For more than a decade Empire Properties has been a leader in the revitalization of Downtown Raleigh. The company’s redevelopment  and historic preservation efforts have brought back to life many of downtown’s long neglected historic commercial structures.

Most notable among these are the Masonic Temple Building (1907), the Raleigh Times Building (1906), the Raleigh Furniture Building (1914), the East Hargett Street Odd Fellows Building (ca 1881), the Carolina Trust Building (1902) and the former Heilig-Levine Furniture Building (aka Central Hotel, ca 1870).

The Heilig-Levine Building as seen from the G&S Department Store through 19th century window glass.

Empire’s latest venture in historic preservation/adaptive use is the current rehab of the former G&S Department Store on S. Wilmington Street. Read more »

One of our readers, Dave Delcambre, College of Design graduate and supporter of the Color Wall restoration project, has written an in-depth review of the Joe Cox Exhibition of Paintings and Works on Paper, which is published on his blogsite, ‘nc art blog’. Also, several of Dave’s previously unpublished photos of Joe’s works in the exhibition may be seen on the Color Wall Web site.

If you have not done so already, there is still time to view the collection of 18 Joe Cox paintings and works on paper at the Lee Hansley Gallery Too, 126 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. The gallery is also open 6-9 pm this Friday night (April 2) for a First Friday showing. The exhibition closes April 17.