The Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods presented its annual Golden Hammer Awards last week for the best renovations in the Richmond area.
The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing won the award for best commercial renovation!! The project renovated the former power plant on East Old Main Street as a restaurant with scenic views of the James River and downtown. The power plant’s industrial facade and its iconic smokestack were preserved. Modern architectural elements were integrated into the historic building. Its collapsed top-floor roof and crumbling brick walls were replaced with tall windows and a butterfly roof and wrap-around staircase were constructed on the exterior.
The awards program is now in its 10th year.
The Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods exists to serve the City of Richmond through the revitalization of its oldest neighborhoods and achieves this by promoting– to individuals of all income levels– the purchase and renovation of vacant and abandoned properties and advocates for the preservation of the cultural and historic assets that give our old neighborhoods their unique character.