DELAWARE — You may have noticed a plywood barricade blocking entrance to Green Door Salon, next to Ciao Cafe.

That’s because building owner Stephen Hartman is renovating the storefront to match the building’s original 1885, Italianate-architecture character.

That involves reinstalling 150-year-old sandstone lintels surrounding the doors and windows.

“We’re going Italianate on everything — that’s the style of building.
We’re trying to keep with the style,” he said.

But the bulk of the work is actually happening behind-the-scenes upstairs, which has sat vacant since Hartman took ownership of the building in 2019.

The 2,600 square-foot upstairs space spans two floors, offering endless possibilities for residential, commercial or mixed-use living.

It will offer up to three outdoor spaces: a spacious, second-floor back patio area, a balcony off the second floor of the upstairs space and potentially a rooftop area.

However, right now the space has old two-by-four planks in piles on the floor, ladders to get to upper levels and large papers strewn across the walls of where windows will go while renovations begin.

But Hartman’s vision spans the next 50 years, even though the design features travel back in time.

“Unless this building is repurposed for something that can be used for 50 years, it will be torn down, because there will be no money in it,” Hartman said.

“For the next 50 years, somebody will be able to very easily remodel this with very little expense to do whatever they want.”

The layout

On the exterior of the building, Hartman plans to incorporate sandstone features on the storefront facing North Sandusky Street.

The second-floor patio — which will be spacious enough to accommodate plants and multiple seating options — will go on top of existing roof space with a newly-installed railing.

The balcony on the third floor will be off what could be the master bedroom or perhaps the boss’s office. And designs for a rooftop patio are conceptual right now.

On the first floor where the salon is, there will be a vestibule stairway for tenants — because as of now, the only way to access the upper level is via a 100-year-old fire escape around back.

Second floor

Once the stairs are in, with a chair lift and highly-decorated metal railings, a potential tenant or office renter will face the garage area — storage for a bicycle, tools, or other things, just not a car.

Next to the garage (or the bodega, as Hartman likes to call it) will be the first full bathroom and pantry on the right side of the wall.

The apartment’s 12-foot ceilings also allowed Hartman to get creative with storage. Because each floor is only about 18.5 feet wide, he designed rooms with 9-foot ceilings and additional storage space above the cabinets, creating room for artwork, pottery and other decorative items while maximizing the home’s footprint.

Beyond that area, the space opens into the rear of the building, where the kitchen and dining area will be located, along with access to the deck.

Following a hallway back toward the stairs, tenants will find the living room or open-concept office area, featuring three large windows overlooking the Sandusky Street and William Street intersection.

Third floor

Once guests get to the third floor, they walk through a small open area in the center, surrounded by a wheelchair-accessible master bathroom, laundry room and large closet.

Walking past those rooms to the back area, tenants will find the master bedroom with access to the balcony.

And walking back to the front, tenants will enjoy the second bedroom, with an attached bathroom and two closets.

‘How fun it is: that’s the key’

Hartman isn’t ready to put a price tag on the space just yet — in part because he does not know whether it will ultimately hit the market at all.

That’s because the city and the Historic Preservation Committee has to grant permission for Hartman to make some of the changes, including installing the six new windows and the balcony.

Seven years ago when Hartman tried to complete this project, his request to put in windows was denied. So he scrapped the project until he was ready to try again.

“The day it’s not fun, I’m gone — so, the day I get kick back from somebody,” he said.

“I think what I’ve got planned is good for the community, and it’s good for the community for a long term. It’s not about getting revenue today — it’s about getting revenue for the rest of the life of this building.”

Hartman said he has about five months to secure approvals and complete the work before turning his attention to other projects outside of downtown restoration.

He said his vision is specific and intentional, and he said he doesn’t have interest in completing the project if others don’t see that vision.

“I’m repurposing with the preservation in mind,” he said.