Amity, Oregon Winery Wins Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award

The Samuel Robert Winery received an Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award for the

(AMITY, Ore. ) — The Samuel Robert Winery received an Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award for the "Best Historic Restoration Project" from Oregon Main Street on Oct. 1 during the Oregon Main Annual Conference in McMinnville.

This award is given to an individual or business that has completed an outstanding historic restoration project in the historic downtown. Samuel and Bryn Coelho were on hand to accept the award.

The Samuel Robert Winery Historic Restoration project transformed a 1913 building, which had provided for various uses and received several historically inappropriate updates over the century, back to its original structural framework and building materials.

This involved gutting the current building, exposing and emphasizing the original building image, and reusing existing materials wherever possible. The building now is used as a wine tasting room for two wineries and an exhibition hall featuring local artists' work on a rotating basis.

Eve Silverman, board member with the Amity Downtown Improvement Group, said the organization "is delighted to have another business owner invest in our town and understand the benefits of restoring a historic building while incorporating a new use."

"We are thrilled to present this award to the Samuel Robert Winery Building," says Sheri Stuart, Oregon Main Street Coordinator. "This is an excellent example of how bringing back the historic character of a building can add to the vibrancy of downtown."

The Awards Presentation was a highlight of the Oregon Main Street Conference, a popular annual conference that brings together people with an interest in downtown revitalization.

Oregon Main Street is part of Heritage Programs, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. For more information about Oregon Main Street, visit www.oregonheritage.org