Main fundraiser photo

The Monarch Bldg: Hotel & Butterfly House

THE MONARCH BUILDING:  Historical Preservation & Innovation at its Finest
est. 1909
Pocatello, Idaho

MonarchBldg.com


The Fire. September 12, 2014 marks the day of the fire. Tenants smelled smoke the night before, flames by early morning. Smoke, so hot, windows melted. Nearby buildings overcome with fire, smoke, and drenched in water. Homes lost. Personal belongings in ashes. Businesses shut down. History, deleted. The Monarch Building devastated, yet still standing.


The historic Monarch Building, originally constructed in 1909, sits in the heart of Old Town Pocatello, Idaho and is listed as contributory on the National Register of Historic Places. While the fire singed the roof and devastated the back half of the building, the beautiful façade remains intact - hardwood floors and window frames included! Of the 32 original rooms, 8 survived the fire.

ps.......it's haunted. Talk about ghostly history! Come see us if you want to find out......

National Register of Historic Places, Pocatello Historical District:

“The three-story Monarch Building was constructed in 1909 of red brick. The facade is topped with a corbelled brick cornice and is divided into three bays by brick pilaster strips. The exterior of the top floors remains unchanged. The left store front remains unaltered, even retaining an early canvas awning, and could serve as a model for the restoration of the other two store fronts.

The Monarch Building was originally owned by Canadian-born Philip St. Marie. The top two floors served as the Monarch Hotel, and in 1927 the first floor housed the Solor Cigar Store and the Savoy Cafe.”


Overcome with loss, the first option seemed to be demolition and removal, but even that would be problematic due to the cost, surrounding structures, and the heavily used street location. Eventually, the Monarch Building was put up for sale. 

Fast forward to 2017, two ambitious Idaho State University (ISU) alumni athletes decided it was time for an adventure! Many people look at the Monarch Building and are overcome by loss, but Ali Gorny and Tiffani Wilson have a much different response – they see potential, and challenge. The Monarch Building is more than just another project for them, it is a passion. From its unique design, to its mysteries name and ghostly history, the Monarch Building has made a lasting impression on many members of the community - including Tiff and Ali.

“We looked at this building a year ago, and I told Ali, ‘I don’t know what it is about that building, but I want that building,’” Wilson said.

March 2017:  Ali (left) and Tiff (right) on the day they purchased the Monarch Bldg

Since graduating from ISU, Tiff and Ali co-founded Endurance Home Investments, LLC. Endurance applies to more than just past athletic competitions in track and volleyball, though - it is a way of life for them. The endurance high of sports gave rise to their company name, Endurance Home Investments (aka EnduranceHI). Focused on reviving distressed properties in southeast Idaho, Tiff and Ali are determined to take the fire damaged Monarch Building and turn it into a design masterpiece. 

www.EnduranceHomeInvestments.com

Starting with preserving the eight (8) remaining rooms, the Monarch Building will function much like it had originally – a hotel.  Not just any hotel, though, a hotel with a purpose. Making the Monarch Building even more unique, Tiff and Ali are designing a Monarch butterfly house in place of the section of building that was lost in the fire. The butterfly house is in collaboration with Zoo Idaho Zoological Society and will be open to the public, as well as hotel guests.

“We can’t bring back what was lost, but we can preserve what remains and reincorporate as much of the existing building materials in the new design.”

-Ali Gorny and Tiffani Wilson, Co-Owners, Monarch Building

Project Costs
Estimated Total Project Cost:  $2M

Structural Analysis & Construction Drawings for initial repair:  $50k  

Hotel Design & Construction Total:  $1.2M
-structural repairs
-facade repair & improvements
-utility & construction upgrades to meet local code (sewer line mod, new plumbing, new electrical, new HVAC, fire water)
-rooftop addition for public use

Butterfly Exhibit Design & Construction:  $750k
-glass enclosure constructed inside the existing structure
-retractable roof for butterfly release
-habitat for native Monarch butterflies 
-contribution to conservation & Monarch butterfly migration patterns via Monarch Mapper
educational outlet
 

2017:  Ali & Tiff standing on the 3rd floor of the Monarch Building. 
Ali Gorny, left; and Tiffani Wilson, right.  

 Monarch Building, Pocatello, Idaho. Early 1900s.

National Register of Historic Places, Pocatello Historical District:

“The three-story Monarch Building was constructed in 1909 of red brick. The facade is topped with a corbelled brick cornice and is divided into three bays by brick pilaster strips. The exterior of the top floors remains unchanged. The left store front remains unaltered, even retaining an early canvas awning, and could serve as a model for the restoration of the other two store fronts.

The Monarch Building was originally owned by Canadian-born Philip St. Marie. The top two floors served as the Monarch Hotel, and in 1927 the first floor housed the Solor Cigar Store and the Savoy Cafe.”
The day of the fire, 9/12/2014.

Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Monarch Building as it looks today. Photo taken 2018. 


The Monarch Building is divided into 3 'bays'. This is a pic looking down the right bay stairs, leading to the street side entrance on W Center.

~2014.  Post fire view of the stairs leading up to the 3rd floor. 

2018. Post fire, after Tiff & Ali cleaned it up.

Current view of the stairs leading up to the 3rd floor.  You can see the singed wood from the fire........fortunately, a method of wood preservation is to apply heat. Post fire, we still have 10,000 SF of hardwood floors and most of the original trim is still in great shape. 

2014, view of the 2nd floor rooms. This is what it looked like BEFORE Tiff & Ali bought it & cleared the debris.

In the picture is also the original check in desk (on the right). Rumor is that the Monarch Bldg was a brothel in the early 1900s. 

To be a fly on the wall......

2018. What it looks like today on the 2nd floor of the Monarch Building. 

This here shows the original rooms that are still intact. Of the 32 rooms, 8 are salvageable and are planned for restoration. 


Relevant Links:

9/12/2014 – Fire Severely Damages Historic East Idaho Building

https://magicvalley.com/news/local/fire-severely-damages-historic-e-idaho-building/article_feeaf1c8-3a95-11e4-b55c-8369e17fbe03.html

https://magicvalley.com/news/local/unclear-if-e-idaho-historic-building-can-be-saved/article_2914bee0-3dc3-11e4-8997-c34209c1e5c4.html


9/12/2014 - Monarch Building Press Conference

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/video_player/monarch-building-fire-press-conference/video_3d45dec0-3d01-11e4-94d2-832ae8be0b1c.html

https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/18f1d47f-e3e1-4acd-b45e-b9a4927eb71b

9/13/2014 – Fire Guts Monarch Building But It Remains Standing

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/fire-guts-monarch-building-but-it-remains-standing/article_d2d6bb0e-3b0c-11e4-aaa9-3b7a58194a44.html

9/17/2014 - Some Restoration Work Begins

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/some-restoration-work-begins-following-fire/article_e35308da-3d5e-11e4-9c72-67ab1897f6f6.html

4/1/2017 – Reviving the Monarch

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/reviving-the-monarch-new-owners-aim-to-restore-historic-monarch/article_7c75df94-428b-5763-8a13-1d047afaeaa8.html

9/17/2017 – Monarch Building To Become Hotel

https://www.localnews8.com/news/monarch-building-to-become-hotel/622702063

9/18/2017 – Monarch Building Saved Moments Before Being Condemned

https://www.localnews8.com/news/monarch-building-saved-moments-before-being-condemned-to-become-historic-hotel/622748134

9/27/2017 – Restoration Process Begins for Monarch Building

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/restoration-process-begins-for-monarch-building/article_f5698d8e-24e7-59aa-82ae-5dd187ee28ab.html

5/19/2018 – Work Continues on Pocatello’s Historic Monarch Building

https://www.kpvi.com/news/local_news/work-continues-on-pocatello-s-historic-monarch-hotel/article_28391640-73e5-11e8-aa9e-d33bd5a057b3.html

9/15/2018 – Monarch Building Owners Unveil Plans

https://www.kpvi.com/news/local_news/monarch-building-owners-unveil-new-plans/article_155dbc78-bbc6-11e8-afd7-c3b4b1bdbf88.html

Organizer

Tiffani Wilson
Organizer
Pocatello, ID

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