The Buzz: This building latest downtown project for K2, RAD Studio. Avelo Airlines update

A small commercial center in downtown Redding that used to house a used bookstore and other businesses is getting a major overhaul.

Court Street Studios, on the southeast corner of Court and Shasta streets, is a project by K2 Development, which owns and will manage the property. RAD Studio is the architect.

Both K2 and RAD have been reimagining downtown over the last several years, K2 with projects like the Market Center, California Square and the Redding Public Market.

RAD has put its creative mark on buildings like the Bethel Music headquarters on Pine Street, the Adventure Challenge building on Oregon Street, the Sof-Tek-Pourboys Tapyard building on Waldon Street and the Urban East building, which is currently undergoing a face lift.

“Their company is interested in in activating downtown Redding and with the new Shasta County Courthouse and other development in the area, this building was a great candidate to improve downtown on a busy corner and provide high quality space to local businesses that they can be proud of,” Jess Whitlow of Cox Real Estate Consultants said of K2's interest in the building.

Cox Real Estate is marketing the building for K2.

And three of the four spaces have been leased out.

Business coming to Court Street Studios are Downtown Eyeworks, Buildwise Supply and Noland Enterprise Inc.

Whitlow said Downtown Eyeworks is a high-end eyeglasses and sunglasses store. Buildwise Supply sells preassembled, semi-custom cabinetry and countertops.

This will be Noland Enterprise Inc.’s second location. The “company sells durable medical equipment and currently has an office outside the Shasta Orthopedics building,” Whitlow said.

"We have one space left that is getting a lot of interest right now. We are actively looking for the perfect fit to complete this stunning newly renovated building," she added.

Felix Torres and his wife, Mariaelena, are partners in Downtown Eyeworks. Felix has worked in the optical retail industry for nearly 30 years, most recently at Site For Sore Eyes in Redding, which closed last year.

He said opening an optical store has been a dream he's had for a long time.

“You known, downtown Redding is getting way, way better than it was five years ago, so it seems like a lot of businesses recently moved to that area and my wife and I consider that option as a very good opportunity. When this project came along, we didn’t hesitate,” Torres said.

He said the store will sell lenses and frames. Torres did not know when the store will open.

“That’s the million-dollar question right now. Because they are still working on that project, it’s kind of hard to pinpoint,” he said.

More on Avelo Airlines

Budget carrier Avelo Airlines announced about a week ago that it was pulling out of Redding because the ground service vendor it uses will stop operating in Redding later this summer.

Avelo, which offers flights to Hollywood-Burbank, will cease operations at Redding Regional Airport effective Aug. 26.

Jared Culver, general manager for Trego Dugan Aviation, which handles ground services for Avelo, told the Shasta County Board of Supervisors at its June 25 meeting that his company is pulling out of California.

That prompted Supervisor Chris Kelstrom to ask County Executive Officer David Rickert to contact Avelo to see if the county could do anything to change the airline’s mind.

At the supervisors' July 2 meeting, Rickert said he spoke with representatives of both Avelo and Trego Dugan, and that Avelo was “firm in their decision to withdraw.”

But, after Rickert’s report, Kelstrom said he wasn’t giving up on keeping Avelo in Redding and he hopes to see the topic on the supervisors’ July 16 agenda.

So I emailed Avelo Airlines spokeswoman Madison Jones after the meeting and again asked her if Avelo leaving Redding is a done deal? “Avelo’s route between RDD and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) will end on August 26,” was her response.

Stay tuned.

David Benda covers business , development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: The Buzz: This building latest downtown project for K2, RAD Studio. Avelo Airlines update