Berry Burk

 
GENERAL INFORMATION:The adaptive re-use of the Berry-Burk Building provides upscale, downtown living as well as urban retail space. The upper two floors rise above the adjacent building to the west and provide a great view of downtown Richmond. Residential space takes up all of the upper floors while commercial space occupies the first floor towards East Grace Street. The building contains 31 spacious apartments (some lofted), a 25-space parking garage in the basement, and street-level retail space. The primary commercial entry faces north onto East Grace Street while residential tenants will have their own private entry off of Sixth Street. The property was one of the first to be transformed in a then-dilapidated area, and has since been followed by the opening of a performing arts center and a new hotel across the street.
 
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES:The exterior of the building is made up of limestone panels and cast stone, capped with a decorative, horizontal terra cotta frieze around the cornice at the top of the building.
 
HISTORY/SIGNIFICANCE:The building was previously the home of The Berry-Burk Company, a retail clothing store built in 1928. This project won the 2007 Golden Hammer Award for “Best Commercial Renovation of a Historic Structure” from ACORN (Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods). The Berry-Burk Building is located within the Grace Street state and national historic districts and received federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits.