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.
Local News
Related Photos
-
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
Share your thoughts!
The Daily Iowegian welcomes your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
August 7, 2012
Walkable shopping area planned at intersection of Hwy. 2 and Drake Ave.
- Local News
-
-
FFA trap competition
Southern Iowa FFA trapshoot held on Sunday, April 28 at the Bloomfield Izaak Walton League and hosted by the Davis County and Centerville FFA chapters. Winners included Gabriella Buban of Wayne County at Corydon, top female. The top team was Moulton
- Centerville City Council Agenda for May 20 Centerville City Council Centerville City Council will meet Monday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Items on the agenda include approval of May 6 City Council meeting minutes, approval of April 11 Appanoose County Service Agency meeting minutes, a
- Prison term settles seven criminal cases A Centerville man facing 17 criminal counts in seven different felony, aggravated and serious misdemeanor cases in two southeast Iowa counties entered a guilty plea to three of the counts and was sentenced to state prison. The other 14 counts were di
- AC fair queen contest notice AC fair queen contest notice Contestants must be 16 to 21 years old as of Aug. 8. Contestants must be an active member of at least one worthwhile organization and be a resident of Appanoose County. Contestants must be present for the photo session,
- Work on 150th Avenue The Appanoose County Secondary Road Department reports the following road travel restrictions for 150th Avenue from 15129 150th Ave. to approximately .20 miles north of 15129 150th Ave. for a crossroad culvert replacement. Work started May 14 at 7 a.
-
Sprouse next IHCC president
OTTUMWA — The Indian Hills Community College Board of Trustees this week tabbed Dr. Marlene Sprouse to be the next president of the college. She will take over when current president Dr. Jim Lindenmayer retires in the fall. Board president John Poth
-
Loebsack calls for 'swift dismissal' in IRS targeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dave Loebsack has called on President Obama to fully investigate the allegations that the Internal Revenue Service illegally targeted non-profit organizations based on ideological criteria. He also called for the swift
-
Students start new adventure with raised beds
Students and staff at SIEDA’s Appanoose County Head Start program were excited to receive their new raised bed vegetable gardens from the SIEDA Seeds of Hope program. According to Head Start staff, the students had chosen "Plants and How They Grow" a
- Rathbun Lake public information workshop The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rathbun Lake is hosting a workshop on Wednesday, May 22 with the intent to present information regarding the current water management operations, and the influence of recent and anticipated future trends necessitat
-
One airlifted after motorcycle accident on Hwy S70
One victim with injuries was transported to a hospital after sustaining injuries from a single-vehicle, motorcycle accident north of Plano Wednesday afternoon.
- Hy-Vee and Bill Riley Talent Search partner up DES MOINES - The Bill Riley Talent Search announced a new partnership with Hy-Vee Inc. Hy-Vee has agreed to become the presenting sponsor of the Bill Riley Talent Search with a multi-year contract, making a significant investment to keep the Iowa tra
- Board of Supervisors agenda for May 20 The Appanoose County Board of Supervisors will meet Monday, May 20 at 9 a.m. in the boardroom of the courthouse. Items on the agenda include approval of May 6 meeting minutes, resignation -- ADLM Emergency Management, approve liquor licenses, resigna
-
Woman with local ties makes colonel
On Feb. 8, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. LTC (P) Martha K. Brooks was promoted to colonel. Martha is the daughter of the late Willard E. Brooks and daughter of Nellie Brooks and granddaughter to the late Mattie Price of Centerville. Col. Brooks is the director
- IHCC Centerville campus graduation The spring term at Indian Hills Community College will culminate with a special student ceremony and graduation at the IHCC Centerville campus Wednesday, May 15. At 4 p.m. a reception will be held for the outstanding students on the Centerville campu
-
Centerville School Board agenda for May 13
The Centerville School Board will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.
- More Local News Headlines
-
