Expedition Wind will be allowed to stay until they move to N. Roosevelt St.
Staff writer
Wichita resident Todd Malcolm is buying the historic Bowron building in downtown Marion with the intention of converting the second story into living space and the first story into retail space for a combination of businesses.
The building is now rented to Expedition Wind, which plans to purchase 828 N. Roosevelt St. when the county issues building permits for its wind farm project. Malcolm said he will allow the wind farm company to remain in the building’s lower level until they are ready to move to the Roosevelt St. address.
The Pella Windows salesman said he plans is to gut the upstairs for remodeling. He expects to do all but the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work himself.
The living area will have open space at the front and rooms to the rear.
He expects to complete renovation of the top floor by early 2021.
As for retail space on the ground floor, he said he might open a shop for his own brand of apparel, Farm Hard.
“Part of me wants to do an old fashioned soda fountain,” Malcolm said.
Some of the ground floor might be rented out to other businesses for office space.
“I’m going to pursue maybe some minor medical,” he said. “I might do some office space, perhaps an optometrist. I want to improve the community.”