modern suit.
    Otherwise there isn’t much that can be done with it, and if walls were torn down inside who’s to say the whole thing wouldn’t come crashing down?

    -- Name

    A children’s museum

    -- Name

    Current estimates for the FSNB show about 400 school age children living without a permanent fixed night-time address. How about remodeling to create a long-term housing solution for the runaway and thrown-away youth in our community?

    -- Name

    *art gallery (s) (we’ve lost both New Horizon and the Artworks in the last several yrs)
    *bakery (like Babs 5th Ave. Bakery)
    *Planet Fitness
    *Dance Studio
    *Restaurant on top floor (Yes to whoever said Indian Cuisine)
    *office spaces
    *clothing boutiques (something that sells contemporary hip clothing/shoes like Elements and Wooly Rhino but cheaper)
    *local bookstore!!!!! – Gullivers!
    *Hot Licks!
    (these should be local businesses and not some national chain; well, except for Planet Fitness…)
    *small credit union branch
    *and of course, affordable housing that integrates both young adults and our aging population.

    -- D.

    Tear the whole block and build a multy level mall with a sky walk to the top floor of the parking garage. It is time to clean up downtown and clear out the eye sore that is the polaris building…

    -- Name

    To be my (and everyone else’s) “happy place”!

    -- Name

    Remodeling and renovation is so terribly costly. It’s been run down and neglected for far too long, that the costs to renovate would be crazy! I hate to say it, but demo it, and start over with a new collective vision to bring patrons to the area.

    -- Name

    Higher end shopping mall or outlet mall. Something to bring locals and tourists (and life) back to downtown.

    -- Name

    Indian restaurant

    -- from the chalkboard

    Gym / hotel

    -- from the chalkboard

    An environmentally conscious, social action based intentional community living co-op

    -- from the chalkboard

    A new brew pub with apartments above

    -- from the chalkboard

    Bring back Tiki Cove, or some updated version of it. Fairbanks is lacking in good cocktail bars!

    -- megan

    A deli

    -- from the chalkboard

    Skate park!

    -- from the chalkboard

    A climbing gym

    -- from the chalkboard

    A gymnastics / circus school

    -- from the chalkboard

    Street level art

    -- from the chalkboard

    Hookah bar

    -- from the chalkboard

    Young adult transitional living

    -- from the chalkboard

    It should be an orphanage!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Dancing

    -- from the chalkboard

    Performing arts center

    -- from the chalkboard

    Help the poor with health, dental, law, pro bono – Help the poor and the Lord will bless this city

    -- from the chalkboard

    Grocery store!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Roller rink

    -- from the chalkboard

    Athletic club

    -- from the chalkboard

    Public info desk

    -- from the chalkboard

    A nice parking lot

    -- from the chalkboard

    Use separate floors for office / stores / restaurant space. It’s here. Use it!!!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Water slide
    Shopping center

    -- from the chalkboard

    Demolition!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Coffee place to hang out

    -- from the chalkboard

    Bring back Tiki Cove!

    -- from the chalkboard

    More restaurants!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Prisoner re-entry resource center

    -- from the chalkboard

    Mall

    -- from the chalkboard

    A good neighbor to the beautiful courthouse

    -- from the chalkboard

    Art galleries

    -- from the chalkboard

    I just want to know how much they are paying you for this campaign? And oh, by the way, they should tear the building down. It is a pigeon poop palace….

    -- Name

    Start over. Put in a brand new building that will attract Fairbanks residents to the downtown. We’ve got enough hotels, bars and restaurants. Let’s give our “skyline” a facelift!

    -- Name

    3rd floor – ghosts. oh wait. they are already there. have fun!

    OOoOOOooOoOOooo!

    -- Name

    3rd floor – Used bookstore, coffee shop with free wireless, clothing shop of locally made items, Fairbanks Historical Archives display and resource, etc.
    4th floor – Exercise studios of various types, Elder exercise, toddler exercise, etc.
    5th floor – office space for rent
    6th floor – Ballroom dance studio
    7th floor – Indian restaurant
    8th floor – one bedroom apartments
    9th floor – Two bedroom apartments
    10th floor – Two bedroom luxury apartments
    11th floor – Martini Bar and Art studio

    -- Anonymous

    1st floor – grocery store with mostly locally grown foods and laundry mat
    2nd floor – day care
    3rd floor – Used bookstore, coffee shop with free wireless, clothing shop of locally made items, Fairbanks Historical Archives display and resource, etc.
    4th floor – Exercise studios of various types, Elder exercise, toddler exercise, etc.
    5th floor – office space for rent
    6th floor – Ballroom dance studio
    7th floor – Indian restaurant
    8th floor – one bedroom apartments
    9th floor – Two bedroom apartments
    10th floor – Two bedroom luxury apartments
    11th floor – Martini Bar and Art studio

    -- Pat

    scrap my suggestion for unique/boutique shops!! Wouldn’t it be awesome to have the Fairbanks Arts Association downtown!? first floor art gallery and sales space, w/offices and theater space upstairs. With low income senior housing, and some artist studios, and a little space for sober and drug free homeless to come in and warm up, maybe even discover who could give them a helping hand.

    -- Edie

    truly affordable housing!

    -- megan

    a mix of low income senior housing, artist studios and unique/boutique shops, restaurant(s?), and maybe some sort of a safe, clean, place for sober and drug-free homeless people to come in out of the cold for an hour or two?

    -- Edie

    More Arctic Hammer!

    -- Name

    Bring back shrimp + soy sauce @ Tiki Cove! And some offices + shops…

    -- from the chalkboard

    A place to buy fresh produce!

    -- from the chalkboard

    a gigantic mushroom farm

    -- from the chalkboard

    A place for ppl to live their dream + be happy

    -- from the chalkboard

    Mid century modern apts

    -- from the chalkboard

    A real mall and a bowling alley

    -- from the chalkboard

    A dog hotel – Jack, age 5 and 3/4

    -- from the chalkboard

    FBX needs an Indian Restaurant. Samosas!!!

    -- from the chalkboard

    Ninja training center

    -- from the chalkboard

    BMX and skate park, Keep youth off drugs

    -- from the chalkboard

    Something to create new memories…

    -- from the chalkboard

    To be used as a hotel again

    -- from the chalkboard

    A wayward home for pigeons and ravens, and a place for them to party!

    -- from the chalkboard

    cheap studios for artists!

    -- moi

    I would like to see it torn down. It has been an eyesore and unsafe for a long time. Plus, it would be quite costly to renovate. My hope is that in its place would be something wonderful that fits into the Vision Fairbanks plan.

    -- Buzzy

    Scrape it and start over.

    -- Gary

    Municipal government uses power of eminent domain to acquire the asset at fair market value.

    Obtain architect’s preliminary concepts for highest and best use of the asset even if demolishing down to the structural steel and rebuilding to current fire codes. Negotiate waiver of tip fees at borough landfill.

    Highest and best use might be condominiums with a parking arrangement with the existing downtown parking garage. Retail-office space on bottom floor and possibly a restaurant on the top floor similar to the old Petroleum Club that once graced this space.

    Financing preferably obtained by selling bonds perhaps through AHFC Alaska Housing Financing Corporation or private markets.

    There are many empty nesters that no longer wish to remain in their larger domiciles and would like the ability to leave for a few of the winter months. Interest rates are at historical lows. The timing seems to be opportune.

    Life-long Fairbanks resident

    -- Karl Schroeder

    I heard there used to be a Tiki lounge in the Polaris. How fun would that be?

    -- Mike