Renovation work will be starting soon on two historic buildings at the northwest corner of Vine and North High streets, marking the second phase of work on what is now being referred to as the Yankee Block — the three buildings once occupied by the Yankee Trader carnival supply business and novelty store.
Two retail storefronts are planned for the first floor, along with about 8,500 square feet of office space on the upper two floors. An additional 4,300 square feet of space in the basement will also be available.
The first phase of the Yankee Trader project was finished in 2013 and involved the complete renovation of the five-story building at 463 N. High. That building, dubbed Yankee on High, is now home to Bareburger, Denmark on High and 11 loft apartments — as well as the offices of the project’s designer and developer, Triad Architects.
A recent tour of the Phase Two buildings revealed plenty of original features like tin ceilings, hard wood floors, and a unique cast-iron staircase connecting the second and third floors.
Andrew Dodson of Triad said that the goal is to salvage and restore as much of the original character as possible — the project was awarded Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits in June.
“That’s the great thing about tax credits,” he said. “It allows you to really do things the right way.”
An original corner entrance will be restored, as will the 27 boarded-up windows on the second and third floors facing Vine Street. In the basement, a brick entryway to an underground passage once used to run coal between area buildings (and booze during Prohibition) will also be preserved.
Triad Principal Brent Foley said that permits have been secured and renovation work should start soon. Although no specific date is set yet for completion, he expects the overall timeline to be shorter than the three years it took to complete Yankee on High.
“These buildings are in a lot better shape than the other one, and two stories shorter,” he said. “It’s a less complex project.”
As for what businesses might fill the renovated spaces, look for an announcement soon on the ground floor retail. Foley said that some of the office space has also been spoken for, but they are looking for just the right tenant for the remaining space.
All photos by Walker Evans.
