219-225 North Neil Street, Champaign (1871-2008)

The National Register-listed Bailey-Rugg Building, also known as the Metropolitan Building, was purchased in 2006 by Jeff Melander, Bob Balisrud and George Grubb.  These three immediately began an extensive restoration-renovation project that would have thoroughly transformed the building.  Its facade was cleaned and repointed, the massive entablature was repaired, with the missing elements replaced and repainted.  All of the tall elegant round-headed windows were sent off to be painstakingly restored and those that were beyond help were faithfully reproduced and reinstalled.  The two upper floors were gutted and twelve beautiful loft apartments were being built, each of them taking advantage of the soaring ceilings and magical light.  An elevator was discretely installed and a new lobby created in a space that few had seen in thirty years:  a thirty-foot cube of space that once linked Robeson’s Department store with the Metropolitan.

A month or two away from completion disaster struck.  The Bailey-Rugg Building burned to the ground on the morning of November 7, 2008.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined.  By the time the first fire trucks arrived, the building was completely engulfed in flames.  Smoke, burning debris, and fine orange dust billowed into the sky.  Hot embers threatened other nearby buildings including the Orpheum Theatre and the PACA warehouse.  Fires at other downtown buildings were only averted by quick thinking employees. The Walker Building, south of the Bailey-Rugg, suffered extensive damage to its roof and third floor.  It was later demolished for structural and safety reasons.