By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Demolition is underway on the interior of the century-old Hekman Biscuit Company building, 1363 Grandville Avenue, soon to be Roosevelt Park Loft Apartments. Twenty-one apartments ranging from 850 square feet to over 1,600 square feet will fill the three stories, with 2,500 square feet of retail space slated for the former garage spaces next door.
Owner and developer Lighthouse Communities worked with the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association since 2004 to develop the scope and direction of the project and strategically plan its affect on the surrounding community.
"There seems to be a healthy amount of homeownership in the area, and we saw a need for additional affordable rental housing," says Chuck Hoyt, Lighthouse spokesperson. "The building presents a unique opportunity to fill this need. It's right on the Grandville corridor with public transportation, restaurants, grocery stores, and other retail shops. All these elements together have created a nice little niche community."
Hoyt expects the apartments - which includes 18 two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as three studios - to rent for about $400 to $700 per month. Each apartment will have typical loft-style features such as exposed brick walls and ductwork, and thick wood timbers.
Renovations include new stairwells and elevator, new windows and doors, tuck pointing the brick facade, and a new north facade where a relocated main entrance will face Tulip Street.
Rockford Construction is handling the construction. Bravo Architects created the architectural design. Progressive AE is handling the mechanical and site engineering.
Source: Jason Wheeler and Ed Wygnal, Rockford Construction; Chuck Hoyt, Lighthouse Communities
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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