Historic building in downtown Bowling Green becomes target of restoration again

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky (WBKO) – Tall and seemingly empty, it towers over Fountain Square, but soon the black and white Bowling Green Bank building could be given new life.

The 21,900 square foot building at 903 College Street has a rich history.

According to WKU’s Research and Creative Activity Database, the building’s doors first opened in 1866 as Bowling Green’s Odeon Hall, an auditorium for local productions. In 1887, a new owner came and renamed the building the Potter Opera House. Pleasant J. Potter, who bought the building, was a banker and entrepreneur. His namesake can be found on many buildings throughout the city. According to WKU, a fire destroyed the opera house two years later, but it was rebuilt. In 1906, the family sold the building. Then, in 1925, the opera house closed for good.

The building has changed hands several times over the past century, mostly used for various businesses such as the Bowling Green Bank and Trust. It currently has a private owner, but the Downtown Redevelopment Authority hopes to change that.

The nonprofit organization said in a press release that it had secured an option to purchase and renovate the landmark.

Executive director Ron Murphy said the DRA plans to “breathe new life” into the three-story building.

Murphy added that the DRA hopes to work with public and private investors and developers to complete the project.

This project follows two other DRA renovations in downtown Bowling Green, which involved Circus Square Park and the historic building at 601 State Street.

“Consistent with the Downtown Redevelopment Authority’s mission of sustainable/adaptive reuse, efforts are being made to preserve the integrity of the Opera House’s original facade while adapting the gutted interior to meet the needs of Kentucky’s third-largest city,” Murphy said in the press release.

The DRA plans to hold informational meetings with local officials and others throughout the process.

Murphy also stressed that this project is urgent because three similar historic buildings downtown were destroyed by fire.

This story is constantly evolving, and WBKO News is working to find out more about the DRA’s plans to revitalize the old Potter Opera House.

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