The historic Flinn Block, which includes two of downtown Albany's more ornate turn-of-the-century buildings, has new owners.

Tuesday, real estate investors Marc and Anni Manley of North Albany, completed purchase of the Flinn building, constructed in 1887, and the Ames Hardware building, constructed in 1910. The buildings, 222 and 210 First Ave. W., are included on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Flinn building has been called "one of the best examples of cast iron facades in the Pacific Northwest." Sellers were Bill and Ellen Lilja of Albany. Purchase price was not disclosed.

The Manleys will work with CARA (Central Albany Revitalization Area) on portions of the renovation project. Dick Ebbert, Albany's Economic Development Director, said restoration of the buildings, "will encourage new business and retail trade, as well as urban residential living in Albany's core area."

For the Manleys, the purchase marks an expansion of a real estate investment and renovation business they started 20 years ago. They own several residential rentals on the East Coast.

For the Liljas, the sale means they will have more time to travel and perhaps, use their rich background in historic dinner theater in new ways. "I hate to give up this old building," Bill Lilja, 72, said of the couple's 16 years of ownership. "We didn't get all that we would have liked accomplished, but it's time to travel and see our grandkids. We do hope to keep the theater going."

Ellen Lilja, 65, said, "I'm selling my play house and all my toys with it."

The Manley family moved to North Albany from Connecticut in 2001. They have two sons, Tristan, 14, and Liam, 10.

Marc and Anni Manley bring extensive business expertise to the new venture. Anni, 45, has a background in graphic design and cooking.

At one time, she designed the newsletter published by Martha Stewart. Marc, 46, ran global technology projects for the investment banking firm Lehman Brothers.

He also started and operated a software company for 12 years and served as vice president of Rogue Wave Software, based in Corvallis.

"I traveled a lot and we decided our boys were growing and we wanted to focus on our family," Marc Manley said of the move toward real estate investing on a full-time basis.

It was Anni who brought the Flinn Block to her husband's attention.

"We had been looking for commercial property in newspaper ads and on the Internet, but Anni noticed a sign in a window when she was having coffee at a restaurant across the street," Marc said. "At first, we thought it was just for a business and then we started doing research."

Their purchase encompasses 26,000 square feet. It includes the building constructed by Judge L. Flinn in 1887 and the adjoining Ames building, that was constructed in 1910. Their elaborate exteriors are matched only by their intricate interior woodwork. Carved door and window trim is thick and wide. Plaster-over-lath walls bear special touches such as rounded corners in some rooms. The center stairwell handrails are massive.

In 1975, the ground floor of the Flinn building was turned into one of the area's first shopping malls. Manley said many local businesses got their start renting space in the mall that continues operating to this day. Another restaurant plans to move into the mix. The Ames building houses KGAL radio. Other tenants include Little Bangkok Thai Restaurant, Albany First Stop Antiques, Minda's Attic, Opulence NXS, offices and a church.

The second floor of the Ames building houses Flinn's Theater, which features historic dinner theater productions.

In time, the Manleys would like to develop unused space on the second floor of the Flinn Building. In the early 1900s, the space had been offices for attorneys. Huge windows and skylights allow a massive amount of light into most rooms. The original pressed-tin ceiling tiles are mostly intact. There are also remnants of floor and wall coverings that can be used to develop replacement materials.

"Our immediate goal is to make the interior of the mall brighter, warmer, livelier, more exciting and inviting," Marc Manley said. "We've already begun talking with architects about renovation of facades for both buildings. We're also working with the Oregon State Historical Preservation Office on plans."

Manley said the vision is for a "simple, elegant facade. … We want to revitalize it and make it an anchor for all of downtown Albany. We don't have a fixed plan yet, but we're thinking it could be turned into offices, loft apartments or a mix of both."

The amount of work under way to keep the historic downtown area vital impressed the new owners. "There are lots of new residents in the community and this area provides a unique downtown experience."

Rick Rogers, executive director of the Albany Downtown Association, called the sale, "another exciting development for downtown Albany." He also praised the Manleys for having, "the right vision for revitalizing the Historic Flinn Block."

Alex Paul can be reached at 812-6076 or alex.paul@lee.net.

The Flinn Block

n The Flinn building was constructed in 1887 on First Avenue by Judge L. Flinn to house the First National Bank.

n Two-thirds of building was used by Allen Brothers and Krause and Klein.

n In 1913, after the bank moved, space was used by various stores including Pay Less Drug Store in later years.

n The Blain Clothing Company moved into one portion of the building on Jan. 22, 1892, and remained for 84 years.

n Ames Hardware Store was built in 1910 by Roscoe Ames.

n In the 1970s, the ground floor of both buildings was turned into a mall, which remains today.