Renovating storefront could stimulate Old Town revival

A child walks past the Homer Cavitte property after school one day last week. The building is targeted for renovation by the Old Town Revitalization Company. Photo by Kelley McCall.

By Michelle Brooks

Monday, April 11, 2011

Renovating one building can have a ripple effect across a neighborhood.

River City Habitat for Humanity has seen that first-hand. And the Old Town Revitalization Company is looking to replicate that impact — first in the 800 block of Clark Avenue.

On behalf of the company, the city acquired the former Homer Cavitte property, 1015 E. Atchison St., at the northwest corner of Clark Avenue and Atchison Street. The Housing Authority then pitched in to execute grants to cover exterior stabilization and weatherization.

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“We look to this as an anchor,” company chairman Phil Freeman said.

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JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago

The East side is full of abaondoned buildings.
About time. Either fix it and bring it up to code, or tear it down.

wcywing 2 years, 1 month ago

its about time they did something to that building. what was it before it was abandoned? the eastside has lots neat looking houses, if only the city or someone that owns the building bothers to fix infrastructure.

asb 2 years, 1 month ago

I didn't know Habitat did commercial buildings. This was the location of Homer Caveat's BBQ for many years. With Homer's passing the place had too many problems to sell reasonably (last seen at 65K a couple of years back). The location is great, the building physically sound (yea brick!) and is sized perfectly for a storefront/residential refurb.

bluesfan13 2 years, 1 month ago

Habitat doesn't. The article is just using their success as an example, saying that the Old Town Revitalization Company hopes to duplicate Habitat's sucess.

sumtimesiwunder 2 years, 1 month ago

But remember, any house that's refurbished needs to be TAKEN CARE OF by the persons living in it and the owners!!! Too many times they go to poo because people don't take pride in what they don't own (renters!!).

JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago

Many of the Habitat homes look ghetto. They ought to make them sign a contract saying they will keep the place clean and nice and good repair.

JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago

Several down on Goat Hill look horrible. There are others on the East side starting to look pretty shabby.

3blindmice 2 years, 1 month ago

many times the slum landlords are looking to make a quick buck and do not maintain the property.

JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago

Why was this building allowed to fall into such disrepair in the first place? I thought this town had building codes and nuiasance ordinances. Our city government has let us down again.

wcywing 2 years, 1 month ago

one could start a petition. now if JC does enforce their own rules. how many people would it affect? i'm sure it will raise the property value of many houses. the eminent domain law can be abused.

seems like JC has its agenda/priorities of which laws to enforce. how long has this building been deserted?

melbrooks 2 years, 1 month ago

Kudos to the Old Town group for making something out of nothing.

If the city enforces the code to the letter, it is described as tyrannical, infringing on the rights of property owners.

If the city attempts to take an incremental approach in code enforcement to preserve part of the city's history, it gets ripped on these forums for "letting us down".

Talk about your no win situation.

wcywing 2 years, 1 month ago

depends on how they enforce it. mo-cpr.org/

eminent domain should not be used to have a private developer make a strip mall. i am curious to see how they will restore the building and what it will be.

bndyvcky 2 years, 1 month ago

Let the building be renovated for the good of the community. Thanks to those who wish to renovate. I, myself, would use the building for a mentoring program for women, court referrals, etc.. There is so much for boys, but none for women.

3DMom 2 years, 1 month ago

bndyvcky, none of what for women? RACS, Dreams to Reality, Center for Women's Ministries, Missouri Women's Council. I can go on.

I remember going to Homer's when I was in high school. My aunt and uncle lived over on Dockery and I'd stop in anytime I was visiting them. I moved away for a few years and when I came back, it was closed down. This would have been early 90's? I can't remember what it's been since then, but I always thought it was sad that the building just sat there. Nice to know that they're going to do SOMETHING with it.

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