Congratulations to Mel Livingston on his Secretary of State Award for “Outstanding Rehabilitation Project” for The Bowery Inn! The award was presented at the Florida Main Street Annual Conference in Deland on August 9 by Florida Main Street Program Coordinator Ronni Wood and State Historic Preservation Officer Dr. Timothy Parsons.
The historic Bowery Inn Building, circa 1900, sat vacant for four decades and was in an almost hopeless state of disrepair. Fortunately, Mel Livingston is a man with vision and the dedication to see it through.
The building’s remarkable renovation was completed in 2015 with painstaking attention to detail and authenticity. The inn was repaired using salvaged and reclaimed building material from Apalachicola. Not satisfied to use new lumber to replace rotten wood, Mel scoured Apalachicola and collected usable vintage materials from other renovation projects. Each piece of wood and decor was individually hand selected.
The project provides two things that are in sometimes in short supply in our downtown: retail space downstairs, and overnight accomodations upstairs. Guests are able to enjoy a genuine “old fashioned” experience without the distractions of televisions or telephones, while being fully WiFi accessible. Viewing of the Apalachicola Bay and the downtown area can be enjoyed from a large deck. The Inn is quietly nestled in the historic downtown Bowery District within walking distance of all shopping and nationally recognized restaurants.
Authentic features like an antique claw foot bathtub, beautifully hand-crafted stairwell, and period furnishings compliment modern conveniences. Guests who have written reviews online say, “The Bowery Inn was the perfect setting for a weekend getaway. It had all the charm and unique details that a structure built in 1900 should have. The decor was authentic, not commercialized, and our room was spacious, clean, and fresh.” And, “Romantic, comfortable and charming Inn. The location is very accommodating to stroll down to lunch, shopping & dinner. The veranda overlooking the river is perfect for sips of wine and conversation or starting the day with coffee. It was a great choice for us.”
It is truly a remarkable rehabilitation and an excellent addition to the downtown Apalachicola business community. This successful project was featured on WFSU-TV’s show Dimensions.
Congratulations to Mel Livingston on this prestigious award!
