Adaptive Reuse: Vanderleigh Furniture & Antiques
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In a city known for embracing demolition before preservation, Vanderleigh Furniture & Antiques is a refreshing change which illustrates the benefit of historic restoration and adaptive reuse on Jacksonville's urban landscape.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-nov-adaptive-reuse-vanderleigh-furniture-antiques
I've visited.....a very nice place....
Wow
A great building with a great new use. This is another example of how the overlay would have prevented this project, but a zoning change (in this case, RMD to CRO) made it possible.
Great urban design in retail space below and residential space above. Haven't been by in awhile, but will make a point to stop in over the holiday weekend. Per website, hours are:
Open Wednesday-Saturday
10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
(Except 2nd Wed-Sat of each month)
I just added a historical outline of the building to the article from information found in the Jacksonville City Directories.
I bought two chairs there and love them to death. They also do absoutely great furniture refinishing.
Is someone living upstairs? I miss the days of store owners living above their stores.
The owner lives upstairs.
one of the best retail spaces in Jacksonville. every time I drive past i get jealous...
Do they sell any Jacksonville-specific artifacts?
I've purchased a few large pieces from Vanderleigh. Most of what I've bought has been teak furniture that the owner (Walter Kingston) personally imported from Indonesia. He has gone on extended trips there to search the local towns and villages for interesting pieces - mostly leftovers from the Dutch colonial period. He's also just a generally fascinating character. Ask him to show you his slides from his Asian travel over the years. It's better than National Geographic.
I strongly disagree about Jacksonville being known for embracing demolition.
That's fine but the communities of LaVilla, Brooklyn, Downtown, East Jacksonville, etc. would suggest otherwise.
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What a fantastic piece on Vanderleigh Antiques, thanks! While Walter still has a few pieces of teak furniture from Indonesia, he and I are now really focusing on more design/decorator oriented antiques and artwork. So if you spot a piece that you love in a design magazine, let us know and we will keep a look out for you while on buying trips. And if art is your thing, please stop in to see the unique, ever-evolving collection from listed and undiscovered artists. I tend to lean toward mid-century art, but a few months back a pair of ancestral portraits grabbed my attention and found their way to the shop. One never knows what they'll find when poking their head into an antique shop and Vanderleigh is no exception! See you soon.
This thread isn't about a discussion on whether people believe the antiques are overpriced or affordable. Its an article on the preservation and reuse of a historic structure in Jacksonville. Something, that based on our city's history, tends to be an exception to the rule. Let's keep it on topic.
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Quote from: gogators07 on November 28, 2009, 03:14:58 PM
went today and found the prices to be insanely out of touch with reality. one lamp we saw was priced $145 -- despite the fact that it was a basic wood lamp that could be purchased at most local estate sales for less than $25.
seriously -- everything was overpriced.
Sorry Gogators, this is not a Big Lots Franchise, which is where most people go that find cheap stuff. It would be obvious to most that one would not visit Vanderleigh Furniture & Antiques, any more then they would Ethan Allen, or Scan Design, for bargain prices.
There is furniture then there is furniture, in the upper end of the field are one of a kind pieces, where craftsmen still sign their work. These stores might still hide a bargain or two within their field, but would be a much higher quality then a discounter such as Sticks and Stuff, Walmart, Target, Rooms to Go, or American Signature. High Quality furniture also has some other typical traits, such as precision fit dovetail joints, exotic and often rare hardwoods, solids and veneer's, or stunning use of glass and industrial materials. Better furniture also includes detailing with minute attention to things like a split veneer with mirrored pieces, as well as expensive hardware. Ironically you will NOT find use of cardboard, furniture board, hardboard, staples, tacks, nails, glues or screws, real quality needs these things only in sparse quantity's, the art is hidden in the fit and finish. Equally exotic fabrics, upholstery, and stitching are another common factor, in fact high end has even been found to sometimes contain 24k gold threads, gem stones, porcelain etc.
Middle of the road, "family" and "Room ready" furniture stores may have a few of the above qualities, mixed with low cost fabrics, and sturdy but crude joints with screws, nails and glues. Glass and steel are usually mixed with the furniture both to give a faux finish as well as expedite a quick and cheap finish.
Deep Discounters, such as Big Lots, Walmart, Target or K-Mart, almost always is full of cardboard, paper, furniture or press boards, and can even require assembly. The stuff is extremely heavy and the longer "boards" tend to break, snapping like glass, or sometimes sagging to ridiculous perportions. The "wood" finishes are simple photographic overlays on thin paper applied to pressed sawdust, hardly the stuff of the DuPont, Ball, Davis, Flagler, Rockerfeller or Getty family.
...And Ock would know this why?
Well I love quality furnishing, and maybe come by that through genetics, furnishing railcars has been in my family for a over a century. The Mann Car Company built PV's and sleeping cars, creating most of the patents that would become The Pullman Company. Bet y'all never figured how I'd turn this thread into more train talk, but then again try furnishing a train at Big Lots! Yeah Lunican, REAL trains. OCKLAWAHA
Quality construction is why we love these old Springfield houses.
Our society turned away from respecting craftsmanship in favor of planned obsolescence a long time ago, check out the landfills.
Express it and keep moving. SPAR really has nothing to do with this thread so lets keep the Springfield politics out of it. Part of the reason these threads continue to get off topic is because adults can't voice their opinion and move on if someone disagrees with them. In addition, every Tom, Dick and Harry has to get the last word in on something that has absolutely nothing to do with main topic of the thread. In this case, that topic is historic preservation and adaptive reuse of a building.
If anyone has anything to say in this thread that does not relate to the topic at hand, feel free to use the PM system or contact a site moderator. Thanks for your cooperation in keeping Metro Jacksonville a decent place to visit.
Saw a news story last nite about adaptive reuse in a different sense; it focused on reuse of scrap or discarded building materials.
A man in Huntsville, Texas has made a mission of using discarded lumber, shingles, and other construction trash to create unique low income homes. So far he has built 14 homes often with the advice or assistance of the future homeowners. The community supports his effort and donates scrap materials for his work. The man is a real artist as well as a builder. The images shown of his work show a care for design even if he is using mismatched salvage material.
Here is the link for the September article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/garden/03recycle.html
To a much lesser degree, Joe and I did this with our house on 5th Street. We used left overs from all the jobs we had done over the years. The tile work is interesting! And so is the kitchen. It was fun to be so creative and in the end, it looks wonderful.
I think saving old buildings where possible is a good thing for our community and for the history of a place. But when I see how much we throw away in demolition of structures, it is an even better thing to adapt and reuse.
well said, lindab
Actually it was not abandoned when Walter bought it. Paul Shockey owned it before him and sold it to Walter, but Paul did an incredible amount of restoration work to the downstairs. I saw it when he first closed on it and again when he had done restorations, ready for resale. I believe that Walter restored the upstairs, either way the place is beautiful - the lovely outside is all Walter.
What year did Paul Shockey purchase it? The City Directory in the Library's Special Collections Department shows it as being vacant in 2000. Did Paul purchase and restore it after 2000?
It looks like Shockey's company purchased it in 2001. The best way to find things like this is the property appraisers data base and you can see the recorded sales. They must also have gotten the zoning change/ exception that was done in 2003. (You can tell zoning changes by looking at the older property record cards and checking the zoning. Technically, I can't confirm the exception, but as they went through the process to change the zoning from RMD to CRO, then we can assume they did it all including the exception so it could be a live/ work/ retail loft.)
Yes I believe it was early 2002, - probably as Venture Resources, I will check, I know he owned it, he walked me around to show me all the great things he had done. I will check but talk to him or Walter. When he was selling it to Walter he brought him to the Business Assn. to introduce him. I know he did a tremendous amount of work, opening up the downstairs. He has the history on the building, he told me it was a grocery store and that the family lived upstairs. I do not think he flipped it since he had it quite a while.
Late 2001 makes sense, (I didn't bother to look in the property appraiser, at this point, I made had made my post as Strider was making his) it was 2002 when he walked me around it. I do not know why the zoning change was needed, since it had been a shop with living quarters. I know he was calling it "The Fort",
This is not to take away from Walter he has done incredible work and the place and its contents are marvellous.
On the city records you need to check and recheck and sometimes follow the bodies.
The downstairs ceiling with the exposed trusses looks fantastic and was probably a labor of love on a scaffolding for HOURS!
I love the adaptive reuse of the chain and poles out front..(anti Smash and grab barriers no less)
Paul exposed the trusses
Ennis not to go off subject, but the 2000 book - the 2000 is the year published, the info would be gleaned in 1999. I know this to be so from many researches, even for witnesses in a trial. The buildings down here have been dated by the directories, they were used in the home tour books, but all of the buildings are at least one or maybe two years older than that. I was looking at a house on the Boulevard, which was given as 1917, then by chance I found a photograph of it newly built (in the FTU) in 1915. In the past plaster houses had to stand for several months before they could be lived in also.
Paul and Tony may have photos of the inside when it was bought
No mention of the Importing and Exporting business? Oh wait.. that was Vandelay Industries... my bad...
Quote
In a city known for embracing demolition before preservation, Vanderleigh Furniture & Antiques is a refreshing change which illustrates the benefit of historic restoration and adaptive reuse on Jacksonville's urban landscape.unquote
Sorry to offend atari, but it was about the building also, I have nothing but great respect for Walter and Vanderleigh - tell us about the business
gogators07, thanks for visiting the shop and taking a look around. Half the battle of having an antique shop located in Springfield is getting people to walk through the door, so on behalf of Vanderleigh: Thank you! In addition we value your feedback and comments, especially as a potential customer, so I would like to take a quick moment to address your critique.
Walter and I are discriminating when stocking the store with inventory, as the quality, variety, and price suggests. You are correct, in that many of the pieces can be found at local garage and estate sales. Good design is available to anyone at any price if one is willing to put the time into such endeavor. Many of our pieces are not simply purchased and then resold, we take the time to clean, repair, upholster, and refinish merchandise when needed.
Now, I must clarify some erroneous comments in your postings: 1) The 70s table lamp is made of real Italian marble (as noted on the tag) and weighs approx 20lbs, 2)This same lamp is adorned with a new string shade from Tiffany's lighting (the shade alone cost $80), 3)The common wood lamp as you referred to it, is actually from the 40s and is inlaid with several different woods in intricate patterns, the lamp has been rewired and tightened to preserve the inlay.
While Vanderleigh Antiques will not fit every budget, we do provide quality antiques at affordable prices as evidenced by our many dealer and decorator clients who seek us out when shopping antique markets around the country. Plus as I am sure you are aware that most every antique store offers discounts; haggling price is one of the fun aspects of buying antiques!
We look forward to seeing you at the shop again soon.
Quote from: gogators07 on November 29, 2009, 09:24:02 AM
so the 1970s faux marble table lamp (as it was labeled) with a new lampshade (probably from walmart, target, lowes, etc) priced at $400 is indicative of quality construction and a non-disposable culture?
all i did was express an opinion -- shared by every other person who went with me last week that the prices were absurdly high. even -- especisally -- by antique standards. by standards of shops we had visited around the country and the city. not by wal-mart, thift store, or pawn shop standards.
that is to take nothing away from the great space, location, decor, etc.
but it seems that for a business to be successful, it might also want to know what some of its potential customers think -- good and bad.
there are so many guard dogs on this site now it is crazy -- and sorry to say -- very spar-like.
Makes sense to me.
Duchessd - the two chairs I bought, I think are from the 50s. I had them reupholstered and I love love love them
Also the reuse of furniture is great for the environment. 75% of the furniture in my house is antique/vintage and was purchased at a fraction of the cost of new furniture. Most furniture built prior to WWII was meant to last several generations (some mid century furniture is of the same quality) furniture made of real wood can be repaired, most modern furniture is made of veneered MDF or particle board and once it is damaged or gets wet its garbage.
The greenest house is one that is already built
I love that "coffee table." What a great idea!
Quote from: thelakelander on November 26, 2009, 08:07:06 PM
That's fine but the communities of LaVilla, Brooklyn, Downtown, East Jacksonville, etc. would suggest otherwise.
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Nevertheless, I still disagree.
Quote from: samiam on January 06, 2010, 04:44:56 PM
The greenest house is one that is already built
truer words were never spoken.
Quote from: KuroiKetsunoHana on March 29, 2010, 03:13:18 PM
Quote from: samiam on January 06, 2010, 04:44:56 PM
The greenest house is one that is already built
truer words were never spoken.
Truer words for sure...........which is why I have taken time, effort and money to refurbish my primary residence! Darn sure not antique in nature but it is 32 years plus in age! So I guess you could consider it new!
Quote from: jeh1980 on March 29, 2010, 09:59:21 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on November 26, 2009, 08:07:06 PM
That's fine but the communities of LaVilla, Brooklyn, Downtown, East Jacksonville, etc. would suggest otherwise.
Nevertheless, I still disagree.
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Its okay to disagree. However, it doesn't change the fact that a significant part of the urban core (which was very dense and walkable) is now moonscape. The best thing we can do now is just to change our ways and do better with what's left.
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Quote from: CS Foltz on March 29, 2010, 03:21:43 PM
Quote from: KuroiKetsunoHana on March 29, 2010, 03:13:18 PM
Quote from: samiam on January 06, 2010, 04:44:56 PM
The greenest house is one that is already built
truer words were never spoken.
Truer words for sure...........which is why I have taken time, effort and money to refurbish my primary residence! Darn sure not antique in nature but it is 32 years plus in age! So I guess you could consider it new!
Thanks
For a time I ended all my posts with that
I wish the powers that be would see the logic in it and put the word out. You hear all this news about green building but it all a farce. The biggest problem is the use of land and the infrastructure for new developments (destruction of habitat and the tax dollars that could be used better elsewhere) BTW outstanding job cs Foltz you are doing your part.
Its a real shame that people are buying into the fake concept that the new planned community are good for the environment.
Some of us try real hard samiam! Some are just more concerned about lining their pockets............like SRG and most developers on the face of mother earth! Got no respect for mother nature.............definition of a development.............cut down all of the tree's and then name the street's after the trees! Not good for anyone and darn sure not for the next generation or those to come!
I live in a 1911 house that I restored. I'm sure SRG are not saints but at least they do urban infill, which makes them a step above the cut and slash developer.
I agree to a point! There are too many empty lots that did have houses on them and most appear to be owned by SRG.....................yep, it is urban infill and nothing wrong with that at all! Like you say....beats cut and slash for sure, but I think about those old homes that might have had a chance to live again and have families once again.................just thinking about what a loss!
Hi MetroJAX.
I'm trying to get some more info on the history of this building as well as any photos before or during it's recent restoration.
Thank you for your help.
Tony B go to Springfield Heritage Education Center and fill in the street address of 332-336 East 10th Street
http://www.springfieldheritagecenter.org/ (http://www.springfieldheritagecenter.org/)
Thank you. I like the photo. Based on the vintage of the car reflected in the window it looks like that photo was taken sometime between the mid 1970s to 1980s.
It looks like the building was partially restored in the early 2000s then sold to Walter Kingston who (based on the construction permits) did a lot more work to it including a buildout of the upstairs apartment in 2005 to 2008 followed by a Bank of America foreclosure in 2011.
Are there any other information sources I could look at? Maybe something at the library?
Thank you again for your help.
I sent you a pm
Actually the photo on the Springfield Heritage Center website is the photo from the 1985 survey that was used to get the historic district designation.
A good way to find the actual date your building was built is to go downtown to the main library and look at the old city directories. They will tell you the first year someone used the building and who that was. Start at 1927 and go back to see the first time it appears. It is not unusual for the database to be off a few years and in the case of commercial in-fill, there may have been a residential structure there that was taken down for the commercial building.
Thank you again for your help I really appreciate it.