Denny Lushbough, owner of Denny’s Sports Center at 18 E. Jackson Ave., has agreed to let do-gooders give his building a facelift.
Thrive Allen County is behind the effort to recapture the building’s colorful splendor of more than 100 years ago.
The facelift, including tuck-pointing the bricks, will start May 12 and depend on volunteer efforts, said David Toland, Thrive executive director.
The structure began as the George R. Davis Block — major businesses then were referred to as blocks — and the ground floor was occupied by C.S. Culbertson, Undertaker.
Lushbough will replace damaged windows.
Part of the renovation will include signs placed on the building’s side to advertise and encourage the wellness project, Downtown Walkaround, which will start at mid-month.
Wellness is an ongoing theme for Thrive and the walkaround will encourage people who work downtown and those who live nearby to use their breaks to walk around the courthouse square.
Three laps of the square is a mile-long trek if done on the inside of the square. Walking on the outside of the square totals a mile after two laps.
