Mark Beck is the founder CEO and now chairman of Bridgetree, a data management and analysis private company. Beck, who describes himself as “anti-corporate,” has used his management and operating skills, and his financial resources to found American Classic Commercial Landmarks: a National Historic Registry property acquisition, restoration, and management venture. In other words, Beck buys old buildings and renovates them with historical preservation as a central focus. He has already completed two such projects – one in Mooresville, NC, and the other in Charleston, SC – and is now working on his third: restoring the West Jefferson Hotel in Ashe County, NC.
Beck and I discuss why he considers restoration of historic landmark commercial properties as his “social mission,” his past projects like the beautiful 1 Broad Street in the Holy City, forensic architecture, why this self-proclaimed “wiley peasant” with Michigan roots has such a rebel spirit and resolve in restoring the South’s valuable culture through its grand buildings, and, of course, his latest undertaking in re-establishing the past glory of the Historic Old Hotel.
“The fight the local power put into my lap … resulted in the entire town going into a renaissance once I kicked their ass in the venue they chose: local NC Superior Court,” Beck said of the intrigue surrounding the West Jefferson restoration.
“Landmarks count and they represent the unique culture of a community. Once they are gone, they are gone for good,” continued the independent entrepreneur. “All the losing town ends up with is a gas station convenience store selling beer and boxed pizza, a blood plasma donation center in a dumpy place with a big parking lot, and a drive-through drug store fulfilling mostly prescribed poisons. I call this setup ‘medical plantations.’”
“Landmarks go derelict because, like America, the current-era grifts off the past by milking and destroying the substance, elegance, and productivity of a hard-working and inventive people who built things to last for their family and community.”
Regarding this last point, I strongly suggest y’all read my friend Nicole Williams’ article “The tragedy of land use in the South.” And for additional information on Beck’s current project, see “Restoration work continues at the old West Jefferson Hotel” and “Historic West Jefferson hotel is being brought back to life,” and be sure to follow the West Jefferson Hotel Facebook page.
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