Pure Oil Station | Peach Street Books | 401 Mason Avenue

Historic Building Renovation
Historic Research
Historic Tax Credit Consulting

Pure Oil Station | Peach Street Books | 401 Mason Avenue

Location

Cape Charles, VA

Partners

Parham Architect

RBW Design

Virginia Department of Historic Resources

National Park Service

Client Goals

In 2016, after several years of vacancy, the client purchased the former gas and service station located at 401 Mason Avenue with the intention of transforming it into a bookstore and cafe. The c1920s Tudor Revival English cottage-style building was one of the stock designs created by the Pure Oil company. The client engaged CPG to assist with the historic rehabilitation tax credit application and provide guidance and expertise on the preservation of the building.

Project Design

Due to years of vacancy and neglect, the building was in poor condition at the start of the project. Despite these circumstances, CPG identified some remaining historic features in the building and developed a plan to maintain these features during the reuse process. The team used a Historic Preservation Brief that was specific to the preservation and reuse of historic gas stations to inform its plan and guidance, ultimately shaping the building treatment decisions. CPG’s familiarity with this brief and building type enabled the team to inform the client on historic preservation expectations early in the process.

Challenges & Accomplishments

Due to its change in use, the interior of the building required updates to add ADA access and to accommodate bathrooms and a kitchen for the cafe. These requirements posed a challenge; however, CPG, in collaboration with the design team, came up with a solution that utilized a non-historic garage addition to insert necessary bathrooms and an ADA access ramp. This solution allowed the historic gas station to retain the majority of its interior historic features with few modifications. Another accomplishment included CPG’s recommendations on the exterior. The site was initially uninviting for the intended use. To address this issue, CPG provided counsel on how to add low-profile landscaping and a patio to soften the site while maintaining the historic, industrial character.