One of Nashville’s most historic structures is being rehabbed to accommodate the offices of Aerial Development Group.
The building, located at 521 Fifth Ave. S. and called the Workmen’s Circle Hall, was constructed in 1859 and at one time served as home to a Jewish Community Center.
Britnie Turner, Aerial Development Group managing partner and a real estate agent with Cloud Realty, said the company is targeting moving its headquarters into the SoBro structure in December.
Aerial paid $700,000 for the property earlier this year and will spend about $500,000 to rehab it, Turner said. The seller was The Platform at the Cooks’ Kitchen, Corp.
“There is so much history to this building,” said Turner (pictured). “It’s such a gem. And we want to be in SoBro.”
Isaac Garretson, considered an elder statesman of sorts of Nashville’s Jewish community in the mid-1800s, was the Italianate-style building’s first resident. In September 2010, Historic Nashville, Inc., listed the building (also known as the Iser-Bloomstein House) among nine of the most endangered historic properties in Davidson County.
Aerial bought the building after a development entity could not acquire several parcels in the specific area. Turner said had that been accomplished, the Workmen’s Circle Hall could have been demolished.
“We will restore it to its original state as much as possible,” said Turner, whose company has rehabbed more than 100 residential structures in Davidson County and currently has 62 infill homes under construction. For example, Aerial Development Group is teaming with HR Properties and Miken Development to develop Salemtown Cottages, 24 craftsman-style homes now under construction in North Nashville. (Read more here.)
Turner said the exterior work will focus on some back decks and a rooftop deck. On the interior, the structure’s basement level (part of which is above grade) will accommodate Aerial’s in-house construction company Aerial Builders. The second level is the main floor and will feature conference rooms, two office and commons spaces. The third level will house employee offices.
Tennessee Bank and Trust has provided the loan for the project.
Original article: https://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2013/10/2/historic_sobro_building_to_be_rehabbed_for_company_headquarters