Franklin Avenue building to be renovated
by commercial photographers 

By Dan Murphy
Viewpoint Staff Writer

A trio of local commercial advertising photographers, Donald Satterlee, Gordon Lazzarone, and Ed Asmus are planning to renovate the dilapidated building at 2998 Franklin Boulevard which they recently purchased. The core of the building, at the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Franklin Boulevard, was originally a Mobil Oil gas station in the 1920's. You can see the wall of the gas station, which was swallowed by the present larger structure, peeking out of the west side.

The new owners' plans include an office for each and a large photography studio bay. The property includes ample off street parking on the west side, where the main entrance to the building will be located. Adjacent residences will be screened by a substantial new masonry boundary wall.

Lazzarone resided in the Curtis Park neighborhood, on 8th Avenue, for a decade, before moving to Land Park to a larger home. He and his partners enjoy the historic Curtis Oaks housing surrounding them. They were delighted when the building came up for sale and pounced on the opportunity. "We really wanted to own our own place, but we did not have any interest in one of those sterile industrial/business parks," said Satterlee.

The unsightly rubble and rubbish have been removed from the lot and the inside of the building has been cleared out. Construction will soon begin. Satterlee said that they hoped to complete the project within the next six to nine months.

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