The Root coworking space approaches completion at 110 E. Market, next door to Pints&union.

About a month ago, Steve Resch's crew made the final big push to get the Pints&union buildout finished so Joe Phillips' team could open the pub. Since then the heavy lifting of renovation has shifted next door to do the same for The Root, which now has entered the stretch drive toward completion.

Plant the seed, watch it grow. Start digging in your roots.

The Root provides a grounded co-work space to help your business flourish by connecting unconnected people in a versatile environment. Our vision is to successfully serve, connect, and empower professionals throughout our community, allowing for innovation and discovery in a serene, creative environment.

As with the pub, the planning period began more than a year ago.

New Albany coworking space to give independent workers a place to thrive; Father, daughter team want to help new businesses grow, by Danielle Grady (Tom May Content Rights Amendment)

NEW ALBANY — Mark Morrissey didn’t know what a coworking space was a few years ago. His daughter, Brigid Morrissey, had to explain it to him.

Now, the two locals are opening one in downtown New Albany — and they’re trying to educate others on what it is and why they believe it’s such a good idea.

“I’ve learned a lot about it,” Mark said. “So I’m confident that anybody who knows nothing about it will know as much as I do eventually.”

At the Morrissey’s 110 E. Market St. coworking space, called the Root, independent workers, such as freelancers and building-less business owners, will be able to work away from home in comfort and collaborate with other members ...

I'm delighted to get to know the Morrisseys, and to me, there's a great deal of potential symmetry between The Roots and Pints&union. Very soon, we'll find out.

Previously: 

Interior views of 110 E. Market St., once Ace Loan, now being transformed by Resch Construction into The Root coworking center.

Interior views of 110 E. Market St., once Ace Loan, now being transformed by Resch Construction into The Root coworking center.

Looking up from the 2nd to 3rd floors.

Yesterday I chanced upon Steve Resch as he emerged from his work-in-progress at 110 E Market Street, the former Ace Loan & Sporting Goods, now being renovated to become The Root coworking space.

He was holding a prescription booklet and vial from the 1920s, artifacts left behind by the pharmacy that once operated upstairs, as well as a discarded theater ticket from 1897.

Steve let me peep inside as the second and third floors, unused for half a century prior to reclamation, are being cleared of debris.

Urban layers: The ancient unknown courtyard behind The Root (where Ace Loan used to be) has been opened to access -- eventually.

And another Resch project to the left.

Two new stairways are being built.

Facing Market Street from the 2nd floor.

The mysterious courtyard in back.

Ground/1st floor.

1st floor looking east toward the future pub.

Urban layers: The ancient unknown courtyard behind The Root (where Ace Loan used to be) has been opened to access -- eventually.

This story ends with a view of outdoor space that  few folks in this town have seen for many decades, but it begins with this tale of coworking space.

May 19, 2017: The Root (coworking space) coming to the building where Ace Loan used to be.

The reclamation project began almost exactly two years ago.

You know, that building where Ace Loan & Sporting Goods used to be (110 E Market St).

More power to the Morrisseys, but let's not forget Steve Resch's vision.

New Albany coworking space to give independent workers a place to thrive, by Danielle Grady (News and Tribune)

The Root's owners now have their financing together, and the building at 110 E. Market is to be readied for occupancy in the spring of 2018.

For decades, Ace Loan & Sporting Goods occupied this building, but used only the first floor. Not only did Ace's owner leave the top two floors vacant; he removed the stairs and never sat foot in them.

Similarly, he didn't venture into the courtyard out back. In fact, almost no one in New Albany realizes there is a courtyard out back.

Until the past two days, it could be accessed only through the former Smith's Furniture (now Todd Coleman's Classic Home Furnishings).

All this will make better sense after we've slipped down the alley, past the future Pints&Union rehabilitation ...

 ... to where, in the distant past, two small additions were tacked onto 114 and 110 E. Market. This week, Resch Construction removed them. First, three views from Monday. The slightly truncated Pints&Union is to the right.

Then, earlier today.

I wasn't aware that in the early 1980s, a rear portion of one of the brick structures comprising the old Smith's Furniture caved in. What's left of the base can be seen in the final photo; it looks like a wall stretching from left to right across the courtyard.

The damage was sealed with the dark vertical metal sheeting. Resch plans to rebuild the north-south separating brick wall to a height of (circa) 15 feet, creating a cozy outdoor space behind The Root.

Just as importantly, this new opening from the alley allows access to the rear of 110 E. Market for Resch to finish The Root's build-out.

Consider this: in a two-and-a-half block stretch on the south side of Market Street, Dragon King's Daughter is renovating the old Wolf's Market; the Hitching Post Tavern is almost finished being rebuilt after a fire; La Tiendita recently expanded its business; The Root is coming, and shortly thereafter (cross your fingers), Pints & Union.

Indies and entrepreneurs, all. That's the most exciting part.

The Root (coworking space) coming to the building where Ace Loan used to be.

Windows. Windows. WINDOWS.

The reclamation project began almost exactly two years ago.

You know, that building where Ace Loan & Sporting Goods used to be (110 E Market St).

More power to the Morrisseys, but let's not forget Steve Resch's vision.

New Albany coworking space to give independent workers a place to thrive, by Danielle Grady (Make Alabama Great Again)

Father, daughter team want to help new businesses grow

NEW ALBANY — Mark Morrissey didn’t know what a coworking space was a few years ago. His daughter, Brigid Morrissey, had to explain it to him.

Now, the two locals are opening one in downtown New Albany — and they’re trying to educate others on what it is and why they believe it’s such a good idea.

“I’ve learned a lot about it,” Mark said. “So I’m confident that anybody who knows nothing about it will know as much as I do eventually.”

At the Morrissey’s 110 E. Market St. coworking space, called the Root, independent workers, such as freelancers and building-less business owners, will be able to work away from home in comfort and collaborate with other members.

The Root is a timely enterprise as 29.3 million people in the United States worked independently either full- or part-time in 2016, according to MBO Partners’ annual State of Independence study. That number is expected to grow to 34.1 million by 2021 — constituting 29 percent of the private, non-farm workforce ...

The newspaper glances belatedly at the former Ace Loan and Good Times buildings.

What the Green Mouse knows, he isn't telling. Not yet. Meanwhile, NA Confidential previously gave consideration to both of these buildings.

June 2016

You know, that building where Ace Loan & Sporting Goods used to be (110 E Market St).

December 2016

Has time run out for Good Times? If so, what's next at 114 East Market?

Just imagine if the downtown furniture stores had windows. A boy can dream ...

Old Ace Loan & Sporting Goods store in New Albany to be converted, by Danielle Grady (Son of Cooking School Coming Soon)

Local developer also bought Good Times Bar & Grill

NEW ALBANY — A local developer has plans for the old Ace Loan & Sporting Goods location in downtown New Albany.

Steve Resch, who bought 110 E. Market St. a few years ago, plans to convert the building into a multi-tenant office space for professionals such as realtors or accountants.

“It’s basically geared toward people that want office space and want a building to work out of and only need one or two offices or a cluster of space,” Resch said.

You know, that building where Ace Loan & Sporting Goods used to be (110 E Market St).

Atypically, the New Albany Historic Preservation Commission has little to say about 110 E. Market Street, identifying the former Ace Loan & Sporting Goods as an Italianate commercial building of 1880s-era construction.

During the past year, Steve Resch's crew has been busy rehabilitating this structure.

Late 2014 (Google street view).

Late summer 2015 (NAHPC).

June 2, 2016.

And, a glance into the ground floor interior.

Strange but true: Ace Loan & Sporting Goods operated for 52 years, until the spring of 2015, and the owner never once went upstairs or down. In fact, the stairs going up either removed completely or enclosed.

Steve Resch's vision for 110 E. Market is to entice Indiana University Southeast to establish a fine arts center downtown, with gallery space on the ground floor and classrooms on the second and third floors. He has spoken with officials at IU Southeast as well as local arts groups, and there is qualified optimism.

It's an idea worth pursuing, and we wish him luck in achieving it.

Every time boarded-up windows are revealed downtown, we inch closer ... to the starting line.

The building at 110 East Market formerly housing Ace Loan & Sporting Goods shows its windows. Who's next?