An old Peachtree City landmark that sat on the site of what will be the permanent offices of Whitlock Ellis Wealth Management came tumbling down Tuesday, July 15.

Demolition crews from the company of South-Tree Enterprises, a Tyrone-based commercial builder, completely took down the old building located at 2338 Highway 54 in Peachtree City in what was originally going to be a partial redevelopment. When the roof was removed, however, the walls collapsed making complete demolition mandatory.

In the place of the old structure, will be a two-story, shingle-style office building designed by Jefferson Browne of Design Group, LLC also located in Tyrone. The offices of Whitlock-Ellis Wealth Management will move into the over 6,500 square foot building upon completion, currently estimated at four months from now.

“The project was originally designed to work off the existing walls,” explained Browne, lead designer at Design Group, LLC, of the old building. “They just weren’t structurally sound.”

The building was built in the 1970’s and housed the office of Berry Ellis for almost a decade. The demolition of the building allowed the local fire department to train on the site. Comments such as the building being held together “by spit and chewing gum” were not uncommon as the old building literally fell apart during the process.

The Peachtree City Staff and the Planning Commission have approved the plans for the new Whitlock-Ellis Wealth Management office building. The complex will be built off of the footprint of the old building and will have a very small environmental impact.

Slightly taller than surrounding structures, the understated but elegant style of the building will still look like it belongs in the area. Co-founders of Whitlock-Ellis Wealth Management, Barry Ellis, Elizabeth Whitlock and Melinda Whitlock, wanted an office building that would accurately portray the beginnings of a new era in servicing client needs, many of whom have been with them for years. “It is a new era, not a new venture,” Ellis said.

South-Tree Enterprises, the commercial builder for the project, estimates the new construction to begin August 2008. The building will house two conference rooms, six private offices and feature a large open floor plan.

“The building will be elegant but not ornate,” Ellis explains. “We want our clients to feel comfortable. We want them to feel right at home.”

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