CENTERVILLE —
The large brick building at the intersection of Drake Avenue and Highway 2, long known as Craver Lumber, is being transformed into a shopping area that will be called Drake Village.
Local businessman Bill Burch bought the building several years ago. Burch, who also manages Morgan Cline’s companies in Appanoose County, had used it for Cline Companies storage and as a workplace for different projects. For example, it served as a work center during Cline’s renovation of the nearby Majestic Theater.
More recently, he decided it was time to develop the building.
“I pulled in the parking lot one day and I could see six retail businesses built right into the east wall with awnings and signs and a sidewalk and street lights that look like the square,” he said. “I thought, ‘Wow, I think that would work.’”
A construction crew has removed much of the east wall of the building, revealing where the six storefronts will be.
These six storefronts will face Haynes Avenue. There will also be one or two storefronts in the south side of the building facing the intersection. The parking lot will be leveled to make it more usable.
“It’s the third busiest intersection in town, so it’s an important corner,” he said.
Burch said he envisions there will be a mix of retail and service businesses in the shopping center. He said there also will be one spot ideal for a contractor’s office because the garage door on the back of the building would allow for driving a truck in and out.
The building, within walking distance of the square, will add to the shopping options downtown.
“It should just amplify what’s going on in the downtown historic district, combining it with the Majestic Theater and some things that are going on on Pill Row and the new lighting project on the downtown square,” Burch said. “All placed together they make the downtown much more vital and interesting.”
Tod Faris, executive director of the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation, said this project adds to the many economic developments under way in the county.
“I think it’s great that he’s envisioned a way to take a large historic building that really just has been underutilized for quite a few years and maximize the space for the good of both our retail and our service businesses,” Faris said. “It’s going to make it look so nice as people are coming by on Highway 2.”
Previously, Burch had put a new roof on the building and also put 32 rentable storage units in it. The storage units, which have a rear access and wooden rather than concrete floors, will remain in the building.
Burch said he decided on the name Drake Village because Drake Avenue runs right into the front of the building.
“That neighborhood is becoming a little village-y,” he said. “There’s residential properties, there’s commercial retail property, service businesses, entertainment. It’s a nice little area.”
Burch estimated the building may be ready for some occupancy by Pancake Day and should be completely ready by Thanksgiving.
CNHI/SE Iowa
Related Photos
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Bill Burch discusses the signs for the future Drake Village with sign maker Nancy Bennett. Behind them is the Craver Lumber Building, which Burch is renovating as a site for several small shops. Photo by Brooke Sherrard
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