Renovation in downtown Council Bluffs

[eomaha]

Historic makeover in Council Bluffs

COUNCIL BLUFFS - As workers scraped and painted window trim out front, three 20-something guys checked out their new digs: the polished wood floors, exposed brickwork and high arched windows.

Chad Schoening, Jake Driver and Andy Smith say they're excited to move in this weekend to two of four newly renovated apartments in the 1892 building on the historic 100 block of West Broadway. A third unit also has been leased.

"We knew immediately we wanted to live here," Schoening said.

Renovation of the building is the first project under a program the city launched last year to encourage renovation of historic commercial structures.

The building at 136 through 142 West Broadway also includes 8,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, which also is under renovation.

A ribbon-cutting and grand opening for the $1.2 million project is scheduled for Feb. 18.

The commercial space, which could be divided into as many as four bays, already has new storefronts, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, said Julie Stavneak, co-owner of J. Development Co. of Omaha.

Work will be completed as the space is leased.

"The bulk of it is here," she said. "It just needs finishing."

Don Gross, the city's community development director, said he's pleased with the work he has seen so far.

Such renovation projects could be a draw for the historic downtown area, he said. Renovating small commercial properties is among the goals laid out in a redevelopment plan for a 60-block area of downtown.

"This is exactly the type of project we had in mind," he said.

The city also has had discussions with developers about three other possible projects, Gross said.

Some funding for such projects is coming from a $500,000 grant the city received last year from the casino-funded Iowa West Foundation. The city also received $300,000 for residential rehabilitation.

Stavneak said the developers also are using a city loan, historic-building tax credits and other sources of financing.

She and Jim Royer, the company's other co-owner, both are former employees of NuStyle Development Corp., which has redeveloped a number of historic buildings in Nebraska and Iowa.

Stavneak said she believes projects such as the 1892 building restoration could help the city lure or retain young people.

That worked with Schoening, Smith and Driver, all friends from their days at St. Albert Catholic High School.

Schoening and Driver work just minutes away. Their new apartments are a short walk from bars, restaurants, the YMCA and a movie theater, not to mention a short drive from the rest of the metropolitan area.

The building offers two one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom units. All of the apartments have their own washers and dryers, new kitchens and other amenities.

"It's turned out better than expected," Driver said.

[icejammer]

It's nice to see the World-Herald putting in positive stories about Council Bluffs finally. For so many years, we suffered with the old bureau chief for Council Bluffs, who deservedly or not, had the reputation for reporting what was in the Nonpareil (and about 3 days later), and not any stories that had a "positive" slant to it. After he retired, it actually got worse (as far as timeliness of news) for several months, but now they are on top of things!

Just to reference the location of the building for those unfamiliar with downtown CB, this building used to house the "1892" bar and before that it was called J. Wolfes (or something like that, I'd have to ask my better half for sure), in case any of you have killed a brain cell or hundred at that place in the past.

[DTO Luv]

2004 was DT Omaha's renaisance. 2005 is looking to be the year of Council Bluffs. It would stil take a tornado flinging my dead body to live over there though.

[icejammer]

The CB paper's version of events...

The old friends gave their new apartments a final inspection Thursday in preparation for a weekend move.

Chad Schoening and Jake Driver, both 25, will be roommates at the 1892 Apartments above 136-142 W. Broadway. Andy Smith, 24, will be their neighbor. The three are friends from their days at St. Albert High School.

"We were all amazed when we heard something like this was coming to Council Bluffs," Schoening said. "It's hard to find a space this nice and this big for this value."

Schoening and Driver, who both work at the Madison Avenue Hy-Vee, were excited to be part of the changing face of the city's downtown area.

"You're five minutes from everywhere," Driver said.

Julie Stavneak and Jim Royer are partners in J. Development Co., the project's developers. It's the kind of activity that was envisioned last spring when the Iowa West Foundation provided $800,000 to the city in two grants for downtown development.

Four apartments, a pair of two-bedroom units and two one-bedroom units, fill the upper level of the historic building. Four "very flexible" bays are available for business use on the lower level, Stavneak said.

Only one of the four apartments remains unleased as the first tenants begin to move in this weekend. The 8,000-square-foot lower level will be finished by Feb. 18 when an open house is planned, Stavneak said.

While Driver appreciates the uniqueness of living in the first new apartments in downtown Council Bluffs, Schoening said he looks forward to similar developments and more neighbors.

"That would be great for Council Bluffs," he said.

The apartments mostly occupy the space that was once the 1892's ballroom. Some of the wooden dance floor and original brick walls remain in the apartments. Carpet and drywall has been added with hanging lights and track lighting.

The rounded windows provide plenty of light during the daytime and a surprising view at night. Blinds are provided, Stavneak said.

The 1,000-square-foot, one-bedroom apartments lease for $675 per month, with the 1,275-square-foot, two-bedroom units going for $850 per month. A large open kitchen sits off the living rooms and there are two bathrooms in the two-bedroom units.

The Seldin Co. is managing the property, Stavneak said.

The apartments come with built-in microwaves, ovens and refrigerators. The ceilings were topped off at 14 feet, in some cases to avoid a barn-like appearance, Stavneak said.

"Thanks," said Driver.

One parking stall is provided for each apartment and additional spaces are available from Seldin.

It was Driver, whose father is a former Omaha city planner, who led the group of friends to the apartments. He was familiar with the style from his sister's apartment in Omaha's Old Market.

Smith, who had been living in Scottsdale, Ariz., said he saw what was happening when he was home for Thanksgiving and decided to move back.

It cost him $100 more per month for half the space in Arizona, Smith said. His drive to Werner Enterprises in Papillion, Neb., will put him on the road a little longer than his friends' drive to Hy-Vee, but he said the Old Market was the only real alternative.

The trio said they're looking forward to downtown life. There are at least four bars within walking distance, plus a movie theater and the YMCA.

"Most importantly, Taco Bell," Smith said.

The kitchens, at least his friends' kitchen, will see some use, he promised.

Construction on the $1.2 million project began in August, with funding provided through tax credits, a historical grant and loan from the city and additional private financing, Stavneak said.

A storefront for the lower level that arrived in the wrong color caused a six-week delay on some of the work, the only real problem during the renovation, she said.

The heating and ventilation systems, plumbing and sprinklers are ready. Some minor finishing work is all that's needed, she said.

Stavneak said she and Royer have more plans for Council Bluffs.

"We're looking at a lot of buildings," she said. "Yes, we will do more."

No agreements have been signed at this point, she said.

As for the view, it's surprising, Driver said.

Looking out the living room window of his apartment on the back of the building, he pictured himself relaxing on a summer day.

"The trees and stuff on the hill," he said. "It's going to be nice."

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