Major Renovations Give Downtown Rocky Mount New Lease on Life
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Commerce tends to follow the crowd‚ so developers in downtown Rocky Mount are working to lure both residents and businesses back to the once-thriving center of the region.
The Peoples Bank building‚ built in 1915 when First National Bank merged with Bank of Rocky Mount‚ is a down town historical landmark‚ says Ben Grinnell of Self-Help Ventures Fund‚ a company that is restoring the building.
Vacant since the late 1980s‚ the five-story‚ 22‚000-square-foot building features a grand two-story lobby with a mezzanine complete with ornate trim molding that is being completely restored.
“For decades downtown Rocky Mount has declined‚ as retail and commerce moved to transit corridors like 301 and Interstate 95‚” says Grinnell. “Our hope is that other property owners will follow our lead and make additional investment in their buildings.”
The bank’s renovation is not the first major revitalization project recently in downtown Rocky Mount. Renovation of the train depot‚ construction of a new library and the transformation of the Imperial Tobacco buildings into a new children’s museum and arts gallery have already taken place.
Some investors‚ like Michael and Jessica Smith‚ are turning classy older buildings into upscale residential units‚ offering luxury with the unmatched convenience of downtown living.
The renovated Peoples Bank building will be the new home to the Workforce Development Center for Edgecombe Community College‚ Bridging the Gap of Eastern Carolina Inc. and the Golden LEAF Foundation.
“If we can show that it can be done – that renovating your building can pay off – then we will have succeeded‚” Grinnell says. “If this happens‚ you’ll get more people working downtown‚ patronizing downtown establishments and bringing more life to the area.”
Story by Jon Coomer
Photo by Stephen Cherry
