Pike County resident Charlie Bundy went before the City of Troy Board of Adjustment last Thursday, Feb. 20, to request a special exemption and variance to allow for the renovation of an existing historic structure to house a restaurant and commercial use. That building is known locally as “The Rock Building.” 

The historic structure in downtown Troy, right next to the building that houses The Messenger, was constructed in the 1930s by local workers and stone masons. Many of the rocks that make up the unique design of the building were dug up from fields right here in Pike County. 

For decades, the Rock Building was officially known as the Pike County Activities Building and was owned and operated by the Pike County Commission. It housed the county’s various community agencies with a community auditorium on the massive bottom floor. Then, in 1991, a fire set by an arsonist badly damaged the historic structure. 

The county did not have the money to restore the building to its former glory and with no roof, it began to fall into a state of disrepair. Some people even threw garbage into the old building, that just sat there for years. A number of years ago, a grassroots effort called “Save the Rock Building” began in an attempt to pay for a new roof to be placed, but failed to draw the interest and money to accomplish the goal.

So, in 2016, the county placed the building up for auction and enter, Charlie Bundy. A lifelong Pike County resident, and the owner of Charles Auto, he was the only bidder for the historic structure. 

So, Bundy began his trip down the long road of making the necessary repairs for a future revitalization of the building. Bundy replaced the roof in 2019 and ever since then he’s been making the further repairs and upgrades to the building to get him to that Board of Adjustments meeting.

“We had to get to and through this Board of Adjustments (meeting) before we were able to make the rest of the plans really,” Bundy said. “Now, we have to work on how we’re going to get finished with the building. There was no need to get to that point without going through this first.” 

The plan now? A 16-unit short-term rental space – much like a bed and breakfast – with a connected restaurant. The rental units, which Bundy said will be no more than three-day rentals, will be on the first floor along with the restaurant space, which will face East Church Street. Bundy said that he plans to lease out the restaurant area to someone else that would run whatever restaurant takes up the space. A kitchen, for the restaurant, will be located on the massive bottom floor separate from a big garage suitable for 14-16 vehicles, which will keep parking from taking up spaces along downtown. 

Bundy said he had always envisioned transforming the old Rock Building into something that could benefit the community – and downtown Troy – but wasn’t quite sure what at first.

“This was always sort of the plan but when I bought it I had never even been in the building to know what I was up against,” he said. “I kind of bought it sight-unseen. I had seen the outside, obviously, but never been inside. So, I didn’t know what I was up against until I got in there.”

Bundy was clear that he has no target date for opening as he is doing almost all of the construction on his own, with the help of friends and family. It’s been a long process already but Bundy said he didn’t believe anyone else would do it.

“I’ve been working on that building for about eight years, I have enough time involved in it to know what needs to happen,” he continued. “I know what the public wants and what Troy wants and the people in Pike County want that building up and running. I don’t think there was anyone else that would do it. So, I’m doing it.”