Ellicott Development isn’t wasting any time diving right into their latest residential conversion, 14 North Street. It was built as a Baptist Church in 1899 and retains much of its original architectural features, inside and out. The building will house eleven residential units, ranging from one to three bedrooms as well as a commercial space occupying about 1000 square feet.
Although Ellicott Development is not utilizing historic tax credits, the adaptive reuse of the church is extremely sensitive to the history of the building. Many projects cannot utilize the historic tax credits because most often times the reuse calls for splitting up the massive space, which defines the building’s original purpose.
There is beautiful and intricate stained glass throughout the building, which will remain intact for the most part. A handful of select panes of the stained glass will be removed and replaced with clear glass allowing the residential units a view to the outside. The sections of stained glass that will be removed, will be reused elsewhere in the building either set into interior walls of the apartments, in transoms above new doorways or on display in the building common areas.
Units in the basement space feature original tin ceilings and incredible hardwood floors. The high coffered ceilings of the church space will be retained, creating some of the most unique residential units in the city, including a loft overlooking the main living area. The detailed woodwork of the altar will be retained and actually serve as the living room space for that particular unit. Additionally, the space to the right of the altar with scagliola columns and ionic capitals will also be reused in the unit.
The project is expected to be finished and move-in ready by this spring.
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