A Local Developer’s Unique Twist At Adaptive Reuse

As a community starts to thrive and grow, more and more businesses and residents move into the area.  Along with new growth, comes new buildings and homes in the community. What about the existing buildings in the area that might have lost their tenants due to previous lack of growth?  An Adaptive reuse, the process of reusing an old site or building for a different or new business, is a great way to bring new life into an old building.

existing building is a perfect place for future business owners to begin a new business. 

One community that is booming with growth along the Northshore in the New Orleans area is Mandeville. Barrett and Jill McGuire, of McGuire Real Estate Group, are using adaptive reuse at two sites in Mandeville. Rest Awhile is currently underway and is now a restaurant complex and Band’s Food Store’s old building is currently under review to become a restaurant in Old Mandeville.

Currently under way, is the Rest Awhile restaurant complex.  Originally the Rest Awhile building was the Frapart Hotel in the 1800’s which later became a retreat house for those in need. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the building

was left abandoned and now the project is preserving the old building into a sit-down restaurant.  Two other buildings on the site include the Hadden Cottage, which plans to be a coffee and tapas bar and the Sophie B. Wright Cottage which plans to be a tavern.

The McGuire’s second project is close to Barrett’s heart. Band’s Food Store, in Old Mandeville, was built in the 1940’s and served Old Mandeville for decades.  As a young boy, McGuire remembers sweeping the parking lot of the grocery store, located at Lafitte and Monroe, to earn money to buy baseball cards.  The couple purchased the site for $275,000 and hope to turn the building into a restaurant.  McGuire says they are focusing on “a lunch counter concept at this point” and as for the name, “we haven’t gotten that far yet,” he said.

Adaptive reuse is not only a smart and green way to reuse current buildings, but is also a great way to preserve a community’s memories and history. As for the McGuire’s belief on conserving the old grocery store site, “It’s a great little place. It deserves to be put back into commerce,” he said.

Click Here  for the Source of the Information.

Cultural Arts District to Move Forward in St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Parish will enjoy the benefits of the design and construction of a new arts and education district in 48 acres north of I-12 between the Pinnacle at Nord du Lac shopping center and the Tchefuncte River.  Despite many ups and downs along the way, including the governor’s veto of $11 million in assistance for the construction project, parish president Pat Brister will realize her vision of creating not only a cultural arts district but also an educational facility and program for students on

the North Shore, including the Tangipahoa Parish area.

The entire property includes plans for the cultural arts district, the center of which would be a performing arts center, a children’s museum, and a privately owned commercial development with possibly a hotel and restaurant.  Donation of land for a theater and amphitheater as well as planned nature trails along the river are also part of the project.

Real estate developer Bruce Wainer of All State Financial owns the 48 acres as well as the 80 acres that are adjacent to it.  He plans on donating the land for the children’s museum and the performing arts center which will help alleviate the costs, now that the state government is currently unable to contribute.  The natural part of the property includes wetlands, a river, and a heavily wooded area which will offset the commercial atmosphere of the entire development.

Design elements are being prepared by a team of architects and planners which include Wilson Butler Architects of Boston headed by Scott Wilson, and Fisher Dachs Associates of New York.  Wilson’s vision of the area is that of constant activity both day and night for “kids of all ages.”

“Most performing arts centers are urban,” he said. “Very few projects of this nature have such a pristine, undamaged, unmolested site. It’s a huge responsibility for us to do it right.
“Clearly the land, the trees, the wetlands are your jewel. For us to not really capture that would be a big mistake.”

Even though the funding did not come through as planned, Brister is undettered. Brister, who invited members of the news media to attend part of Wednesday’s session, said the parish government didn’t embark on the project thinking all of the funding would simply fall into place. She said the parish is fully prepared to move ahead with planning and will talk with Edwards about future funding.  In addition Brister said St. Tammany will look for money from cultural arts grants, economic development districts, naming rights and private sources.

Click Here and Here for the Sources of the Information.