The Saginaw Arts and Enrichment Commission supports and champions arts and culture in Saginaw, and each May, it hosts the All Area Arts Awards to celebrate individuals or organizations who have contributed to the City.
On May 3, 2023, Old Town Saginaw Properties’ Alex de Parry was honored to be among the nominees. He was recognized for restoring “historic buildings to their original architecture, not only adding character to the area but also attracting investment and creating small office space.”
While it pleases him to know that others in the community enjoy the results of his work, he’s never done it for recognition. He does it simply because he loves it. And his love started early.
Even as a child, Alex appreciated the beauty of old buildings in the city of his birth: architecturally rich Paris. That appreciation grew into a passion that propelled him into acquiring and renovating many old structures during his career.
Just a few of his projects include converting an old Ann Arbor carriage factory into a European-style food market; converting an old gas station into a farmer’s market; and restoring a neglected 31-unit Mediterranean style apartment building in West Palm Beach, Florida.
In Saginaw, he began acquiring and restoring buildings in Old Town in 2014.
“Every old structure has its own unique set of challenges, which is what makes it so interesting,” says Alex.
“More importantly,” he adds, “historic buildings are not just bricks and mortar. They are the storytellers of a city – its evolution, its history.” Indeed, the 19th century lumber boom is on display throughout the buildings, from the hand-forged nails to the hand-hewn beams made in Saginaw with Michigan lumber.
Alex adds, “It’s really a privilege and an honor to steward these old buildings into the future.”
You can learn more about our buildings here.