The Street Seen: Mendota Block
2671 Main St @ Hill
Constructed in 1913, the Mendota Block building is a classically inspired vernacular style commercial masonry structure. It has office space on the second floor, retail space on the ground floor and a partial basement. The 2-story Mendota Block is a City landmark.
Situated at the northeast corner of Main and Hill streets, the building occupies most of the two tied lots associated with the property with no setback from the public sidewalks along the two streets. The front (west) elevation contains three storefront openings while the south side of the building includes two separate shop units (207, 209 Hill Street), a false shop entry (203 Hill Street), and an entry to the office spaces upstairs (205 Hill Street). There is a partial basement.
In 1967, visual artist James Turrell leases the entire building. Here he creates his early pieces of visual art, including a pivotal environmental art piece, the “Mendota Stoppages.” Turrell resides at the building until 1974 when he moves his residence and studio to Arizona.
The building is sold to Albert T. Ehringer (as Grand American Fare)1 and undergoes a significant remodel. It is at this time that the ground floor storefronts are altered and reconfigured, the building seismically retrofitted, the basement converted for occupancy, and the 2nd floor is changed from residential use to office.
In 1993, the building is sold to Bill Cosby (as SAH Enterprises). Then sold to Redcar in 2018.
In the 1970s, Al Ehringer, Bob Scura, and John P. Wilson are buying up dilapidated buildings along Main Street, and fixing them up.