Honoring the Past, Building a Future
Rocky Mount NC: Preservation of Historic Commercial and Residential Architecture
Years ago I sat under a white tent that covered the invited guests to a rehearsal dinner. Much to the dismay of those of us who were older, the toasts by so called friends turned into a roast of the groom. "I remember the night you were drunk and knocked on my door at 2:00 AM." … Continue reading Better Blends Juice and Smoothie Bar – I Can Tell Already It Will Be A Success
The first time I explored the alley behind Davis Furniture Company I was intrigued and excited to see some renovation had already taken place. It was quite a shock, however, to see the back of two buildings two doors down from the Davis business. Here is the picture I took that day that I have … Continue reading Exciting News: Twenty Two Lofts on Main Street – Buildings Saved By Troy Davis
https://youtu.be/UGFylgTrdr0 The mission was always found in a phone booth, a vending machine, a parked car or other mundane locations. The tape recording that detailed “your mission, should you choose to accept it,” ended with the chilling warning that in the event of capture, all knowledge would be disavowed. With a puff of smoke, the … Continue reading Caring About Old Buildings on Main Street: Mission Impossible – Or Is It?- Part 3
There is part of the Rocky Mount black/white story that I don’t understand because of how and where I was raised. It is hard for me to believe that people in 2019 could have the attitude, “Why should I care about old buildings on Main Street that a bunch of white people owned while black … Continue reading What Do Black Architects Have To Do With Old Buildings on Main Street? – Part 2
After playing with Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs, I decided to become an architect. That is until my sophomore year in high school when I had to go to summer school to pass Geometry. They gave me a C to put me out of my misery; my long struggle with math was at an end. … Continue reading Caring About Old Buildings on Main Street – Part 1
“The current passion for reuse might be explained by sustainability or fashion but, most importantly, it affords a sense of history and texture, taking advantage of buildings already embedded in cities. They are buildings with atmosphere, history, and stories inscribed in their fabric. And sometimes sustainability isn’t just about the energy and materials saved but … Continue reading Larema Coffee – Another Preservation Success – “Sending a Thrill Up Our Leg!”
