Pierce Street Gateway, a community organization dedicated to revitalizing the historic Pierce Street neighborhood, has released its Impact Report for 2023, outlining significant achievements and laying out ambitious plans for the coming year.
Ghislaine Lewis, executive director, said the organization has continued its momentum from 2022, focusing on community engagement, volunteerism and brand recognition. The report highlights a range of activities and accomplishments that have contributed to the ongoing transformation of the Pierce Street neighborhood.
Pierce Street Gateway was formed in 2018 with the purpose of restoring the Calloway Store, a previously condemned building and turning it into a community center and educational space.
The circa-1877 yellow Calloway Store fits into the historic fabric of the neighborhood with many stories to tell. In 1900, it was called “Dealers in Plain and Fancy Groceries, Country Produce, Tobacco and Cigars,” and was one of the first stores in Lynchburg owned and operated by African Americans.
People are also reading…
The building sits two houses away from the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum at the corner of Pierce and 13th streets.
The Pierce Street area was first settled in the 1850s but soon became a camp during the Civil War, followed by residential development after annexation by the city in 1870. The local district, established in 2005, was expanded in 2014 to include portions of the adjoining Buchanan and Fillmore streets and is now on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
This year the organization has plans to add bathrooms to the Calloway Store and to reimagine the storefront to create an immersive experience for visitors to the neighborhood. They hope to complete the first floor of the building by 2025.
Sarah Blankenship, board member, said the second floor restoration will come in a later phase, focusing on practicalities for the staff of the Calloway Store, such as office spaces and storage.
Throughout 2023, Pierce Street Gateway focused on building connections with neighbors and community partners through various initiatives, including neighborhood tours, educational programs and collaborative events, Lewis said. The organization’s efforts have resulted in increased community engagement, a wider volunteer database and impactful media coverage, solidifying its presence in the Lynchburg community.
Lewis said last year it collaborated with Lynchburg City Schools, Share Greater Lynchburg, University of Lynchburg, Randolph College, First Unitarian Church, Junior League of Lynchburg and Central Virginia Community College, among others.
For community engagement, the nonprofit hosted events and activities, including gardening sessions, historical tours and educational programs, aimed at fostering a sense of community and preserving the neighborhood’s heritage.
Lewis said events such as the Garden Kickoff Spring Planting & BBQ, the Summer Ice Cream Social and the Jazz & Sip fundraiser brought together residents and supporters to celebrate the organization’s mission and accomplishments.
The group also worked to bring in more volunteers. Strategic initiatives led to elevated volunteer engagement, with collaborations with local institutions such as Genworth Financial as well as University of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College and Randolph College.
The report acknowledges fundraising, board engagement and impact measurement as some of the key challenges encountered by the organization in 2023.
Looking ahead in 2024, Pierce Street Gateway has set ambitious goals, including the commencement of restoration work at the old Calloway Store, expanding community outreach efforts and strengthening partnerships with like-minded organizations. Financial sustainability remains a priority, with plans to diversify funding sources and pursue grant opportunities.
“Our foremost objective is enhancing our fundraising efforts while expanding our community outreach programs to ensure we engage and support our wider community,” Lewis said. “We aspire to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new collaborations with like-minded organizations and community leaders, fostering a network that amplifies our collective efforts.”
In 2024, Blankenship said she is most looking forward to revamping the signature fall event to be inclusive of the neighborhood served.
“In the past, we have done an offsite gala, but this year, we have something new and exciting planned for Pierce Street,” she said.
The group held a Visioning Session in January and has plans for a Black History Month event on Feb. 10 as well as various community gatherings and fundraisers throughout the year.
The Visioning Session was to re-envision the first phase of rehabilitation of the Calloway Store to make it accessible to the community, Blankenship said.
“Originally, Pierce Street Gateway had planned to reconstruct the entire building, and to add an addition on with certain amendments. With the help of neighborhood feedback and neighborhood stakeholders, restoration of the first floor will become the main focus in the first phase,” she said.
Additionally, reconstruction of the storefront will take place, and in lieu of an extra, smaller, building, a covered pavilion will be built.
“Restrooms will also be added whereas the neighborhood now has none for visitors or those who service the garden as volunteers,” she said. “Side porches that were once intact in earlier days will be added back to bring the building to its original glory.”
With its efforts, Pierce Street Gateway was awarded the 2022 Preservation Award from the Lynchburg Historical Foundation and a Lynchburg Living 2023 Give Back Award.
Rachael Smith, (434) 385-5482