Best Façade Rehabilitation Project Awarded to Drake Development for their 230 SW Main Street Project
Missouri Main Street Connection Inc. (MMSC) awarded
the Best Façade Rehabilitation Project award to Drake Development for
the 230 SW Main Street project during Missouri’s Premier Downtown
Revitalization Conference’s Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony and
Dinner at The Bauer. They were one of 14 communities, individuals,
businesses, and organizations from across the state that have completed
exemplary work in downtown revitalization recognized on Thursday
night.
The building, located at 230 SW Main Street, is a historic two-story,
corner brick building that was constructed in 1887, updated with
extraordinary terra cotta Italianate inspired façade in the mid-1920’s,
and rehabilitated from 2022-2023 by Drake Development. Following
extensive interior and exterior work, this iconic landmark once again
resembles its former glory as a place of commerce that is home to three
businesses: International Tap House, Johnny Jo’s Pizzeria, and
ReeceNichols Real Estate.
Drake Development stabilized, repaired, and preserved this old bank and
commercial hotel building into a multi-business building with plenty of
second-floor office space. When possible, the exterior and interior details
were repaired, such as the metal cornice. If repair was not possible,
careful attention was put towards materials and scale of the
replacements, like several glass segments of the storefront.
230 SW Main Street is a shining example of how development and
historic preservation can coexist to preserve a community’s identity and
impact its economy as Donnie Rodgers, Executive Director of Downtown
Lee’s Summit Main Street, put in the application, “This building is the only
structure in Downtown Lee’s Summit with its original metal cornice still
intact, making it an extremely unique piece of architectural history in the
community.” The project has brought new opportunities for businesses to
open in Downtown Lee’s Summit. This building is a landmark that
showcases how unique architectural detail is an asset to local
communities.
