John Foster, president of the bonds and insurance agency Mourer-Foster, is continuing the restoration of the beautiful 12,000 square foot Mourer-Foster building in Downtown Lansing.
Foster’s parents purchased the building in 1978. Since that time, Foster has put more than $500,000 into its restoration.
“I have a passion for keeping the place in good shape,” he says about the 615 N. Capitol Ave. building. “Whenever we do anything here we want to do it to it historical authenticity.”
Foster has done many of the renovations himself and has a workshop in his home. To date, renovations include stripping the staircase, adding a front desk, adding more office space, restoring and adding restrooms, rehabbing skylights, restoring mahogany doors, plaster moldings and woodwork and stripping and refinishing the floors among other things.
“You get your inspiration from the building itself,” says Foster, who frequently peruses the Internet for materials that will make the renovations authentic to the original structure.
The right side of the first floor is currently undergoing renovations and a portion of it will include new office suites. One upcoming project includes adding a deck that has a price tag of about $20,000.
The Mourer Foster building was a private residence before Auto-Owners Insurance took it over in the 1930s.
Source: John Foster, Mourer Foster
Ivy Hughes is the managing editor of Capital Gains and can be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
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