For immediate release
Richmond Neighborhood Restoration Launches Transformation of Historic Readmore Building with
Revitalize Richmond and Earlham College Partnership
Revitalize Richmond and Earlham College Partnership
Richmond, IN – [10/30/2024] – Richmond Neighborhood Restoration (RNR) is proud to announce the start of its inaugural project with Revitalize Richmond, a strategic initiative led by Earlham College. The project will breathe new life into 901 East Main Street, formerly known as the Readmore building, which has been a fixture of the Richmond community for over a century.
The historic structure, built in 1880 by John A. Hasecoster in the Italianate style, has been a cornerstone of Richmond's downtown since its early days. Throughout its history, the building has served as a tailor shop, drug store, and most famously, the Readmore bookstore, cementing its place in the hearts of local residents.
With funding secured through the Revitalize Richmond initiative, RNR is set to renovate the building comprehensively. The project includes the creation of modern apartments on the second and third floors, while the ground floor will be white-boxed to accommodate a future business. Renovations will cover critical updates such as window replacements, new HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical work, and extensive refurbishments to the upper floors to transform them into high-quality residential units.
Upon completion, the building will be transferred to the City of Richmond, joining the PLACE (Placement Loans Accelerating Company and Entrepreneurs) program. PLACE helps entrepreneurs launch their businesses by alleviating the upfront renovation costs, offering a subsidized five-year mortgage plan that ultimately contributes toward purchasing the building.
RNR Executive Director, Roxie Deer states, “RNR is beyond excited to begin working on the former Readmore building. This project sits at the heart of our town and this project is vital to changing the conversation about our downtown district and our community. We are thankful for the opportunity to work with Revitalize Richmond to see this project come to fruition.”
"Dedicating resources to projects like the Readmore building exemplifies our commitment to revitalizing Richmond and investing in the city's future," said Dakota Collins, Director of Community Relations at Earlham College. "This partnership with RNR not only preserves a significant piece of our shared history but also creates new opportunities for local entrepreneurs and residents. It's a testament to what we can achieve when our community comes together with a shared vision for progress."
RNR, founded in 2015, has a mission to preserve Richmond’s historic neighborhoods through community engagement, restoration, and adaptive reuse. With this project, 901 East Main Street will become the second property RNR has renovated in Downtown and its seventh overall, continuing its efforts to enhance the city's landscape and foster economic growth.
Revitalize Richmond is a five-year strategic initiative led by Earlham College to breathe new life into Richmond, Indiana's downtown and is supported by a $25 million private grant to the College coupled with $83 million from community partners. The program focuses on fostering economic growth and enhancing the community's quality of life through targeted investments in historic preservation, property development, and business support. By collaborating with businesses, local government, and community organizations like RNR, Revitalize Richmond aims to transform underutilized spaces into vibrant community assets, support local entrepreneurs, and create a thriving environment where history and modern enterprise coexist.
###
For more information, please contact:
Roxie Deer
Richmond Neighborhood Restoration
317-760-3822
[email protected]
rnrinc.org
Dakota Collins
Earlham College
765-983-1344
[email protected]
revitalizerichmond.org