The Mitchell building has been sitting empty for almost a year, but now it's getting a "green" makeover.

When Mary and Eric Christofferson couldn't find anyone to rent out the whole space, they decided to make some changes.

"What we found is that smaller spaces tend to be more attractive," said Eric Christofferson, owner of the Mitchell building.

So that's what they're creating.

The historic building once housed a car dealership. The Christofferson's hope it will soon be home to restaurants and retail shops.

They already have one potential tenet, a wine bar.

"He explained it to me that there will be vino cards and you'll be able to go in and do your own pours of one ounce," said Mary Christofferson, owner of the Mitchell building.

This project has a price tag of about a million and a half dollars and what's costing them the most may be their saving grace in the end - going green.

The building will have solar panels on more than half the roof. The lighting and windows will also be eco-friendly.

"Upwards of 35 percent of the cost of the solar panels themselves -- there are tax credits for that and grants under the new stimulus package that we're going to take advantage of," said Eric.

All with hopes that one day this will be a hot spot in Fuquay-Varina.

"The corner will be hopping and maybe [people will] come in and listen to some jazz or blues and have a glass of wine, eat a good meal," Mary said about what she hopes the building will be like in the coming years.

And in these tough economic times, that's a vision even the bank is on board with.

"We haven't stopped making loans; we're still making loans as evidence of the Mitchell building project which is a nice project in Fuquay," said Max Ashworth with Four Oaks Bank.

The building still has room for tenets.

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