The ongoing revitalization of downtown Lake Wales took a major step forward Tuesday with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting that opened a fully-restored building at 244 East Park Avenue. The structure now features two finished retail spaces on the ground floor and four apartments on the second level.
The historic building was constructed in 1916 by Lake Wales pioneer builder Jimmy “Good” Rhodes. Rhodes went on to construct many of the original masonry buildings in the historic district, including both Arcades, the Western Union offices, and the expansive Bullard Building on Stuart Avenue.
The renovation of the formerly stucco-covered façade was undertaken by local attorney Robin Gibson. Gibson serves on the city commission and also chairs the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency. Gibson considered the project a personal contribution to the reinvigoration of the downtown area after the building was singled out as a problem during the Lake Wales Connected study.