By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune Managing Editor
The Center for Great Neighborhoods’ plan to breathe new life into an iconic Covington building officially got underway Thursday.
The organization broke ground on the Hellmann Creative Center, to be located at the structure commonly known as the Hellmann Lumber building on Martin Luther King Boulevard at Fisk Street.
The Hellmann Lumber building has been vacant for about 20 years, but prior to that it produced the wood that is in many of the homes and businesses in Covington.
Tom DiBello, executive director of the Center for Great Neighborhoods, said the organization purchased the 130-year old building about 18 months ago. When the renovation is completed, the Center for Great Neighborhoods will move its operation from Russell Street and become the building’s anchor tenant.
The building will also house eight artist’s studios, including a woodworking shop for Covington’s Carnegie arts center, as well as a community gathering space for events and meetings.
“We are using the term ‘creative placemaking’ and this building is really the centerpiece of those efforts, in Covington in general, but particularly in the West side and this Linden/MLK corridor,” DiBello said. “The evolution is that we are really emphasizing the creativity that exists in every person and we are inviting people to create their own place.”
The nonprofit Center for Great Neighborhoods received a $1.45 million grant from the Detroit-based Kresge Foundation and $500,000 will be used to assist with the development of the Hellmann Creative Center.
DiBello said the goal is to complete the $2.3 million project without incurring any debt. The organization will receive about $700,000 in federal and state historic tax credits and has commitments from several community partners
The Center for Great Neighborhoods, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in a few months, was founded in 1976 when the Fourth Street Center and Downtown Neighborhood Center merged to become the Covington Community Center.
The groundbreaking also included the unveiling of a new logo for the Center for Great Neighborhoods, which is part of its rebranding effort.
In 2000, the organization moved from its offices on Lee Street to 1650 Russell Street which quickly became a city¬wide meeting and training center to support efforts to improve the city’s neighborhoods. In 2005, the organization changed its name to The Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington.
Geoff Milz, economic development director for the City of Covington said The Center for Great Neighborhoods is an incredible community partner.
“What they have done for neighborhoods throughout the City of Covington has just been transformational,” Milz said. “They always get to pioneering locations and make a huge impact. This neighborhood is on the verge of something wonderful from here north into Jackson Square, and again, right ahead of the curve and they are going to be a part of the difference here.”
Community leaders, residents and project partners filled the block of Fisk Street that includes the building and toured the facility after the groundbreaking.
Betty and George Schuhmacher, siblings who have lived in the Peaselburg neighborhood since 1940, say it is encouraging to see a significant piece of the city’s history preserved for future generations.
“It’s even more exciting that it’s part of a revitalization of this whole area,” George Schuhmacher said.
In a nod to the legacy of the Hellmann family, the organization eschewed the traditional shoveling of dirt for a ceremonial sawing of the board. Community leaders, including Covington Mayor Sherry Carran, joined family patriarch Don Hellmann in sawing the wood, with DiBello delivering the final cut.
Hellmann said he is proud that the building will continue to serve the city of Covington.
“I still drive by the Hellmann Lumber building at least once a week to see what’s going on in the neighborhood,” Hellmann said. “I dream about it at least twice a week.”
It’s Hellmann with two n’s.
That it is. Silly error fixed in the headline.