Real estate brokers and the public are invited to get a glimpse of the future of the White Building at 298 Main Street next Tuesday. Building owner Kissling Interests is in the midst of renovating the property’s common areas, upgrading infrastructure, and replacing its elevators. While the lower floors will remain office space, work has started to convert the top five floors into upscale apartments. They promise to be stunning.
Kissling Interests, primarily a residential property developer, owner and manager, purchased the 11-story, multi-tenant office building in 2001 for $2.6 million. Law firm Damon & Morey’s move to Avant in 2009 left Kissling with seven floors of office space to fill. A $2 million renovation was planned to help lure new office tenants to the building. Marketing of the space found a few lookers, but no takers, and the renovation wasn’t completed.
With the downtown residential market heating up and the office market facing a glut of empty space, the plan changed. Kissling decided to convert four of the office floors into apartments. Floors seven through ten will each feature six apartments, five two-bedrooms and one one-bedroom with 1,400 to 2,000 sq.ft. of living space (below).
Apartments will utilize Raydoors, gliding, translucent interior dividing walls that will allow a bedroom to be used as flex space, ideal for a live/work arrangement. Units feature walk-in closets, washer and dryer, hardwood flooring, and granite countertops.
Two penthouses will be constructed on the building’s roof (below). Each will be split-level with three bedrooms and private patios. One faces the Ellicott Square Building with views up and down Main Street. The second faces the lake, looking southwest towards Point Abino.
Residences will have stunning views of the building’s landmark neighbors including the Ellicott Square Building, Guaranty Building and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Many units will have lake views. Rents will be in the $2,000 to $3,000 per month range and the penthouses will be priced between $4,000 and $5,000, likely the most expensive downtown.
Floors two through six will remain office space and the ground floor, where lobby renovations have been completed (below), will have space for a restaurant.
Carmina Wood Morris is architect on the $10.5 million project and Peyton Barlow is construction manager. Apartments will be ready for occupancy in late fall.
Get Connected: Kissling Interests, 716.995.4724