Columbia, SC (WLTX) — Another block on Main Street may soon be undergoing a facelift.
The owners of the Brown Building at 1730 Main have been granted a Certificate of Design Approval for exterior changes and preliminary certification of the Bailey Bill on order to restore the appearance of the original façade.
When it was built in 1901, the three-story masonry building was home to the C.O. Brown & Brother Hardware Store, a family owned business that had been founded in 1843 by English immigrant James Brown. The first floor featured a central front door and two flanking entrances.
The hardware store underwent renovations in 1939 and Marietta Paint & Color Company occupied the space from 1945 until 1952. The building was vacant until 1956 when the Republican Party of South Carolina operated campaign headquarters there for one year.
From 1959 to 1970, there was a succession of business operating at the location, including Matthews Grocery Store, Golden Rule Dressmaking Shoppe, S&S Cigar Store, and the UFO Coffeehouse.
In 1976, the first floor was renovated to enclose the storefront from glass and aluminum framing to a first level brick façade with a centrally located door flanked by three windows on each side of the door.
Proposed renovations of the interior are mainly on the first floor where three office spaces will be completely redone. Walls will be removed to open up the three office spaces, the southern end of the building has plans for two new restrooms. The second and third floors will remain as they are currently configured.
Existing materials such as original tile and wooden floors will be cleaned and preserved.
Bailey Bill status requires the building owner to invest 20% of qualified expenses in exchange for keeping the building’s current assessed value at the same rate for 20 years. This property tax abatement is meant as an incentive to encourage the rehabilitation of historic properties in Columbia.