Case Studies - Neighborhood Revitalization

Built in 1916 in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Security Bank Building created a substantial presence. The bank became famous after the John Dillinger Gang robbed the establishment in 1934. Since that time, the building has undergone several renovations, including the total removal of its original two story banking lobby in the 1970s.

The Ponchartrain Motors Building is a Modernist-style car dealership constructed in 1954 as a two-story structure, based on designs supplied by the General Motors Corporation. A partial third story was added in 1966 to accommodate not only an automobile showroom, but also a large service center and enclosed upper level and rooftop parking.

Formerly a partially roofless commercial space with an incompatible façade design, 427 Granby Street in Norfolk, Virginia, has been rehabilitated using the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit in the Downtown Norfolk Historic District. The building, constructed in 1917, is now home to an award-wining interactive advertising agency.

Downtown Newark, New Jersey, has a large stock of intact historic buildings, yet given its close proximity to Manhattan – it is a short train ride away – many developers have been unsuccessful at turning its fortunes around. Recently, however, the number of historic rehabilitations in the city is on the rise, as tenants find its convenient location, ample square footage, and lower rental prices attractive.