A redevelopment grant request in Ocala is putting exterior masonry work front and center as a long-standing landmark moves toward a new life.
Lange Real Estate, LLC, managed by Tamie Lange and Dr. Michael P. Lange, recently purchased the 9,464-square-foot historic Coca-Cola building at 939 N. Magnolia Ave. for $1.65 million. The sale closed June 26, according to the application details provided to the city.
The owners plan to convert the 1939 building into an eye care center and optical showroom under the Lange Eye Institute, which operates an established location in The Villages. To support that adaptive reuse, the owners are seeking matching funds through the North Magnolia Community Redevelopment Area Commercial Property Improvement Grant program.
The request asks for up to $20,000 to assist with exterior painting, surface preparation, and masonry repairs. Two itemized contractor quotes were submitted as part of the application packet: $27,200 from Home Upgrade Pros and $27,500 from Blankenship Painting, LLC.
Design renderings included with the request show a restoration approach that keeps the historic facade intact while updating the interior for a modern medical use. Planned exterior elements include masonry restoration, custom architectural accent lighting, and updated glass entryways.
For contractor teams, projects like this hinge on tight scope control and sequencing. Surface preparation and masonry repairs set the baseline for paint performance, and new entryways and exterior lighting add coordination points that impact access, staging, and final detailing.
The building was designed by Fort Lauderdale architect Courtney Stewart in the Mission/Spanish Revival style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 4, 1979. In more recent years, it served as an event center before a late-2020 renovation brought in the NOMA Gallery.
The Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board, made up of Ocala City Council members, is scheduled to meet at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, ahead of the regular City Council meeting.
Read the full, original article from Ocala-News.com here.