After years of neglect, the future is bright for the former Bud Gowan Antiques building in Downtown London. Recently, Cento Commercial Inc. acquired the Victorian yellow brick building at 387 Clarence Street and received approval from city hall to create 12 apartments on the top three floors while maintaining commercial space at street level. “We do have some room for commercial space on the main level here with residential up top,” explained Adam Krawec, Chief Marketing Officer at Cento Commercial. “But we’re hoping architecturally to really preserve what we already have here.” Constructed in 1892, the former factory for women’s corsets was most recently known as the location of Bud Gowan Antiques until its closure in 2012. The Italianate architecture of the storefront was enhanced by Gowan with ornamental wooden spindles and a stained-glass window from a church. “The bones are good,” said Andrei Pershin, Chief Operating Officer of Cento Commercial. “We have had a structural inspection of the building. (The project) will be predominantly interior renovations.” The firm’s commitment to the building’s heritage will include maintaining the ghost sign painted on the south side of the building that advertises the former antique store. Cento Commercial has experience completing similar projects in a number of downtown areas in Ontario. The firm has nothing but praise for the assistance provided by London City Hall to get the redevelopment project to the starting line. “They were actually quite incredible,” said Pershin. “They were very welcoming and very accommodating, providing meetings and consultations.” Krawec added that the project might be the start of a growing investment in London. “London is a bit new to us,” he admitted. “But if things do go well, because as Andrei mentioned, your city council has been very supportive the whole way through with open arms, if this does go well you could see us here in the future with other projects.” Construction is slated to begin in November, with apartments going on the rental market in 12 to 18 months.
