Lofts Nearing Completion In Downtown Rogers

STAFF PHOTO JASON IVESTER Visitors tour City Hall Lofts under construction in downtown Rogers in a July file photo.
STAFF PHOTO JASON IVESTER Visitors tour City Hall Lofts under construction in downtown Rogers in a July file photo.

ROGERS -- Construction is almost complete transforming the city's former city hall into loft apartments.

The City Hall Lofts are about 45 days from completion, said Julie Winn of Aelous Property Management.

At A Glance

City Hall Lofts

City Hall Lofts apartments will open later this year. There are 11 apartments in the building. For more information visit www.cityhalllofts.c….

Source: Staff Report

Downtown business people toured the building at 210 West Elm during Thursday's Main Street mingle.

The walls were mostly studs in the apartments. The plumbing is down, but not covered.

Crews have been working from the top down, Winn said, and there have been delays. The lofts were originally planned to be open in August. Asbestos removal, plumbing, electrical, heat and air duct work took time, she said.

"It's all the traditional unknowns with old buildings," Winn said.

Because the building is on the historical register exterior walls couldn't be changed, but the rest of the building was stripped to bearing walls, said Drew Henley, interior designer with Mode. Workers are re-stringing sash weights in the old windows. Window sills are being made on site to match the old.

The building has been remodeled two or three other times, Henley said. Under the old carpet and industrial tile they found painted wood floors.

The old jail cells will be used for storage and mechanical. The police badge painted on a wall will be preserved and the building's safe will be a closet. The garage to the old fire station will be another apartment.

The renovation has been a challenge, said Jim Mayer, architect with JKJR Architects. However, he said it's exciting to see the building renovated into apartments while maintaining its historic integrity.

"This is going to breathe life into downtown Rogers," said Mayor Greg Hines.

"It's awesome that we have people who have the means to take on a project like this and care about the history for a restoration," he said.

Linda Phillips of Rogers looked over loft building plans. She said a friend of hers is moving into the lofts. "The appeal is to live downtown and to have the option that you can walk to everywhere you go," Phillips said.

As downtown merchants Joe and Mary Harner said they see a benefit to having more people downtown. Younger people will probably rent most of the lofts, Mary Harner said navigating the many stairs. A younger downtown would be good for business, Joe Harner said.

Plans for a nearby loft recently ground to a halt. Eddie Smith owns the two-story building at 105 S. Third St. He planned two apartments in the 2,200-square-feet upstairs and a studio and retail in the garage and office space below.

Life changed, Smith said. He listed the property for sale and purchased a country plot where he can raise cattle and run four-wheelers. Not a good fit for a downtown loft, he said.

His wife's father once ran a garage out of the building prompting the purchase, Smith said.

The apartments inside were in bad shape when he bought it, Smith said. He stripped the building to the studs and brick walls. The building is cleared of asbestos and lead, he said. He's offering the architectural plans with the building's sale.

"The plans are gorgeous," he said.

The vision with the City Hall Lofts was to build it and people would come, Winn said. "This will be the catalyst that helps spur the revitalization of downtown Rogers," Winn said.

NW News on 07/11/2014

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