Underutilized and undervalued properties are frequently prone to conversions which compromise their architectural integrity. Here are just two examples of structures which have been converted to uses quite different from their original functions.
First, a former single-family house:
This small house was not without character; it once had a rounded front porch to emphasize its entry.
The conical roof above the former porch remains as a vestige of former styling. Now enclosed, the porch area serves as a garage entry while the two bay windows have lost their definition.
Our second conversion was probably built as a bank. Its corner location and entry are typical of many small town banks:
Simple yet dignified.
The side of the building with a garage door occupying a former window location (once identical to the front window). Image courtesy Google Street View.