The redevelopment is being managed by The Coldwell Banker Commercial (CBC) Fisher Group from Mankato. For the last few months, the Fischer Group has been soliciting input from the public on the design and theme of the new building.

During a meeting of the New Ulm Chambers Hot Topics lunch, Fisher Group managing director Dain Fisher answered questions about the George’s Ballroom redevelopment project while seeking additional input.

The new building will have around 85 apartment units, built on four stories with underground parking for every resident. An additional 35 parking stalls will be on ground level for guests. Residential amenities will include a community lounge, bike repair, pet wash, rooftop lounge, 16 EV charging stations in the garage and outdoor green space plaza.

Fisher estimated the building will cost around $20 million.

CBC Fisher Group managing director Dain Fisher answered questions about the George’s Ballroom redevelopment project while seeking additional input from the public during the Hot Topics Luncheon.

“We are looking at about a 20-month timeline,” Fisher said. “We would like to break ground, which means demo first, and that would be mid to late August, early September 2024.”

Extensive planning and engineering would follow with the construction of the new building beginning in Spring.

Asked if a contractor was lined up for demolition, Fisher Group managing executive vice president of CBC Fisher Group Wade Abed said there is a short list of contractors they work with on projects of this scale, but no final decision has been made.

Fisher said there is a competitive bidding process for projects like this. The final cost of demolition and rebuilding is still being determined.

Later in the meeting, Fisher said the ballroom’s demolition would require “an intense remediation process.” Mold is prominent throughout the building. To safely enter George’s Ballroom a person would need to wear a HAZMAT suit. The remediation processes necessary to tear the building is estimated at $1.5 million.

The concept art provided by CBC Fisher Group shows the German and Center view of the new building planned for the George’s Ballroom site.

The Fisher Group intends to preserve as much as possible from George’s Ballroom, unfortunately, much of the interior is too far gone.

Fisher gave assurances the ballroom’s iconic sign would be saved.

“The sign, we’re definitely going to restore it,” he said. “I have no idea how we are going to incorporate it yet.”

Fisher suggests a few options for the sign, including placing it in the green space plaza. It could also be placed on the roof of the new building if allowed by zoning.

Since the Fisher Group began seeking public input, George’s sign was cited as the top feature people wanted saved. The back wall behind the main stage was the second. This wall features the signatures of every artist who has played at George’s. Fisher said the plan for the wall is to digitally recreate it and incorporate it into the new building.

The concept design for the redevelopment of the George’s Ballroom site shows the Center Street side of the building. The new building will take the grade change from the alley to German Street into account.

Several of the themes that will be incorporated into the new building were taken from memories shared with the Fisher Group during the input phase of the project.

The dancing theme was a prominent memory as were the booth designs of the ballroom and the overall Art Deco design of the building. Abed said these themes could be incorporated into the new development.

Fisher said the final design of the new building is not set in stone.

“We’re not at schematic design, we’re at concept design,” he said. “We are still able to change everything.”

However, Fisher Group is preparing to move into the schematic phase shortly.

A concept design for the new building to be constructed on the site of George’s Ballroom shows underground garage access on the German Street side of the building.

George’s Ballroom is only the beginning of the Fisher Group’s plan for downtown New Ulm. Fisher said down the road other projects could be developed further north on Minnesota Street.

“That’s the big picture in my mind,” Fischer said. “George’s starts and then the Glockenspiel on Third [North] is where we finish. We’re going to look at all those sections over the next 10 to 15 years and understand what positive impacts we can make in downtown.”