The new owner, Nolen Blackwood, was good enough to share some plans for the renovation of the storefront at 349 S. Laurel Street. He is interested in neighborhood feedback. If you have trouble with the size, you may want to download the pdf by clicking here.
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Any idea what kind of business will go in here?
I maintain that Oregon Hill needs a coffee shop – though this looks more like maybe a non-retail business. At any rate I’m exciting to see mixed-use on the Hill.
The downstairs could probably fit a coffee shop. I was bummed to see 349 sell so fast because I was in the market at the time, but it looks like it is in good hands. There are some pictures on Nolen’s site:
http://blackwoodinvestmentsinc.com/properties.php
Sorry, I’m a creeper.
I would love to see some mixed-use too. I like trying to identify which buildings could be/once were mixed-use when I take my dog for a walk.
A coffee shop or sandwich shop/grocer ala Strawberry St. market that worked with the vendors from the Byrd House market to provide the produce/meat that Fine Foods doesn’t would make me quite happy.
I applaud Mr. Blackwood’s renovation plans, but I have a suggestions. I remember when a former owner did a poor job removing the cornice at the top of the building. Also, an early photograph shows that the building originally had two large panes of glass in the front instead of three shown in Mr. Blackwood’s plans. It would be wonderful if Mr. Blackwood could restore the original cornice design and storefront window design as shown in this photo from the 1970s:
http://dig.library.vcu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ras/id/1897/rec/517
Coffee shop!
If this is turned into a high traffic business …restaurant or coffeeshop..please consider it a non smoking zone outside and consider where customers will park. Many students already have 3 cars per house and homeowners already have a parking problem in this immediate area. Not everyone has parking behind their homes. Otherwise, a quiet business that is not open past 9pm would be great.