Between now and Summer 2010, the River Arts District will be home to the Glen Rock Depot.
More than 150 community members and supporters toured the Glen Rock Hotel and attended the Groundbreaking for a new multi-use building, both being developed by community development corporation Mountain Housing Opportunities.
Mayor Bellamy, a former MHO employee and affordable housing advocate, spoke, while Mr. Green, owner of Green’s Market and a long-time business owner and staple of the neighborhood, welcomed MHO to the neighborhood. Trina Boyd, Vice Chair of MHO’s Board of Directors and resident of the neighborhood, spoke about her personal investment in the project in both of those roles.
Cindy Weeks, Rental Development Manager for MHO, received a standing ovation for her 3+ years of work around this project and tenacity to push the affordable development project through despite the economy. The crowd also acknowledged Cindy’s more than 20-year commitment to developing affordable, dignified housing in our community. (more on Cindy in a profile post soon)
The -once grand-lobby of the Glen Rock Hotel echoed the sounds of jazz greats while visitors contemplated an exhibit of Urban Renewal photos of the Southside neighborhood. The history of the place merged with it’s future with 30 minute tours highlighting:
Glen Rock Hotel:
- affordable commercial/retail
- flexible office spaces (the old hotel rooms will be converted to offices, allowing business/non-profits to rent one office or an entire hallway or floor of office space)
- anchor tenant: The Magnetic Field (see post from June 25)
New Multi-use Building
- 9500 SF of commercial and retail space
- 60 affordable apartments available for incomes between $15,000 and $40,000 depending on the family size
- 9000 SF of community space
- LEED certified, grey water cisterns, permeable landscaping and more
For more information: Glen Rock Depot If you are interested in and prepared to rent space, please contact Susanne Hackett, Pollinate Consulting, pollinateconsulting@gmail.com
To see the site, follow Depot Street past the Soapy Dog, and down three blocks. You’ll pass a long, white warehouse on the left that was recently purchased by Hedy Fisher and Randy Schule for use as artist studios. They are in the early stages of that project. Continue past Bartlett Street and the Fine Arts League of the Carolinas. You’ll see the construction equipment on the left and the Glen Rock Hotel on the curve on Depot Street.
