With construction finished, the marketing push is on to fill a historic property in downtown Decatur that’s been modernized—next door to an 1800s events space that’s anything but.
The Sycamore Building, one of the first adaptive-reuse projects highlighted on these pages, was originally built in 1949 as a school, alongside the all-stone Chapel on Sycamore events space originally established as a church in 1899.
The renovated complex stands where Sycamore Street meets Commerce Drive, a block east of the bulk of Decatur’s food and drink options.
Decatur law partners Kyle Williams and Eric Teusink paid $3.2 million for the historic Decatur First United Methodist Church property two years ago, and then embarked on a renovation they expected to cost around $2.5 million.
The second floor of the office portion includes the law firm’s offices today. And the same ownership, Williams and Teusink, operate and own the connected new chapel event space, used for weddings, mitzvahs, rehearsals, and other events.
Darren Comer, a Realtor with Keller Knapp Realty and member of Decatur’s Downtown Development Authority, tells Urbanize Atlanta the historic structures were “gracefully preserved and reused” while modern conveniences such as an elevator were added.
“Both buildings, bursting with character, have been incredibly adapted and renovated to take them into their next generation of use, while maintaining all of their historical and architectural significance,” Comer wrote via email.
The Sycamore Building; courtesy of Keller Knapp Realty
The historic Decatur UMC Chapel property, where Sycamore Street meets Commerce Drive downtown, is shown at right, with an adjacent former school building added in the 1950s, at left. The Sycamore Building; courtesy of Keller Knapp Realty
Perks of the location, beyond Decatur’s history and options for dinner and cocktails, include easy access by train, car, bus, or bike, according to Comer.
As for pricing, finished second-floor office suites are renting from between $1,000 to $3,000 per month. The full first floor is being offered at $30 per square foot, per year.
“It’s currently configured as large offices in the former classroom layout,” Comer noted. “The owners are willing to work with long-term tenants to modify the space to suit needs.”
The Sycamore Building; courtesy of Keller Knapp Realty
The Sycamore Building; courtesy of Keller Knapp Realty
In the gallery above, find more context and glimpses at virtually every facet of this revised Decatur landmark.
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