Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Joe Fortier, owner of Taylor Hollow Construction, enters a hallway on the second floor of the Third Avenue buildings that the company is renovating in Radford. The hallway is lit by a light tube (top) that allows natural daylight to enter the structure and keep energy costs down. The adjoining buildings, considered historic structures, will house eight one-bedroom apartments, four office suites and a restaurant, Fortier says.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Casey Reece with Taylor Hollow Construction Company carries pieces of the original 1920s tin ceiling in front of Radford's Third Avenue buildings that the company is renovating.

Carpenter Pete Angelone cuts planks for a stairway in the Third Avenue renovations.

| Amy Matzke-Fawcett

amy.matzke-fawcett@roanoke.com, 381-1674

RADFORD -- After a year of renovations, two buildings on Third Avenue will soon be occupied.

The adjoining buildings, considered historic structures, will house eight one-bedroom apartments, four office suites and a restaurant, said Joe Fortier, owner of Taylor Hollow Construction.

Taylor Hollow owns and has been renovating the buildings, which are scheduled to be occupied starting Dec. 1.

A second location of West End Dawgs, a popular Radford eatery, is planned for the restaurant space, said restaurant owner Lauren Hunter.

Hunter and business partner Chris Bell plan to keep the restaurant's original location on West Main Street, inside Bucko's Pantry, open as well.

"We're working very hard to get this location open," Hunter said.

Although all the details are not finalized, the restaurant will cater to both college students and families, and will serve beer but not liquor, Hunter said.

The restaurant will occupy the first floor of the 1950s portion of the space. The second building, which will house the office suites, were built about 1900.

The renovations to each space reflect the two time periods in their details, including windows and paint colors, Fortier said.

"We wanted to emphasize the style that best works for that period," Fortier said.

When a building under renovation is designated as part of the historic Main Street, the owners receive architectural plans and suggestions regarding the building's preservation and tax credits, said Becky Haupt, director of Main Street Radford.

"I'm really glad the building is almost done," Haupt said. "The color scheme and renovation kind of makes the whole block pop."

Main Street Radford will move its offices into the building's office suites in December or January, Haupt said.

"We've kind of helped with the whole process, and we want to be a more present, visible force," Haupt said. "It's kind of a perfect fit."

The older building first served as the Hudson car dealership, with a ramp leading to the second floor so people could drive up their cars to be serviced, and a parking lot on the side, Fortier said.

During the renovations, workers found brochures from the car dealership stored in the rafters, Fortier said.

"It was really cool to see them," Fortier said.

The 1950s addition was built in what was the parking lot space, Fortier said.

It also served as Grand Furniture and Piano, whose sign was visible on the front of the building until the recent renovation. Most recently, it was known as the Radford Pottery building for the pottery business that closed in 2007.

Taylor Hollow also renovated and sold the M. Jackson Hardware Building that now houses Sharkey's Rib & Wing Joint, as well as the building that is home to the Coffee Mill and a space that has served as Pascal's Kitchen and the Claret Cafe, both of which have closed.