If you buy your vacuum cleaner parts and supplies from Weisheimer’s, you’ll soon need to find a new place to do so. Local real estate firm Capitol Equities is in the process of purchasing the building with plans for a historic renovation.
“We’re really excited about this opportunity because it’s a true historic building with wood beams, wood floors, and original brick,” said J.R. Kern, Principal at Capitol Equities. “What we’re proposing is exterior improvements, all new windows and reopening the building’s northern windows.”
Capitol Equities â which is currently in contract to purchase the 20,000 square foot building â is planning to convert the upper floors for office use and to keep the ground floor as retail. The building also has a small parking lot next door, which would be maintained as is for tenant use.
The building is not the first redevelopment project on Fourth Street for Capitol Equities, which has been focused on both Downtown and Italian Village projects recently. Their projects and buildings include PINS Mechanical Company, the Smith Brothers Hardware Building and the retail redevelopment at Fourth Street and Third Avenue.
“We’ve had our eye on this building for a number of years,” stated Kern. “And because of our success on Fourth Street, the Weisheimer Family said we were the right guys to tackle this challenge.”
Kern added that while he didn’t want to speak on behalf of the Weisheimers, he noted that their vacuum cleaner business had been in the process of winding down, and they are planning to close.
“It’s unfortunate, as I’ve bought a number of supplies there myself,” he stated.
The renovation plan was conceptually reviewed this morning by the Downtown Commission, where it was met largely with approval, although no action was taken during this first round of review.
“We plan to return next month for approval, and get started on construction as soon as we can,” said Kern. “We’re already starting talks with a couple of tenants who are looking at their portions of the building or thinking about leasing the entire building.”
Rendering via Architectural Alliance.
For more information, visit www.capitolequities.com.