Ely Building, 406 W. Church Avenue, Knoxville, February 2013
Waynestock was great, but it wasn’t all I took in this weekend. The first stop for me on first Friday was the Ely Building at 406 W. Church Avenue. It’s available, has been on the market for some time and really needs the right buyer to step in and give it a new purpose. It’s in excellent shape inside and out, so the only work that would need to be done would be to set the inside to whatever purposes the new owner had in mind.
900 pound Buddha waits patiently, Ely Building, Knoxville, February 2013
Spiral Staircase, Ely Building, Knoxville, February 2013
As it stands, office space is provided on all floors and four bathrooms are sprinkled throughout. The space is in such good shape, it could be utilized this way, or . . . I can easily imagine living on the third floor which features gorgeous doors, multiple fireplaces, great hardwood and 2,000 square feet of living space. One side overlooks a beautiful shared courtyard.
Upstairs hallway, Ely Building, Knoxville, February 2013
Upstairs room, Ely Building, Knoxville, February 2013
The middle floor with its spacious lobby area is ready-made for an office spaces (not sure if Buddha is negotiable). Access is directly from W. Church Avenue and a large parking lot sits across the street, so parking would never be an issue for customers. With a little renovation, it could also be a retail space, but office space seems more likely. Just as the other floors, available space is just over 2,000 square feet.
View from top floor of the Ely Building, Knoxville, February 2013
View from top floor of the Ely Building, Knoxville, February 2013
The bottom space is also interesting. With the same amount of square footage, I’d likely consider remaking the space into a residential rental unit. Two exterior entrances to this level as well as numerous windows make certain it does not feel like a basement. Just the access to the shard courtyard alone would make this urban space very appealing. So does it have your name on it? Follow the link above for a showing. (And tell them Urban Guy sent you.)
Preservation Pub Annex, Market Square, Knoxville, February 2013
After leaving the Ely Building I walked (quickly – it was brutal out) to Market Square to check out the Preservation Pub annex or Scruffy City Hall as I think they intended to call it. The focus for the night included art and a DJ, so I didn’t hear a live show there, but I got a good view of the space as I caught it early and I really liked it. Somehow it has the coziness of a basement, though it isn’t. I’ll look forward to hearing some live music there down the line.
Preservation Pub Annex, Market Square, Knoxville, February 2013
Preservation Pub Annex, Market Square, Knoxville, February 2013
Several artists’ work lined the walls ranging from oils to photography and from abstract to realistic. I enjoyed talking to Patrick Johnson who’s excellent downtown photography covered one section. I particularly liked artist Chris Cornett’s abstract expressionist paintings, though I’m a bit lost reading his description of what he’s trying to do. Maybe you can put into English in a comment for me.
Chris Cornett Oil Painting, Preservation Pub Annex, Knoxville, February 2013
From there I checked out a couple of new businesses, which we’ll look at in the next couple of days, along with some other business news that has filtered out this week.
Another Painting I Liked – Missed the name of the Artist – Made me think of Mardi Gras and miss home
Thanks for stopping by Urban Guy.
What we’re doing with 32 Market Square is this:
* in the short term, the front portion of the first floor of the building will be used as an intimate space for private events and weekend DJs which we are calling Pres Pub Annex (with Gallery 133 changing the art every First Friday)
* in the mid-term, we’ll be rebuilding the facade with the original style of three arched windows on the 2nd floor
* we’ll also be rebuilding the roof, which has been destroyed by weather over many many years
* then finally, by year’s end, we’ll be opening a somewhat smaller version of the Bijou called Scruffy City Hall, which will include a large open assembly space, and combine multiple floors for ticketed events and private events
Thanks for such a detailed accounting of what will happen. I’m glad to hear the facade will be restored and I’m excited to see the finished product. I’d be pleased to give my readers a preview when it gets close, if someone would invite me.
Mr Urban Guy,
You are hereby invited to take regular tours of 32 Market Square as it develops from dilapidated building through Pres Pub Annex to Scruffy City Hall… and beyond!
The Ely Building might also make a great B&B.
Nice point. And something we don’t have downtown.
If you consider Maplehurst as being downtown (as I do) then we do have a B&B:
http://www.maplehurstinn.com
Thanks. I do, indeed consider Maplehurst a downtown local and I am not sure I knew there was a bed and breakfast there. Thanks for the link.