By: Deborah Johnson Wood
It used to be the Flat River Antique Mall at 212 E. Main Street in Lowell, but for the past 18 months, crews have gutted, renovated and redesigned the three-level 15,000-square-foot building into to four loft condos and four storefront spaces.
The condos, all on the “penthouse” level of the building, each have 1,500-square-feet of living space plus 700-square-feet of laundry room/storage space one level down. Each is large enough to accommodate two or three bedrooms, and offers unique features such as 18-foot-high ceilings, interior brick walls, and bathroom vanities made of century-old bricks salvaged from the building. Three of the condos overlook the Flat River to the east.
While the developer will frame in the condo interiors, buyers will need to finish the interiors themselves or hire a contractor to do the work. Condo prices range from $95,000 to $195,000.
“Every day we get 15 or 20 people asking us what we’re doing and what’s going on,” says developer Jerry Zandstra, who has owned the building for 10 years with his three partners. “There’s a lot of interest.”
Zandstra hopes to develop the four main level retail spaces, each 1,500 square feet, into a concentration of shops centered on wedding and bridal services. Zandstra’s two brothers own Indiana-based Dunhill Tuxedos and have one of the spaces under consideration. Other possibilities are a jeweler, photographer, baker and florist.
“It’s one-stop shopping for weddings,” says Zandstra. “My brothers have done this in Highland, Indiana and have had great success with it.”
Source: Jerry Zandstra
Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.