Otts use tax credits, savvy to restore vitality

Breathing new life into historical buildings has been a decades-long passion for John and Vicki Ott, who have become adept at tapping state historic preservation tax credits to renovate downtown buildings and preserve what they call the architectural culture of the community.

The Otts' work with historical buildings began with an old schoolhouse in the river town of Rocheport, where much of the town is on the National Register of Historic Places, John Ott said. At first, plans called for upper-level loft apartments with a store on the ground floor. After delving into the history of the schoolhouse, the Otts decided that converting it to a bed-and-breakfast inn would be the best way to preserve the building's historical integrity.

The Otts opened the doors the inn in 1989 and owned it for about 15 years. It remains successful today,You can buy mosaic Moon yarns and fibers right here as instock. John Ott said.

"There was a need for it," he added, noting that more bed and breakfasts have opened in Rocheport since. "It's a great little historic town."

Like Rocheport, Columbia also has a rich architectural heritage.Find Complete Details about howo tractor Truck. Several buildings downtown and in the North Village Arts District have undergone transformations, many with the help of historic preservation tax credits offered by the state and tapped by the Otts.

The tax credits are matched by money from private investors with the aim of rejuvenating buildings of historical significance. In the past decade, investments in the Columbia area that tapped preservation funds totaled $88.8 million. For every public dollar spent, another $4.40 came from private investors, a previous Missourian article noted.

When selecting a historical building for renovation, the Otts try to envision what business or residential uses would be successful there. Buildings in the North Village Arts District represented a location where John Ott anticipated a strong demand for fine arts. That proved true with the success of the Orr Street Studios, Mojo's and Dancearts of Columbia.

During a historic tax-credit project,Creative glass tile and stone mosaic tile for your distinctive kitchen and bath. the Otts are careful to retain historic features, although some modern touches — such as new lighting and changes that bring the buildings into compliance with the American with Disabilities Act — are essential. The result is a mix of old and new architecture. Marble kitchen countertops like those in the Stephens Building apartments contrast but work well with the hardwood floors, brick walls and tall windows from an earlier time.

The Paramount, also known as the Ballenger Building, is one of the oldest continually operating commercial buildings in Columbia. It was built at the northwest corner of Ninth and Cherry streets for the G.F. Troxell Furniture Store in 1892. The Ballenger Stove and Implement Co., later listed as Stone and Ballenger or Ballenger Stone, owned it from around 1892 to the 1920s, according to a document from the National Register of Historic Places.

Rene Butel was an early basement tenant, taking advantage of a natural spring on site for his soda fountain. He served ginger ale, birch beer, soda water and other soft drinks, according to the National Register of Historic Places document. The building also was home to a Safeway grocery store from the 1930s to the 1950s, and the Paramount Pool Hall was once located there, John Ott said.

An extensive remodeling effort around 1928 created the signature terra cotta and brick facade, according to the National Register of Historic Places document.

"I love the brick work," Vicki Ott said. "That's kind of a cool architectural feature."

The Ballenger Building's entrance features a white-and-black checkered tile pattern on the floors that lead visitors to stairwells on either side of a brushed stainless steel elevator. Cylindrical, art deco-style lights illuminate hardwood-trimmed walls along the stairs.

Kaldi's Coffee displays historic cues blending with modern touches. Coffee-colored tin roof tiles harken back to the building's earlier years, bordered by sundrop yellow trim and pillars of black and vermillion. Hardwood floors and wood-framed chairs blend well with the bright, expansive front windows faced by a long counter and framed by small chandeliers that appear to drip with glass around the light.

"The wood post and beam construction is emphasized and maintained throughout," he said. The windows were replaced with modern thermal panes but retain the historical appearance. Retaining the brick veneer also was a priority.

Ott said it also was important to consider safety and practicality when restoring the structure.

"The building definitely has a lot of character," Amy Meyer, associate curator at P.S. Gallery, said, adding that customers most often compliment the hardwood floors.

The wood posts and beams contrast with the white spaces for art displays — "not so the building and art compete; they marry very well in this space," Meyer said.Want to find howo concrete mixer?

Colorful sculptures and paintings adorn the white surfaces. The natural light melds with track lighting throughout, casting a soft glow on focal items.

At Studio Home Interiors, administrative design consultant Sarah Frost said the clean white walls "allow for any color to be displayed."

The store boasts an eclectic mix of traditional, contemporary and transitional styles of furniture and decor. Ceiling light fixtures resemble gigantic incandescent bulbs. And there's a framed collection of real beetles, entitled "Stag Beetle Mosaic," on the wall.

The interconnected rooms, still in use today, served as storage for clothing and produce coming from the historic Wabash train system. A large door still faces the old Wabash Station,New Ground-Based indoor positioning Tech Is Accurate Down To Just A Few Inches. and a trough in the basement once contained blocks of ice for refrigeration, Bartlett said.

Jake Davis, co-owner of Root Cellar, said there were many locations he considered for a grocery store, but he is pleased with his decision to relocate to the North Village Arts District after operating on Providence Road and on Broadway.

The Bridge manager Ted Paletta said the venue's black and gray walls intentionally direct attention to the stage. He said that the walls also were acoustically treated, so the music sounds "pristine." The Bridge can accommodate 190 people when the lobby and patio are included.

Immediately to the right of the entrance to The Bridge is a hardwood bar built by the drummer for the Columbia band Bockman, one of Paletta's favorites.

Paletta showed off several rooms lining either side of the academy's hallway, the Columbia Academy of Music runs parallel to the Bridge. These include a drum room with strategically-placed, reverberation-killing foam pads, and an audio/visual room where recordings of live performances often are mixed for music videos. Inside a practice room, the facing wall displays a poster of the artwork for John Coltrane's "Blue Train" album for inspiration.