610 Neil Ave.

Construction on this Victorian-style building began in 1885. It was the home of the Neil Avenue Methodist Episcopal church. A second phase was added at the end of the century. The church has changed hands over the years. The current owners bought the building in the fall of 2020 with the intent of using it for a venue space and ballroom dance studio.

Under the direction of Jennifer Carney, OHM Advisors met with the owners in October 2020 to get an idea of how the historic building could be saved and brought up to code while maintaining its historic charm. Shaffer Construction came on board, with Greg Callaghan providing the expertise needed to fully renovate the space. The pandemic halted progress, and the owners waited months for lights, fixtures and new windows.

Between pigeons in the attic and a city water supply that couldn’t handle the fire suppression system (old clay/lead pipe), the owners were not sure when they could open. Retrofitting an old building is a challenge on its own!