Renovation work planned

A&H Investments plans more than a $3 million transformation of the former R.W. Norman’s building into an office center.

The project will be a major component of the redevelopment initiated in the 200 block of North Main Street by F&M Bank.

F&M Bank solicited development proposals, leading to the selection of A&H Investments to provide “Class A” office space for the five-story Norman’s building at 227 N. Main St.

The bank will soon sell the 20,000-square-foot building to A&H, whose letters stand for Salisbury businessmen Jake Alexander and John Henderlite. A&H plans a 5,000-square-foot addition to the building to provide for a second stairwell and better layout for the floors.

F&M will finance the project, expected to be completed in about a year. Summit Developers will be the general contractor. Ramsay, Burgin, Smith will be the architects.

F&M Bank, now renovating the adjacent Mayfield Building to become its new operations center, also has committed to the first floor of the former Norman’s building. Other tenants will include the Ramsay, Burgin, Smith architectural firm on the fifth floor and A&H, which will probably locate on the third floor.

Henderlite said the developers envision a minimum of five occupants — one for each floor — but more likely, up to nine. Three floors would be fully occupied by one tenant or owner each. The two other floors lend themselves to three suites each, Henderlite said.

This North Main Street project area also will include the renovation of a nearby Liberty Street building as the new home for Waterworks Visual Arts Center. F&M Bank donated the building to the arts group.

In addition, the project will bring back the Easy Street alley from days past and, when completed, the area is expected to become a gathering place for downtown events.

Henderlite said A&H’s office building will lose the “Norman” name. (Norman’s was a maker of fine bedspreads and draperies.) While an official new name has not been selected, it will have a connection to F&M, Henderlite predicted.

A&H Investments has previously developed an office park on Dorsett Drive off Statesville Boulevard. It has an ownership interest in The Reserve residential subdivision and will be breaking ground in coming months on a new office park on Jake Alexander Boulevard.

Henderlite said the downtown project represents an outstanding location, besides being part of F&M Bank’s total vision for the area, including Waterworks. “That will be a great complement,” he added.

The Norman’s building qualifies for federal income and state income tax credits for the buyers. Those credits make the project feasible, Henderlite said.

Henderlite said A&H has spent the last several months defining the project, what all the relationships would be, applying for state and federal tax credits and quietly pre-selling some of the space.

The remaining spaces available would lend themselves to a wide list of professional concerns, Henderlite said.

On a personal note, Henderlite said he will be happy to return to the downtown, where he spent the first 17 years of his career. His office is currently located at the CCB building on West Innes Street.

Henderlite said he has missed the downtown’s unique atmosphere and activity and “the privilege of being able to walk wherever I want to go.”

In addition to their development activities, Henderlite and Alexander have full-time jobs. Henderlite has his own financial services business. Alexander sells recycled tire material to highway construction interests.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263, or mwineka@salisburypost.com .