Ty Pennington has been busy rocking a block.. no not that block.
The HGTV host has posted a video on Instagram revealing that he has been busy restoring a historic building in downtown Atlanta.
In the post’s caption, Ty writes, “Atlanta, meet The Otis (again)!
With Skills Jam, we told the story not just of a building — but of how skilled trades build the heart of community.
Shot in full Wes Anderson style, this one’s special. Watch it, share it, and let us know what you think”
In the video, Ty explains that he restored a building called “The Otis” in the heart of Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill neighborhood.
The 100-year-old building, which was once an elevator factory, had suffered from years of neglect, with burst pipes, damaged brick and other problems.
Ty Pennington Gives a Tour of His Passion Project
After a narrator’s introduction to both the building and the neighborhood, Ty Pennington walks up to the camera and says, “Let me show you my building.”
And this was no small project.
The beautifully restored building features eight residential units, a rooftop lounge, gated parking and two street-level retail spaces.
In an Instagram clip, Ty says, “The only way to raise this former elevator factory back to life was to call in the skilled trades.”
‘The Otis’ Has Seen a Lot of History
The full restoration is revealed in an almost 11-minute long YouTube video on Skills Jam’s channel.
In his Instagram post about the video, Ty Pennington writes of Skills Jam, “this is part of a huge slate of content I’ve partnered with them to do. Make sure to subscribe to Skills Jam on YouTube and let us know what you think!”
In the full-length video, Ty explains the Otis Building’s place in history. “When I first took hold of The Otis, it was in varying states of disrepair. A hundred years of wear and tear in a community that had borne witness to world-changing history. Like the Great Atlanta Fire. John Lewis marching down the block during the Civil Rights Movement. And the 1996 Olympic Games.”
Ty Pennington Works to Preserve History
In the video, Ty Pennington explains that unlike some his HGTV shows like “Rock the Block,” the restoration- and especially demolition- was much more delicate.
“Not a smash everything demolition,” Ty explains. “We’re talking careful, surgical demo. You peel back old layers, expose what’s underneath and save whatever can be saved.”
The video is also full of Ty’s signature humor. At one point, a ghost tries to haunt him and is sent packing, but can’t get the door open. “It’s a pull,” Ty tells him, raising an eyebrow.
Ty Pennington Explains the Importance of Restoring The Otis
Right now, The Otis is listed on Marriott-Bonvoy’s website as available for short-term rental, reading, “Welcome to “The Otis”. Unique opportunity to rent the ENTIRE building. Centrally located in Downtown Atlanta 2 blocks from Mercedes Benz, State Farm Arena, Georgia World Congress Center”
The page also reveals that of all the beautiful artwork seen throughout the YouTube video on The Otis’ walls, “Almost every piece of artwork in The Otis – not only in the spaces but also inside the gallery (which is the common areas) – is custom work by Ty Pennington.”
But Ty’s labor of love isn’t just about the luxury units. In the video, he explains, “When a building fades, something in the neighborhood fades with it. And when you restore it, you’re not just repairing damage. You’re reactivating memory. You’re plugging the building back in to the pulse of the street.”
“Restoring the Otis isn’t just about old walls,” Ty continues. “It’s about giving this building, and this community, a chance to witness another hundred years of stories.”
