2001 List

Faucette-Cook Building

Built in 1897, the Cook Building’s second floor was used as a meeting hall for organizations such as the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the American Organization of United Workmen, the Elks Club, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The Faucette Cook Building is two stories, with late nineteenth-century Italianate characteristics. Cast iron columns are visible on the first floor storefronts, and a decorative metal cornice spans the building on the north and east elevations.

The Faucette-Cook Building sat mostly vacant and run-down during the 1980s and 1990s. The Cook family sold the building in 1998 to Bob and Ginger Wortham, who hoped to restore the building and put a deli and bakery on the first floor and rent the upstairs for receptions and parties. However, they were not able to swing the deal financially, and the building was sold to Gary Clayton. By the time Clayton bought the building, it was in a severely deteriorated state. In 2002 the Faucette Cook Building was saved by enforcing the minimum maintenance rules established by the NLR Historic District Commission. The City’s Code Enforcement Dept. took Clayton to court for failure to maintain the building. Just after Clayton began the rehab work, the entire back wall of the building collapsed, so it was very close to falling down. Clayton completed the exterior rehabilitation work, and John Chandler bought the building in 2004. Chandler did the interior rehab work, and the building currently houses Ristorante Capeo and several offices.