Two East Market Street buildings once part of the Wayside Christian Mission campus are being restored back to their original appearance with help from original photographs and representative structures in the neighborhood. Gill Holland of the Green Building one block west and a group of investors purchased the 10-building campus from Wayside last year after their proposed demolition for a new women’s shelter. New artistic and creative mixed uses will eventually fill the block.
In January, the first floor facades of both buildings were stripped away to their bare bones. Over the years, many of the original window apertures in the 19th century buildings had been bricked up and modern windows installed in new openings. With help from Jeff Rawlins of Architectural Artisans, the original design was determined and restoration work began.
Scaffolding went up sometime in the last couple weeks and soffit and roof work has been ongoing. Also in that span, someone went of a “KFC Binge” on the top side of the taller building’s west facade (see tag in photo above). The new storefront configuration looks like it will allow three new retail spots to potentially fill the two buildings, and once they are stripped of their grey paint, the transformation will be complete.
- Snapshot: Wayside Properties See Start Of Renovations (Broken Sidewalk)
FANTASTIC – a big win for the city. Great work Gill and Augusta!
I’m very thankful that we have someone with the vision that Gil Holland does who is willing to back it up with their own capital.
As far as the graffiti, I’ve seen the “BINGE” tag appearing on numerous structures in the area lately. A particularly prominent one is covering the front of the former gas station / former used car lot across from Swift (formerly). See the link below for the property I’m referring to.
http://tinyurl.com/db8wk6
Surely, someone knows who is responsible, but isn’t reporting them.
I didn’t realize they had already taken control of these buildings. Where is Wayside operating out of now?
They have only taken control of these two structures undergoing renovation on this block and I believe will soon take over the church on Shelby Street. Wayside still operates their women’s shelter in the remaining structures.
Wayside also has a large shelter at Jackson and Jefferson housing the men. 804, 806, 808 currently under renovation with scaffold in front. 810 is a vacant lot. 812 and the church on Shelby soon to be under renovation.