Long-time Fort Scottians Jerry Witt and his wife, Judy are trading in suburbia for living downtown.

“Judy and I used to live in the Carriage House, at Third and Main, that Cheney Witt (Funeral) Chapel owns, while our house was being built…We loved living downtown,” Witt said.

“My great-grandfather owned the Witt’s Chili Parlor downtown. I played on the old fort grounds as a kid,” he said.

This summer he has been working with the Fort Scott Planning Commission and also the Codes Department to get plans finalized for the renovation of the downtown building. Recently he got approval from the city to proceed with the project.

“I’m currently working with contractors,” Witts said. “I’ve got to get the interior demolished. The architect is Zingre and Associates. Dave Irwin helped on the project.”

Currently, there is no projected timeline for the renovation, Witt said.