Club 1226 Fights “Suspicious” Condemnation Order
Oshkosh - The city’s only openly-gay nightspot, Christopher Allan’s Club 1226, won’t be going anywhere in the near future. According to co-owner Christopher Nikolai, motions are expected to be filed February 12 to enjoin the City of Oshkosh from following through on a January 14 condemnation order received by the club on January 22.
  Last summer city inspectors found back portions of the popular venue out of compliance with the city’s building code. Nikolai and  life/business partner Allan Vandervelden made arrangements with a local contractor to correct the problems but were repeatedly refused building permits, according to Nikolai.
  “The contractor already had purchased the construction materials,” Nikolai told Quest, deeming the pattern of citation, repeated permit refusal and subsequent condemnation order “suspicious.”
“There certainly no way I could prove it at this point, but it sure seems like the city is picking on us because of who we cater to.”
  Quest spoke with other local professionals who reported that the city’s planning office was “notoriously difficult to work with,” and noting that other local property owners and developers have gone to court to deal with similar condemnation orders.
  Nikolai and VanderVelden spoke with attorneys in Milwaukee, Appleton and Madison before deciding to retain the firm that had originally negotiated the tavern’s sale three years ago. They also hired a state-certified engineer who confirmed the original inspection report that the building was structurally sound and easily repairable to comply with city building codes.
  “Of course nothing is certain until the judge’s final ruling,” Nikolai added. “But I have high hopes that we’re going to win this one. Now if we can just get the rumor mill to stop spinning new stories, we’ll be just fine!”
  Quest will follow and report further developments on this story as they arise.