What Should Go Here? Avondale's 'Erector Set'

The bare steel girders stick out on Avondale Estates' main drag as a visible reminder of big dreams that collapsed.

planned to move into the first floor of the building started at Maple Street and East College Avenue, with two residential units built on the second floor.

But work halted when Florida-based developer Century Retail filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Locals call the unfinished building "the Erector Set," a reference to the metallic construction toys.

The building was just one small piece of Century's plan to remake the face of Avondale Estates.

Plans called for the redevelopment of four blocks to include housing and Avondale Marketplace, a 375,000-square-foot mixed-use development anchored by a Publix grocery store. The city declared the idea dead in January 2011.

But one building has already been started. What would you like to see move into the space at Maple and East College?

Here are a few of the previous articles that ask, What Should Go Here? 

About this column: Every week or so, we'll post a picture of a vacant store or lot in Decatur and Avondale Estates. You can tell us what you think should replace the empty space. Know of an empty building we should highlight? E-mail ralph.ellis@patch.com.