Two key buildings in downtown Altoona, the Chalk Box and the former Viponds building, are under new ownership.

Curry Realty plans to completely renovate the buildings, inside and out.

“This is really great news coming out of one of our homegrown families. Long-time business owners are recognizing the value of investing in these buildings downtown, not just from a communty development standpoint perspective, but also for attracting talent,” Steve McKnight, President and CEO of Altoona Blair County Development Corp., said.

McKnight said business developments across the county are attracting a new generation of investors, and as for 11th Avenue specifically, McKnight added it’s important to bring new life into these historic buildings. 

“Our main street community is really where the life-blood of the community happens, and you gotta have vibrent main streets, lots of people sort of both living and working in downtown. That has a spillover effect into other parts of the county and our communities, so it’s very important that we build and continue to invest in our main street community and build and make them places for people to want to come and live and work,” McKnight said.

Plans are to create professional office space and lease it to businesses when the renovations are finished in the next few months.