David Stewart is developing Stowe's Corner, at Main and South Main streets. (David Boraks photo)
Updated Thursday, July 23, 10:09 a.m.
Downtown Davidson’s newest architectural feature - Stowe’s Corner, at the point of South Main and South streets – is within a month or so of exterior completion, when tenants will be able to begin moving in and finishing interiors. This week, the V-shaped 3 1/2-story office and retail building is looking a bit more dressed up, with the addition of an eye-catching metal sign facing north on Main Street.
Developer David Stewart of Harris LLC told DavidsonNews.net he expects to deliver the “shell” building and finished site work to tenants within four weeks. That will come just under a year after site work started on the $4.5 million structure, which sits on the site of the former Stowe’s Exxon.
Even as the 19,000-square-foot building nears completion, however, the lineup of tenants is still not complete.
Mr. Stewart will have an office in the new building, as will his wife, Betsy, who operates a self-storage company. Baybridge Management, a Davidson-based health care management company, also will move into the second floor, from its current offices in the Davidson Clinic building on Griffith Street.
Investors have bought the first-floor retail space, though they are still searching for a restaurant or retail tenant.
Others in the building will include a hair salon and a clothing boutique called jgSmith Premium Denim & Thread. Owner Jason Dunigan is lining up inventory, choosing fixtures and designing the layout of his small upstairs space. He said he’s “seeking new designers that can bring a cutting edge to the Davidson community, without stepping too far out of the box. And he’s working with a designer to develop his own line of men’s leather messenger bags.
“I’m really excited about the showroom/store opening this fall and being able to help customers find the right clothing to fit their style and persona,” Mr. Dunigan said in an email.
The building also will house a ground-floor Bank of America ATM, giving the big Charlotte-based bank its first presence on Main Street.
CHANGING DOWNTOWN
The brick building, with its curved glass front, is the first new structure in many years downtown. With an address of 215 S. Main St., it sits across South Main from Town Hall, and faces the CVS. It was designed by architect Babak Emadi of Charlotte.
The exterior is brown brick, with glass windows and doors covering most of the surface.
The site will have 33 parking spaces – 28 under and behind the building and another five on the street.
Mr. Stewart said space is still available in the building, which is being touted as the only Class A office space downtown. Besides the restaurant/retail space, offices 500 square feet or more are also open. He also said he would be willing to juggle offices to make the entire third floor available if someone were interested.
Just as Stowe’s Corner nears completion, another multistory office and retail building is in the works across South Main Street. Mooney’s Corner, proposed by Artisan Builders at 212 S. Main, would have at least 3 stories and include a restaurant space, offices, and upper floor residential unit. A public planning workshop for that building is planned July 30.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the description of Baybridge Management. The Davidson company provides health care management and consulting in North Carolina and Tennessee.
RELATED LINKS
Details about the Stowe’s Corner project at www.stowebuilding.com.
July 21, 2009, “Retail/office building proposed next to Town Hall.”
A new sign identifies Stowe's Corner, which is under construction at South Main and South streets. (Bill Giduz photo)
