CityView Magazine

living D Dr. Menno and Suzanne Pennink enjoy glasses of wine in their downtown loft. ecades ago, downtown Fayetteville thrived. Upscale shopping, a vibrant nightlife and hometown services kept the heart of the "All-America City" beating strong. "The '60's was a great time downtown," said Suzanne Pen- nink, a resident of Fayetteville since her junior high school years. Sadly, with the onset of the Vietnam War and the growth of chain shopping opportunities on and around Skibo Road, Fayetteville's downtown became neglected, eventually falling victim to an environment that was, shall we say, less than family-friendly. In fact, the decay was so severe, that any idea of building trendy downtown condominiums and townhomes seemed laughable. But, thanks to the Penninks, the local business owners of the Downtown Alliance and the City of Fayetteville, no one's laughing now. Upscale, loſt living in the heart of Fay- etteville is a reality. Path to Revitalization "The health of any city is directly connected to the health of its downtown," explained Suzanne's husband, Dr. Menno Pennink. Ten years ago, the city invested in research to help guide a planning process for revitalizing Fayetteville's historic center. The study concluded, among other things, that having people live downtown was critical to the area's growth. Suzanne, an established real estate agent, saw this as an opportunity to help breathe new life into her hometown. In 2005, she and several colleagues began working with inves- tors to buy some non-historic, poorly maintained buildings between Hay Street and Franklin Street. The project, a joint venture with the city, included demolishing the old and creat- ing the new, while still adhering to the historic tenor of sur- rounding buildings. The Penninks experienced all the usual, and a few unusual, frustrations, stalls and setbacks, character- istic to building in a historic district. However, one thing the Penninks didn't expect, was that eight years later, they would call one of these condos "home". Luxury Loft Living Walking into the Penninks' penthouse home is like magi- cally diving into the cover of Southern Accents – Alice in Won- derland style. Immediately you're greeted with warm, custom- Opposite: The Pennink's loft is filled with custom touches like this ceramic backspash behind the stove. CityViewNC.com | 23

• Cover