Way back on May 15, 2007, I reported on the sale of the Shelton Building, 901 Houston Street, to a local real estate group. Indications were that Kinko’s would remain on the ground floor, but the vacant upper floors would be renovated for office or residential use.

Well, I don’t have an update on the office/residential aspect of the project, but it has now been revealed that the historic building (built in 1900 and now sporting a 1937 Moderne remodel by local architect Wiley G. Clarkson, designer of the Sinclair Building) will be getting some new facade work done soon. The plans include:

1. Repair and paint existing stucco on West and North elevations;
2. Add new vertical stucco element at center of West elevation;
3. Remove existing windows and install new glass windows in aluminum frame;
4. Add horizontal stucco band;
5. Modify sign band;
6. Add decorative features;
7. Add new black metal awnings at 1st floor on West and North elevations; and
8. Add new granite cladding at columns at 1st floor.

Looks to me like the building is being prepped for eventual office or condo usage. It will be very interesting to see exactly how the building, one of my favorites, will look once the renovations are complete, and what use it will serve.

Here’s a nifty bit of trivia: next time you’re in SoDo, take a look at the small metal awning on the building’s north facade, and at the old sign on its back (east) side – both of which read “Hogan Office Supplies.” Hogan Office Supplies was a former tenant, and was run by Ben Hogan’s brother.