BAKERSFIELD, CA-- A restoration project is underway for one of the oldest buildings in downtown Bakersfield. A building that was once slated to be torn down actually turned out to be a piece of history.
The old building at 1800 Chester Avenue was Tapas restaurant until a fire damaged the roof in 2002. The building was slated to be demolished by the city until a developer, Sam Abed, had a feeling something special might be hiding underneath the old stucco.
"It was a little bit of a risk,” said Abed. “A lot of people did not want to touch it because the roof was open and burnt for years and it had a lot of pigeon poop.”
The original building was the Security Trust Bank and was built in 1910. Abed thinks there might be some damage from the 1952 quake but believes the Greco like columns have remained intact.
"It was amazing,” Abed said. “I am out here for hours a day just staring at it."
As the building is restored it has garnered the attention of people online, and who work in the area. Mike Beckwith says his wife's grandfather owned the bank many years ago before selling it to Bank of America and a remodel project like this is good for downtown.
"I think it is really important,” Beckwith said. “I think it really hurts when you see them tear down these old buildings, (the old buildings) really look great when they are refurbished. I think it will improve the whole downtown area."
Abed said he went to city hall to see if there was any matching funds for restoring a piece of Bakersfield history.
"Unfortunately there is no funds which I tried looking for it, Abed said. “But I think there should be a fund for something like this. A historic building, how can you just tear it down?"
Nothing is set in stone at this point but Abed said the building may be used for a retail store or a bank as early as June.
The old building at 1800 Chester Avenue was Tapas restaurant until a fire damaged the roof in 2002. The building was slated to be demolished by the city until a developer, Sam Abed, had a feeling something special might be hiding underneath the old stucco.
"It was a little bit of a risk,” said Abed. “A lot of people did not want to touch it because the roof was open and burnt for years and it had a lot of pigeon poop.”
The original building was the Security Trust Bank and was built in 1910. Abed thinks there might be some damage from the 1952 quake but believes the Greco like columns have remained intact.
"It was amazing,” Abed said. “I am out here for hours a day just staring at it."
As the building is restored it has garnered the attention of people online, and who work in the area. Mike Beckwith says his wife's grandfather owned the bank many years ago before selling it to Bank of America and a remodel project like this is good for downtown.
"I think it is really important,” Beckwith said. “I think it really hurts when you see them tear down these old buildings, (the old buildings) really look great when they are refurbished. I think it will improve the whole downtown area."
Abed said he went to city hall to see if there was any matching funds for restoring a piece of Bakersfield history.
"Unfortunately there is no funds which I tried looking for it, Abed said. “But I think there should be a fund for something like this. A historic building, how can you just tear it down?"
Nothing is set in stone at this point but Abed said the building may be used for a retail store or a bank as early as June.