OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) -
The Conder family has been a big supporter of downtown Owensboro. The Conders recently purchased a sixth building in the downtown area and now we're hearing there will be a time capsule in one of them, as a special memory for the community.
The Conders business model follows the same path, business on the first floor. Living space up top.
Larry and Rosemary Conder just bought another building downtown Owensboro, located at 223 St Ann Street.
"Gutting it and trying to get it ready for restoration. The first floor would always be retail or commercial and so of course we'll do that and then we have a plan for them to have a one, bedroom office bath, loft at the top," Rosemary said.
"They do wonderful work into making them viable mixed used properties," said Downtown Development Director Joe Berry.
"Financially, see that it's a smart choice because there's going to be so much progress downtown. What creates a unique environment for our community is downtown," Rosemary told 14 News.
In just over a week, the Conders will take a new approach.
"This particular project at 2nd and St. Ann is the first project they've taken where they'll build from the ground up. This is the first significant private infield property we've had in the historic core in many years," Berry said.
What makes this project even more unique is Owensboro residents will be able to leave their mark on downtown in the form of a time capsule. The Conders want residents to write on the exterior wall of Bee Bops facing St. Ann. That wall will be covered by the Conders new building.
"Between now and June 28th before we break ground and have to close the lot for construction. Sharpies would be great or a little can of paint. It's all up to them but we'd love their signature, their date," noted Rosemary.
"It is a little, pun intended, off the wall. Who knows when we'll ever see that wall again. It could be a 150 years from now," Berry said.
The Conders say they got this idea from all the parts of history they've discovered when they've remodeled old buildings, like finding old telegrams and checkbooks from the 1800's.
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The Conders say they got this idea from all the parts of history they've discovered when they've remodeled old buildings.
