Wilkins Building

713 Walnut Street

Wilkins Building – 713 Walnut Street

• Designer unknown – 1908 NRHP 2010 Criteria A
• Originally called the Hubbell Bldg for the developer Fredrick M. Hubbell but the name was changed once a tenant signed on.
• The first commercial structure to use reinforced concrete floors and columns in town
• Housed the Wilkins Department Store in the west most 88’ and the Chapman Brothers Furniture Store in the east most 68’
• In 1924 the building was unified with the Younkers Building over the existing alley with a four story bridge; this required removing the alley side walls and creating short stair runs to make up for the level change between the buildings.
  • The Tea Room was originally in the Younkers building but was moved to the top floor of the Wilkins building.
  • The exterior of the Wilkins Building was also remodeled by Proudfoot Bird in a Collegiate Gothic style and the canopy that covered the street level side was installed.
• In June 2013 Alexander Co. began the conversion into 120 apartments with two floors of retail space – On March 29, 2014 a massive three alarm fire broke out and destroyed the Younkers/ Building leaving the Wilkins Bldg. damaged but standing.
• Des Moines based Blackbird Investments purchased the building in July 2015 and will convert the Wilkins Building into ground level retail, lower level parking, apartments and will restoring the Tea Room as an event space. They have not decided the future of the Younker’s lot.