Roger Trettel has added to his downtown holdings in the Electric District north of the main library. The busy developer purchased 290-296 Ellicott Street from ACG Downtown Development Associates, a subsidiary of The Benchmark Group. The three-story, 35,600 sq.ft. property is across the street from the Buehl Block which Trettel renovated into a mix of commercial space and five upscale lofts, his two-story office building at 285 Ellicott and the former Emulso Building at 301 Ellicott which he also owns.
Trettel is planning a mixed-use residential conversion. The somewhat non-descript warehouse building is planned to be transformed into a contemporary mixed-use development consisting of approximately 20-22 loft units, and 2-3 ground floor commercial spaces. The development will be unique among the new downtown developments in that it will have fully enclosed first floor garage parking for the residents. Other tenant amenities will include a fitness room, a business center, and a rooftop green terrace with views overlooking Lafayette Square.
The brick and reinforced concrete building was built in 1957 as a warehouse for Hengerers Department Store. The building was designed by a prominent NYC engineering firm that specialized in design and development of urban department store buildings and associated facilities. The last known tenant in the building was Barrister Information Systems.
Work on the approximately $3 million project will start this fall with exterior improvements, followed by interior development in early 2011. This project is located in close proximity to many of the other major downtown residential projects, including Buehl Block, Lafayette Hotel, AM&A's Warehouse, Holling Place, Historic Warehouse Lofts, Bellasario, and several other planned developments. This cluster of residential development is creating the critical mass necessary to create a 24-7 neighborhood district in the mid-downtown area.
Trettel is currently renovating nearby 523 Main and 500 Washington into Cornucopia, a mix of residential and retail space that will be anchored by the Golden Cup Cafe.
Interesting...any idea who will be designing the new look?
Can I take a guess? I'm going to guess Tommaso Briatico Architects.
I don't know, but the design better be "historically accurate" or they can forget about this project moving forward.
Are you joking? I think you are....
This is a warehouse.