The Realty Executive Offices at 401 S. Main St. recently underwent a renovation, which included totally rehabilitating the 1978, one-story structure and building a second story.
The end product is the vision of owners William and Susan Strickland, who began planning the expansion several years ago.
“We wanted to keep Realty Executives in our current location, which is a major gateway to the downtown district, but simply needed more commercial space,” Susan Strickland said. “Going vertical with the new construction on top of the rehabilitated existing building seemed to be the only viable solution.”
The redevelopment is a significant “first” for the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority, according to HDDA Chairman Donald Lovette. “The Realty Executives project represents the first public-private development for HDDA and we are very proud to be associated with such a high quality project as this,” Lovette said.
The HDDA received a low-interest loan for $200,000 from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office for business owners to put toward permanent financing of design and engineering services, construction and furnishing costs. Additionally, because the improvements included the rehabilitation of an existing structure, the project was eligible and received HDDA’s $2,500 façade rehabilitation grant.
The Stricklands run three related, but separate businesses, Realty Executives, Liberty Rental Services and a real estate school. All three operations are housed in the Main Street building, which was expanded from 2,500 square feet to 5,400 square feet. The project created nine new jobs for a total of 27 employees. Other recent improvements include landscaping, a retention pond and, soon, a water fountain.
The end product is the vision of owners William and Susan Strickland, who began planning the expansion several years ago.
“We wanted to keep Realty Executives in our current location, which is a major gateway to the downtown district, but simply needed more commercial space,” Susan Strickland said. “Going vertical with the new construction on top of the rehabilitated existing building seemed to be the only viable solution.”
The redevelopment is a significant “first” for the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority, according to HDDA Chairman Donald Lovette. “The Realty Executives project represents the first public-private development for HDDA and we are very proud to be associated with such a high quality project as this,” Lovette said.
The HDDA received a low-interest loan for $200,000 from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office for business owners to put toward permanent financing of design and engineering services, construction and furnishing costs. Additionally, because the improvements included the rehabilitation of an existing structure, the project was eligible and received HDDA’s $2,500 façade rehabilitation grant.
The Stricklands run three related, but separate businesses, Realty Executives, Liberty Rental Services and a real estate school. All three operations are housed in the Main Street building, which was expanded from 2,500 square feet to 5,400 square feet. The project created nine new jobs for a total of 27 employees. Other recent improvements include landscaping, a retention pond and, soon, a water fountain.