Honoring the Past, Building a Future
Those born or raised here, leave a comment below and tell us what you know. "I have often wondered what it is an old building can do to you when you happen to know a little about things that went on long ago in that building".Carl Sandburg When you fall in love with an … Continue reading I’m in Love With Another Building – It’s a Mess, But Wonderful None the Less 216 S. Washington
Like beads on a rosary, I pause on each bead to add a name connected to the preservation, restoration, and repurposing of Main Street. I name the place holders like Virginia's and The Bicycle Shop, that welcome new business, and the entertainment sector: restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. Part of this litany of names includes, … Continue reading Ben Bradock, Andrew Clark, Troy Davis, Jesse Gerstl, Zack Poll, Troy White … Saving Commercial Architecture In Historic Downtown Rocky Mount – Part 1
In the Chicago area, you will find bakeries throughout this city of neighborhoods...Greek Town, Little Italy...In Evanston where I grew up, there was a bakery on Davis Street where my mother took me. Inside the door of the bakery, delectable smells filled the shop. The glass front display cases were filled with trays of impossible choices. … Continue reading a-lt-men-taire – The French Bakery on Main Street – IMAGINE!
You wouldn't be keeping me company on Main Street if you weren't interested, hopeful, and slightly addicted to architecture - commercial and residential. Above all else, you are a member of the cheerleading squad for the revitalization of Rocky Mount. Those of you who grew up here are the wind under the sails of people … Continue reading The Enforcement of Ordinances – If Only A ‘Enforcer’ Code Ring From A Cracker Jack Box Would Do The Trick
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
"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 Howard Street – A Street to Build a Dream On
Main Street Rocky Mount 