The Ellicott Apartments in downtown Jamestown, a three story painted brick corner building with storefronts at the street
Where the work is  /  Downtown Jamestown

Architect for downtown Jamestown.

Historic district·Storefronts and upper floors·Theaters and public buildings

Where
The Downtown Jamestown Historic District and the blocks around it
Work
Facade restoration, giving old buildings new uses, upper floor apartments, additions
Also
A first look at cost and whether the project makes sense, and historic tax credit applications
Service
Historic buildings and tax credits
Old buildings, new uses

Most downtown work is fitting an old building for a new use. Townhouses became storefronts with apartments above.

Downtown buildings were built for one thing and are needed for another.

Most of the firm’s downtown work is fitting an old building for a new use. A row of 1860s townhouses on Fourth Street became storefronts with studio apartments above. A second floor on Main Street became a two bedroom loft. A historic theater was renovated in stages, from the main theater to an accessible box office, elevators, and a fire stair.

These buildings sit in a historic district, so the street front matters as much as the layout inside. At 208 Main Street the facade was restored and the addition designed to match the look of the typical Main Street storefront. At the Ellicott Apartments, the restoration uncovered an 1878 Buffalo Bill billboard behind the brick.

The firm is based in Jamestown, and its founder owned and developed the Thurston Block himself. The advice comes from having carried the numbers on a downtown building, not only from having drawn one. For buildings that qualify, historic tax credits can return a significant portion of the restoration costs that qualify. Here is how the credits work.

  • Facade restorationStorefronts and upper stories brought back in keeping with the district
  • Upper floor apartmentsLofts and studios above ground floor commercial space
  • Access and building codeElevators, fire stairs, and accessible entries added to buildings that never had them
  • Feasibility studiesWhat the building would cost to bring back, and what credits and grants might cover
The open living, dining, and kitchen space of the loft apartment at 208 Main Street, with light wood floors and recessed lights
208 Main Street. The second floor became a two bedroom loft, and the facade on the street was restored.
The main theater at the Reg Lenna in Jamestown seen from the stage, with red seats, a balcony, and a domed ceiling
Reg Lenna Theater. Renovated in stages: the main theater, the lobby, new elevators and a fire stair, and the building facades.
Downtown

Buildings in downtown Jamestown.

All projects
Where the work is
Also

Chautauqua Lake houses
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Tell us the address and what you have in mind. A first look at cost and whether the project makes sense comes first, and you will hear back within two business days.

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