MOUNT VERNON — The Area Development Foundation of Knox County has found a new home in the B&O Depot on West High St.
As of Thursday morning, all of the equipment and files have been moved to the new location.
“All of our operations are now in this building,” said Jeff Harris, ADF president.
In addition to moving to its new location, the ADF expanded its staff this week. Cathy Youtkus joined the ADF on Monday as full-time projects coordinator.
“There’s been quite a bit of upheaval at the foundation this week,” said Harris.
The ADF was previously housed in the public defender’s office at 110 E. High St. With that lease set expire in December, Harris said the foundation’s board started searching for a new location.
“We looked at several places,” said Harris. “We knew we wanted to stay in the downtown.”
Learning that space in the depot was unused, board members viewed the site.
“We took a look at it and instantly fell in love with the space,” said Harris.
After talking with the Foundation Park Conservancy, which operates the depot for the city, an agreement was reached for the ADF to lease one-third of the main floor and the entire upstairs. Harris declined to give numbers, but said it is a “favorable lease arrangement, on par with what we had at the public defender’s office.”
Harris’ office is in the area formerly used as a Western Union telegraph office. Youtkus’ office will be in the area used as the railroad freight room. She is temporarily set up in the south end of the depot while the freight room undergoes renovation. The main event space, the kitchen, and the south section of the building are still available for events.
