The Bain Project
May 10, 2009 6:15 PM Subscribe
What to do with an abandoned water treatment plant while deciding what to do with it? In 1940, Raleigh NC opened a new water treatment plant to meet its needs. It's one of the very few art-deco style buildings in Raleigh, & is now on the historic property register & owned by Empire Properties. Empire has renovated a number of older buildings in the spirit of preserving the character of Raleigh.
The E.B. Bain Water Treatment plant now awaits its future purpose, but in the meantime is hosting a site specific, interactive art installation called the Bain Project. It's the result of the collaboration of 12 artists over the past 9 months, and is only open for two weekends. So if you didn't catch it this weekend, you have another chance.
The E.B. Bain Water Treatment plant now awaits its future purpose, but in the meantime is hosting a site specific, interactive art installation called the Bain Project. It's the result of the collaboration of 12 artists over the past 9 months, and is only open for two weekends. So if you didn't catch it this weekend, you have another chance.
A developer in Boston did some interesting stuff with a pair of old water pumping stations by the Chestnut Hill Reservoir
posted by adamg at 7:37 PM on May 10, 2009
posted by adamg at 7:37 PM on May 10, 2009
Cool, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Raleigh decides to knock it down for a parking lot.
posted by NoMich at 7:38 PM on May 10, 2009
posted by NoMich at 7:38 PM on May 10, 2009
Reminds me of the 1940 Air Terminal and Museum here in Houston - I visited and took pictures a year and a half ago. They've finished a large part of the renovation/restoration; I need to go back and take more.
posted by mrbill at 8:18 PM on May 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by mrbill at 8:18 PM on May 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
NoMich, buildings on the historic register are protected from demolition. That aside, whatever gets done to it will be spendy, given the lead paint & asbestos content all over it. If deep pockets picked it up it would be a fantastic condo project.
posted by yoga at 5:31 AM on May 11, 2009
posted by yoga at 5:31 AM on May 11, 2009
I didn't realize times were so tough that there were unoccupied art-deco water treatment plants available. Is there something about Raleigh that makes it particularly unattractive to super-villains? Or is the glut of defunct amusement parks soaking up all the potential business.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:47 AM on May 11, 2009
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:47 AM on May 11, 2009
NoMich, buildings on the historic register are protected from demolition.
This is a common misconception. Buildings listed on the National Register for Historic Places have NO RESTRICTIONS placed on them of any sort. An owner can list a building one day and knock it down the next. The only way to protect historic buildings from change or demolition is through local zoning control. This is typically done by creating local Historic Districts, so that any building within the District is protected to some degree or another. This can be as simple as a "no demolition" restriction, or it can control nearly every aspect of the building's exterior (and sometimes interior). Raleigh does have a Historic District Commission, but from what I can tell, this building is not located in any of the delineated districts, and so there is no restriction on what the owners can do with it.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:01 AM on May 11, 2009
This is a common misconception. Buildings listed on the National Register for Historic Places have NO RESTRICTIONS placed on them of any sort. An owner can list a building one day and knock it down the next. The only way to protect historic buildings from change or demolition is through local zoning control. This is typically done by creating local Historic Districts, so that any building within the District is protected to some degree or another. This can be as simple as a "no demolition" restriction, or it can control nearly every aspect of the building's exterior (and sometimes interior). Raleigh does have a Historic District Commission, but from what I can tell, this building is not located in any of the delineated districts, and so there is no restriction on what the owners can do with it.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:01 AM on May 11, 2009
I stand corrected. Well it's a really cool building, but I can't see repurposing it for anything without going into enormous debt. Hope you get to see it next weekend!
posted by yoga at 9:43 AM on May 11, 2009
posted by yoga at 9:43 AM on May 11, 2009
I went to the Bain Project this past Saturday - here is my photoset on Flickr from touring it Saturday afternoon.
posted by steveburnett at 3:07 PM on May 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by steveburnett at 3:07 PM on May 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
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posted by Rock Steady at 6:56 PM on May 10, 2009