6-unit former storefront: looking for design ideas for exterior

[Jeremy Ashford]

I bought this 6-unit cinder block building back in March. Now that all of the original tenants are out, it's time to get serious about rehab. I'm having trouble imagining what its best look would be. 

My first inclination is to remove the porch and awning then paint it tan with white trim. The area can't can't support an A or even B class building, so anything too major/expensive isn't feasible.

The three top windows on the front of the building were cinder blocked over after by the last owner after these pictures were taken(don't ask me why). I plan to reopen two of them. But what to do with the giant windows below that seem to scream storefront? What to do with that offset front door and the ac unit sticking out of it? Is that too ugly to leave there?

What would you do?

[Andrew Stephens]

Interesting project.  It looks like you have a few design challenges.  I found this architectural design competition website a while back:


If you are remodeling or building a house, you can put up a few hundred dollars in prize money for an international design contest, and architects around the world submit design proposals. You pick the winners and the company pays for fist, second, third prizes. A lot of the architects who compete are from Eastern Europe and they submit computer designs for you to review.   You might get some really interesting ideas.