Construction Progresses on New Building
If you have ridden down Stimson Ave. lately you likely have seen a lot of activity at 4 W. Stimson. That's the site of the new Athens Bicycle. We have been getting a lot of questions about this exciting project. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
- Will the shop be in that old house? Yes and no. #4 W. Stimson sat vacant and in disrepair for nearly 10 years. We have gutted the historic brick home, retaining its charming exterior, and are constructing an addition on the back. Our goal is to retain as much of the home's original look as possible on Stimson Ave., while also creating an inviting and efficient space for our growing business.
- That project looks challenging. Why didn't you just tear it down and start over? We liked the character of 4 W. Stimson Ave. It's a cute brick house that has a lot of history. At the start of the 20th century, Stimson Avenue was lined with these brick homes and other buildings that were part of the Athens Brick Company. The plant was located where the post office now stands, and Stimson Avenue was a hub of industrial activity. Besides preserving parts of this history, there is something to be said for not contributing to the landfill. We have been able to rehabilitate and re-use many of the building materials that we've removed from the home.
- Will you still have parking? Yes! Parking spaces will be developed near the back of the building, with a driveway accessible from Cornwell Street. Although it is possible for cars to turn into the bike shop's driveway via Stimson, in consideration of pedestrian and bicycle traffic on Stimson Ave., we think it's preferable to develop an automobile entrance off of Cornwell so that we are not adding another busy driveway to Stimson Ave. Additionally, there is on-street parking available directly in front of the shop on Stimson Ave.
- Are you incorporating any cool design features? We are creating an energy efficient building, using radiant heat floors, an Energy Star roof and boatloads of insulation. It's not going to be your run-of-the-mill square box. With vaulted ceilings and a mixture of building materials including brick, wood, cement board, metal, concrete and aluminum, the shop will be interesting and enjoyable to spend time in. We have utilized all local contractors for the job.
- When are you going to be in there? The last day of operations at our current address will be Oct. 31. We look forward to serving you at 4 W. Stimson Ave. starting Nov. 1.
We have been taking lots of pictures of the construction progress. Check out the photos on Athens Bicycle's flickr set, "Building a New Bike Shop."