The Urban Facelift Project – #2 (118 Main Street)
You may have seen that last week we decided to launch the Urban Facelift Project. Our hope with this project is that people will start looking at the potential of what we have in downtown Jacksonville. We will embrace comments as well as any criticisms. The facelifts we do are our vision at the time that we are working on it. These projects are down and dirty. We are not profiting from these designs so we are limiting the time we work on them. We welcome suggestions for future buildings as well as submissions from individuals. Please contact us to find out what format to submit your renderings. We would also ask that you not be the owner of the property you submit or suggest.
That being said, on with The Urban Facelift Project #2.
The building is listed in Wayne Wood’s Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage as Lerner Shop. The building was constructed in 1908 and remodeled in 1929. The remodel added the splashy art deco details above the entrance as well as down the left side of the building. Even though our rendering shows the decorative element being covered up with an awning, our thought is that it would be restored and could be seen looking up as you enter the building or walk by. We understand that some people will not agree with the covering up of the art deco design and if that is you, please feel free to comment.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and please enjoy the post. Don’t forget about the slide show at the bottom.
The existing building and surroundings:
The sketch
The rendering
The slide show
Awesome! I’ve seen that building empty for years and always though it had a lot of potential. If I could afford the rent I would turn it into a gallery with studios upstairs.
Chad, thanks for the comment – a gallery at that location could be really nice.
The cool thing about this building is that, I believe the small open lot next to it is part of the property as well. The open parcel could be used as maybe an exterior dining courtyard, if you make the building a restaurant or bar.
Or you could do just a 12′ cool infill piece. We’ve actually gone that route and will soon post what we think would work well next to the “facelifted” 118 Main.
I love how you guys think! So simple, yet such a drastic improvement. I just wish these visions could become reality (soon!).