By Brynna Henika, Photographer.
In September 2014, Chemical Bank, located at 213 Center Avenue, closed its doors to relocate to its new, modern uptown location. The building at this time, has not only almost faced demolition, but is now receiving the makeover of a lifetime. What is known as the Crapo building will be removing its 1960’s metal facade and returning to its Romanesque structure from its unveiling in 1891. Now Bay City civilians not only admire the beauty that is underneath, but wonder what will become of this historical landmark.
President of Neighborhood Development Company, Jennifer Acosta, who is a former Bay City native, volunteers for many boards and committees in the Downtown area. She says she sees much potential in Downtown Bay City by the restoring of these historic buildings. “As the market and demand has shifted from when they were first built, an adaptive reuse is generally required to change the use from an entirely commercial space to now incorporate some residential use as well,” Acosta states.
Once renovated the Crapo building will become The Legacy, which will be used as a multi-purpose building containing: three levels of apartments, two levels of commercial spacing, and the bank lobby with its 1920s vault will likely become a restaurant space. Acosta says they also plan to keep the Romanesque architecture on the upper levels while the lower will be redone with a classic stone design.
Acosta says, “Aside from beauty and new businesses, this will also bring full-time and construction job opportunities to Downtown Bay City. These renovations will bring unique character with up-to-date amenities which is what companies and their employers are seeking. With removing just a part of the facade, it is currently bringing tourists and former Bay City citizens from across the state to see this current progress.” She hopes that once renovated, the new building will attract not only new faces, but bring back those who are looking to reside in an apartment space that requires less maintenance and the ability to travel often. According to Acosta, the restoring of these historic buildings not only boosts tourism, but also strengthens the case for the festivals and conference events that are brought to this area.
For more information and updates, you can check out the websites listed below:
www.LegacyBayCity.com
