Vacant Downtown Richmond Building Getting New Life
(photo courtesy Waynet Inc.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Indianapolis-based architect is bringing new life to a well-known building in downtown Richmond. The Palladium-Item reports Brent Mather acquired The Readmore in April and is renovating the building to include apartments and retail space.
Mather, who is the principal of R&B Architects LLC, is investing $350,000 to renovate the upper levels in the building at 901 E. Main Street, which will include three mid-size, market rate apartments, according to the publication. Crews are currently working on the the first and second floor spaces and Mather says all of the buildings internal utilities will be replaced.
"We’ve taken bids to restore three apartments on the second floor, as well as the exterior," Mather said. "Now that the interior’s been cleaned up and we can see all the plumbing, electrical and mechanical, we’ll do a state release of permits and plan to be in construction over the fall and winter. None of the utilities were really functioning in the building," he said. "We’re really concerned about the historic appearance of the exterior, so we’re not putting window units out there; it will all be internal."
Waynet Inc. says the building was constructed in 1880 and served as a tailor shop and drug store before becoming the home of Readmore Books. When complete, the first floor will house an art gallery featuring work from a local artist, who has not yet been named. You can read more about the project from the Palladium-Item.
