In 2017, local financial adviser Mark Thompson bought a duplex at 2012 Highland Ave. for $165,000. Now, Thompson is seeking to demolish the 103-year-old house to build a four-story mixed-use development that reaches for the stars — literally.
Dubbed the Thompson + Hubble Building, the proposed development draws inspiration from famed astronomer Edwin Hubble, a former neighborhood resident. In the early 1900s — long before he determined there were galaxies beyond the Milky Way and a telescope named in his honor launched into space — Hubble lived with his family on Everett Avenue.
Design plans for the Thompson + Hubble Building notably include a rooftop observatory, which would offer views of the night sky and neighborhood. Here’s what else Thompson has planned for the 25,000-sqft structure:
- Street-level commercial space
- Three floors of residential units
- 14 lower-level parking spaces
Thompson’s application for the project also says the interior design would incorporate themes of space exploration, using modern aesthetics reminiscent of the cosmos.
Bonus: Thompson also owns the property next door at 1000 Cherokee Rd., which was once a Carnegie library. He operates his Thompson Investment Advisors, Inc. office there.
But before the Thompson + Hubble Building can launch, the Historic Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission will need to approve the demolition of the house.
