Pam Kelle

To its owners’ surprise, the Southern Saddlery Building on the Southside has attracted a growing cluster of mental healers.

“We’ve marveled at it. It seems like another therapist moves in every month. It’s turning into a real counseling building with a few artists mixed in here and there,” said Greg Seymour, a licensed professional counselor with Elbow Tree Christian Counseling.

Building co-owner Bill Glascock said he originally designed the space for offices for real estate developers and “one-man-show type people.”

But Madia’s Studio, a yoga and Pilates center that became the building’s first tenant, set the tone for what was to come, he said.

“In order to have her yoga classes, she wanted everybody to be as quiet as possible,” Mr. Glascock said of Madia Swicord. “Everybody was walking around on tiptoes. And it turned out that’s exactly what counselors want — a nice, quiet place,” Mr. Glascock said.

Currently, all 14 of the building’s offices are rented. Most of the tenants are independent therapists.

“I even leased my office. I’ve had so much luck over there, I don’t even have my office down there anymore,” Mr. Glascock said.

In 1895, Southern Saddlery was established to turn tanned hides into horse saddles and other leather goods. In the mid-1970s, the factory closed and small businesses took it over.

Four years ago, Mr. Glascock bought the 50,000-square-foot building, which stretches from 3077 to 3085 Broad St. Three other investors, — Angela Usery, John Clark and Dan Robinson — split the cost of a $2 million renovation.

“It was huge fun to gut it and restore it. And it was a fun thing to do for four. We could spend money on it and do a first-class job, and for that reason we were able to attract firstclass tenants,” Mr. Glascock said.

Soon, Tanner Hill Gallery (ownedby Ms. Usery), Boccaccia restaurant and Madia’s Studio all opened. Artist studios, a bike shop, beauticians and skin-care shops also became tenants.

But most tenants are mentalhealth providers.

“We were the first clinical people here. We get the label of ‘starting the trend,’” said counselor Susan Ewing, who moved in with counselor Lisa Harrison.

Like other therapists, Ms. Ewing said they were drawn by the building’s central location, its historic feel, its aged brick walls and polished wood floors.

“It’s convenient, it’s got character and it’s comfortable. It doesn’t feel like a medical office; it feels more like being in somebody’s living room,” she added.

The building is so inviting that some patients discover it’s easier to open up and talk there, said Pam Kelle, a registered dietitian and nutrition therapist who often deals with eating disorders such as anorexia and overeating.

“Eating disorders often come with low self-esteem. Patients are often so guarded. If you can let them know they’re safe, a lot of times they open up a lot better to moving forward with whatever they’re dealing with. You just have to walk in the building, and there’s this sense you get it’s safe, comfortable, welcoming,” Ms. Kelle said.

Ms. Ewing said that unlike some offices, Lucky, her therapy dog, is welcome at the building, too.

“I’ve been working with a young woman who was abducted and raped. When she first started seeing me, the only way she would talk to me was by holding the dog. It’s the kind of environment where we can bring the dog in and out and nobody gets upset about it,” Ms. Ewing said.