427 Gets her face done

End of Day: April 4, 2009

Below (left to right), circa 1915: The Granby Theater, 427 Granby, and the original 429 Granby. Years later, 429 would be destroyed by fire and eventually combined with neighboring 427 Granby to the form the building we’re about to occupy.”]

courtesy NPL

One of the most rewarding things about being involved in an historic renovation has been uncovering our building’s neglected beauty.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

In truth, the space, which was built around 1912—with it’s concrete facade and big, tacky ‘Altschul’s’ sign—isn’t exactly a looker from the sidewalk. In the ’50s or ’60s, 427 was boarded up and plastered over to accommodate the ‘modern’ downtown aesthetic. As a result of this apparent architectural advancement, the two upper floors lost their floor-to-ceiling Granby Street-facing windows and the lower portion it’s open storefront and glass-block detail. The intricate brick and white stone (marble, perhaps?) of the building’s face hasn’t seen the light of day since.

That is what makes today so exciting and special for everyone involved in our renovation project. Dark and early this morning (5 am), they began the process of removing this faux facade.

Before: It could have been worse; we're lucky the plaster was able to protect the delicate, original wood and stone features it obscured for decades.

So for nearing fours hours I’ve been watching the construction crew slowly chip away at this ugly veil. (Not gonna lie-I naively expected to be back in bed by now, building fully restored. At the moment, they’re probably 8% done). While the lack of one big, dramatic, ‘Tah-dah’ moment was a little disappointing, it somehow seems appropriate. This big thing I’ve been waiting for, expecting to be a crash-boom kind of affair, is instead almost delicate—a respectful unveiling of a forgotten structure past its prime.

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Look up the next time you’re in the 400 block of Granby Street. There’s change on the horizon.

-AH

Detailing on the top row of windows is encased by a white stone or terra cotta; the next level is trimmed in carved wood. Tomorrow we'll discover what's been lurking underneath that big clunker of an overhang thang.

Sunrise Day 1

Key architectural features remained not only intact, but wholly preserved underneath the plaster facade.

View from second floor

View from second floor

Let there be light! Our first glimpse of sunlight in the upper floors

First picture ever taken out of second story window, 427 Granby St

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Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state do

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

Generally, people aren’t that impressed by ‘our space’ or ‘the spot’ (names we use for the building that will soon be our offices, community, and event space at 427-429 Granby). It’s an understandable reaction, considering it’s current state does a pretty good job of masking its potential.

es a pretty good job of masking its potential.

So the guys started demolition in the building.

The feeling that we have at this moment about the potential of 42SevenGranby is..well, it’s unfathomable.

A few weeks ago, the place was full of random debris and rotting walls. Of course, we saw in it all along the potential to have a space for both the magazine and the community. But when we walked through it yesterday, after just two days of demo, the space astounded me as if I’d never been in there before.

It’s spacious yet intimate. Open yet warm. We are so lucky.

The first time I went into GROW‘s studio was not long after I had visited San Francisco. It was the first time that I had gotten to experience San Francisco as it

The stucco facade will come down this weekend if we're lucky. Next weekend is our rain date.

should be experienced. It really altered my awareness of city culture in a profound way. The same vibrant and progressive atmosphere can be felt in GROW’s space.

Drew Ungvarsky, who leads the locally-based interactive design team, also worked with Robyn Thomas, our architect at 42SevenGranby, to build GROW’s beautiful and modern exposed-brick walled, glass-officed studio.

Robyn’s ideas are just the type that can take shape in that space, which was previously a men’s clothing department store and at the turn of the century a furrier.

The following is a small gallery of interesting historic shots depicting the particular few blocks around 42SevenGranby:

The view north, taken recently by Google Maps.

The same view; photo courtesy of Library of Virginia. We're the tall building, three down.

Back in the day when Granby was a bustling thoroughfare, Norfolk had a reputation as a seedy and happening port town.

The 1950s. Our building is not seen from this view. Hard to believe this was Norfolk.

-HS

Do you have any great pictures of downtown Norfolk? Post here….