Past preserved at Lamar building in downtown Wichita Falls

Peeking through the layers of time, the original beauty of a historic downtown Wichita Falls building is visible once again.

Construction began recently at the former Maskat Shrine Temple building in the 1400 block of Lamar Street.

“Historic preservation is key,” said Andy Lee, broker/consultant for property owners Overland Property Group.

McPherson construction managers are overseeing subcontractors for a litany of tasks including concrete work, electrical, plumbing, framing, and Mid-continental Restoration – a company that specializes in historic preservation.

Project manager Darren Younker said architects held lengthy discussions with historic consultants to choose accurate building materials and features such as awnings and a box fin sign that will hang on the edge of the structure.

Early renderings show dark blue awnings and sign with pops of yellow.

The Landmark at Lamar, as the building will be called (marketed as Residence at Lamar), is Wichita Falls’ answer to “urbanomics,” Lee said.

Affordable housing is an important component to economic development, he said, and this project fills a void in the downtown area.

There will be space for 30 residential units for both low-income and market rate, limited to people ages 55 or older.

Lee said there will now be a variety of residential choices in downtown including market value housing – like the Holt and La Salle, upscale – in the upcoming Brown Building, student housing at the former Crescent Hotel building, and now affordable senior living at The Landmark.

The first floor will include 3,500-square feet of retail space and a leasing office. Upper floors will have amenities like common sitting areas, activity rooms and workout facilities.

With a building catering to an older population, the new residence will feature Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking lot, sidewalks and the structure will be outfitted with an elevator – which it had never had before.

The Landmark earned national and state level tax credits and, Lee said, it is also approved for landmark status.

The 90-year-old building has served as many things over the years.

The original building was a furniture store, a retail store at various times over the years and then served as the Maskat Shrine Temple and meeting space.

Lee said from about 1946 through the 1980s, players coming through to play in the Oil Bowl would stay at the building.

“Bill Bradley, some of the Oklahoma greats, Steve Owen. When they came by Wichita Falls, they would slide by the building. It’s these remembrances that are important to preserve,” he said.

McPherson staff said, with historic preservation projects, predicting a timeline for completion of the project is difficult. 

One of the most difficult tasks, Younker said, is replacing the old windows with modern ones, while maintaining the beautiful original stone and brick work surrounding them.

They hope to complete the outside work, parking lot and the first floor area, then begin on the other three floors.

Lee optimistically said they could be pre-leasing units as soon as the winter holidays and opening the leasing office by February.  

The total project is expected to cost about $6 million, funded mainly through national and state tax credits.