Old Buildings, New Attitudes

Archive for the ‘Design’ Category

Well I’m a little late with the follow-up on this post so I apologize.  Let’s take another look at the old Baker’s Department Store on Third Street.

We only had one guess – and that person was right!  After taking off the aluminum siding and totally redoing the inside of the building, Cameron’s was born.

It’s a pretty amazing transformation, isn’t it!?!  In an article we have from the Lee’s Summit Journal dated August 6, 1997, Doreen Rhodus (the previous owner) described all the work that went into rehabbing this building.  She talked about stripping the floors and taking down plaster to uncover the brick walls.  Asked why she wanted to buy a building that required all this work she said “I wanted character and downtown is the only place you can find it.”

We had a few old photos sitting around of this building on Third Street.  This time, though, I’m only going to show you a few ‘before’ shots.  The photos were scanned and aren’t the best quality, but see if you can guess the building/business by posting in the comments section.  Both photographs were taken around 1994.  Later this week, I’ll show the ‘after’ pictures and you can see if you were right! 

    

 

While we have been packing, we have come across a lot of great photos of Downtown Lee’s Summit.  It has inspired us to do some ‘before & after’ comparisons.  It doesn’t take long to forget what things looked like in the past.  Do you remember our sidewalks and trees before the streetscape construction?  What about how our buildings looked in 1989?  That’s what we are beginning to document.  Things are changing all the time here! 

Here is a great one – Hartley’s Furniture.  This picture was taken in August 2006, courtesy of Gina Tominia.  Not only does it show the buildings before, but also the construction along Douglas Street.

BEFORE

Now here is the block after…notice the new brick pavers, trees, sidewalks and the Vogue Condominiums.  A combination of federal and state historic tax credits were used on the buildings, as well as State Neighborhood Preservation Tax Credits for the residential infill.  Thanks to Gina for this picture as well.

AFTER

Isn’t it amazing how different that block looks now?  You might be surprised at some of the other transformations downtown.  Stay tuned…as we begin scanning our older pictures, I will update with more ‘before & after’ comparisons!

 

 

Did you know our design committee has been working with a consultant on a comprehensive Downtown Wayfinding Plan?  A quick search on Wikipedia tells us that wayfinding helps people orient themselves in space and to navigate from place to place. 

With funds from the Downtown Master Plan, DLSMS hired consultant Bowman Bowman & Novick to develop a strategy and design concepts for downtown wayfinding.  The consultant is the same one being used for Parks & Recreation’s Gateway Wayfinding – which will provide monument style structures & landscaping at entrance points into the City on major highways and thoroughfares.  Then as people get closer to downtown, directional signage will point them to things like downtown shops & restaurants, City Hall, parking, etc.  We may even have electronic informational kiosks at several of the corners. 

Bowman Bowman & Novick presented design concepts to the Main Street Board of Directors on Tuesday, March 4^th.  The Board chose their favorites and those concepts are currently being refined based on their suggestions. 

Want to see these concepts and learn more about the wayfinding plan?  The Design Committee will be presenting more detailed information at our upcoming Quarterly Meeting, held Tuesday, March 18^th at 6:30 pm in Howard Conference Room A (upstairs) in City Hall.  We will be serving Filling Station BBQ and Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake!  The best way to find out about downtown wayfinding, and other Main Street projects, is to attend our Quarterly Meetings.  We hope to see you there!