S
teeped in history yet highly contemporary in scope,
Charlottesville’s “Warehouse District” is experiencing a
residential and commercial Renaissance that is shining a light
on this thriving sector. Considered a part of the Downtown Historic
District, a mile from the University of Virginia and just two blocks
from the center of Charlottesville’s dynamic Downtown Mall, the area
represents the very best in modern urban living combined with restored
historic ambiance.
Referred to by many names in the past, including “over the tracks,” the term
“Warehouse District” was coined by local business owners who wanted to give
the area a distinct identity.
“The idea of calling it the Warehouse District came up because the
Photo Copyright © 1997 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
unifying factor since the early 1900s is that this has been in proximity
of the railroad tracks and several of the buildings in this area have
all been warehouses,” said Alana Woerpel, an Interior Designer and
owner of the Downtown Design Center on 2nd Street. The building,
which is home to many home-related businesses, was originally the
Matacia Fruit Company.
Lisa Murphy, co-owner of The Glass Building, said the name change
added to the community and marketing cohesiveness of the area.
“It was a time when warehouse spaces for retail businesses and
restaurants were becoming very cool so we were happy to embrace the
“Soho” ambiance.”
A key component of that ambiance has been the preservation of
warehouses of various vintages that dot the area, including Norcross
Station on 4th Street, which was built in 1924 as the Norcross Transfer &
Above, a view of Charlottesville’s Warehouse District back in
Storage warehouse.
1915 when it was an African American residential area.
>>>>>
Below, the Matacia Fruit Company, now a portion of the
Downtown Design Center, home to Andrea Wynne’s and Posh.
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