The atrium at 208 main street

In December of 2022, The Murray Main Street Program Inc., a 501(c)3 affiliated with the Kentucky Main Street Program, Kentucky Heritage Council, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was gifted the building located at 208 Main Street in Murray, Kentucky. The building is located in the historic district of Murray, Kentucky’s main downtown area.
Murray Main Street, founded in 1998, has a core mission to preserve historic and architecturally significant buildings downtown, while also assisting the community in revitalization efforts to help preserve not only the buildings but also the economic vitality of Murray’s historic downtown.
The project is a phased redevelopment that will secure the future of a nearly one-city-block sized building. At 32,000 square feet on one level, the building has an assessed value of $400,000 as it stands. The Atrium, also know as the Tremon Beale building, has been a furniture store for decades. For the last six years, the building has been vacant.
The ultimate goal of the project is to create a community-driven building with fully functioning spaces for retail and restaurant businesses, community use and office space. The Phase I goal for Murray Main Street is to secure the building from becoming a derelict property with no intrinsic value, financially or physically. Phase II will allow the building to be used for community events without further improvements. Upon completion of Phase I and II, the value is estimated at $1.25M.
Using the Cleaner Commonwealth Fund, the project will focus on asbestos abatement throughout the building, mold remediation, removal of lead-based paint and general demolition of all non-structural walls. Working with Industrial Maintenance & Construction Co, Inc. (IMAC), all work will be completed as per current OSHA and EPA regulations.