Federal Approval: Sort of

Phase II of the Department of Interiors assessment of my building plans came back today. Obviously, getting it back is a HUGE amount of good news. We now know something. However, it was not necessarily good news. Here are a couple of areas we need to address (paraphrased):

1. Replacement Storefront: must be compatible with the appearance, size, design, proportions and profiles of a traditional historic storefront........Photos of completed work must be submitted.
2. Replacement windows must match the appearance, size, design, proportions and profiles of the existing. Comparable detailed drawings of existing and proposed must be submitted and approved by SHPO and National Park Services before proceeding.
3. Proposed rooftop addition must not significantly impact the historic roofline of the building. Construction of a mock-up and photographs of mock-up from "each surrounding right-of-way and keyed to the historic district map must be reviewed and approved".
4. Retaining historic plaster walls in a deteriorated condition does not meet the Standards and must be repaired. Photographs of the completed work must be submitted.
5. The proposed two-story space within the upper level apartment must be reduced in size. A preferable alternative was proposed. New plans must be submitted.
6. New mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems must be installed in a manner consistent with the historic character of the building. Ductwork must be set back from storefront and painted. Photographs of completed work must be submitted.

If you can read between the lines and know me well, then you'll know some of this is disappointing to me. However, you'll also know that my optimism will change my outlook in about a minute. (tick, tock, tick, tock)

There, that is better. What is all the fuss about?

So here is some good news

Work has begun. Holes are everywhere in the floor and ground. And I got this as an email from Tom @ Center Studio:

.....Also, I was able to reach someone at the National Park Service regarding the status of Part 2 of the Tax Credit Application and they said they had misplaced a drawing and that had caused some delay, but were able to get another copy of the drawing from another department and it was now being reviewed. The review should be done within the next couple of days and I asked that she fax me a copy of the final Part 2 documents so that we can have them in hand before the mailed copy arrives.

This fax will allow work on the storefront, windows and new openings to begin in earnest. Keep your fingers crossed that it comes this week.

Renovations began this week

Here Kimberly and David stand in front of the "art wall" where Kimberly has painted the announcement that "Renovation begins APR20". (and she appears to be holding up a pineapple....not sure what that means). The sign at the top was made so that when the wall comes down there is still some advertisement.

The water line has been moved and inspected. Concrete has been broken to allow footers (front store posts and stair) to be poured. The gas line marked to accommodate moving the meter from the front of the store to the side of the building. The dangerous stairs to the rooftop were removed. And, termite junk was poured around the foundation.

Changes are happening fast.

For you: A Free Movie Pass

Would you turn down an invitation to a free movie? You would if it was terrible? Well, how about if it is only 1.5 minutes long?

The folks downstairs turned the SketchUp file into a movie. You'll be hooked from the start. It begins as if you are walking down the sidewalk, across the street from 308westmain. You find yourself compelled to cross and enter the building. Upon entering you find open, people friendly space. Warm light cascades from a window on your left. A mezzanine invites you so you head toward the stairs. Or is it the beautiful woman above that you find yourself drawn to? What will happen as you approach?

Ok, you spent longer than 2 minutes reading this. Just watch the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MppHPCgiAY0

It'll be even better live.

Marketing Weekend

Contracts are signed. Renovation begins on Monday. More on that tomorrow......

The first floor of 308westmain is officially for lease. We kicked off this event by once again taking advantage of Durham Art Walk.

This weekend brought the streets of Durham more life with Art Walk '09. Remember that the fall Art Walk was the event where local youth were invited to paint the storefront construction facade. It was very cool. But repeating that would have seen unoriginal.

So this weekend I incorporated the help of a real artist. Kimberly painted an invitation to vote what the space should become. Then folks started stopping by. And stopping by. And stopping by. I met Europeans here as grad students, local residents excited by the changes, parents, kids, lawyers, council members, renovation specialists, and architects. So many interesting people. Really. And all of them were passionate about how a downtown should be reborn. Here's what we heard about my space:

1. an overwhelming response for a cafe/coffee shoppe.
2. a community grocery/corner market. The number of responses for this surprised me. So did the number of people that knew about Central Market opening but still requesting a market on a smaller scale. Interesting.
3. Retail space......especially of the boutique variety
4. a bar or club
5. gallery space, often coupled with cafe or coffee
6. small bookstore, magazine shop and cafe/coffee (seeing a trend....coffee goes with every request)
7. yoga/day spa
8. bicycle shop and coffee bar. This one interested me because the couple that discussed it had historical bikes and had a friend that was a repair "artist"
   
9. and one each response for boxing ring, Dollar Store, English Smoking Club, an occult shop and a combination martini bar/shoe shop

This really was one of my favorite weekends in Durham. The people made it special. May the space lease to someone who shares the dream of community.

And now to bed to get some rest for a great week.

Contract Review

Edits are underway to the construction contract. David is available to begin work. The National Parks Service contacted me for payment approval of Phase II of their review.

I'm getting real close to seeing progress!!!

State Historic Approval??

Today I received the Review and Recommendations from the State Historic Preservation Office. The document has "United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service" in the letterhead. Let's see....the Internal Revenue Service.....I've just doubled the number of US Government Agencies I am in contact with. Well, those are 2 that I know of.

My review "meets the Standards only if the attached conditions are met". The conditions are not that rigorous or disappointing:

1. plaster will need to be added to the walls where it has deteriorated...with allowance for "some" existing exposed masonry
   
2. the storefront must have clear glazing on the windows (no tint)
   
3. the storefront aluminum must be baked enamel to replicate the appearance of painted wood
4. mechanicals and duct-work can not result in lowering of the ceiling heights, impact the character of the building or be visible from the exterior. Ductwork needs to be set back from the storefront, needs be adjacent to walls and must be painted to match the ceiling color

OK. Not so bad. But, who doesn't like the character of aluminum colored ductwork? Paint it, really??!! This we might review.

Now, I found that this isn't really approval. The Federal government will review this State recommendation and can either rubber stamp their approval (which also would mean State approval), or they will add their requirements including potential areas the State didn't highlight.

Never-the-less.....After too many weeks I've seen progress in the approval. It should be any day now that the build can commence.

Oh, and the tournament begins on Thursday. Thursday and Friday should be a holidays.