Culver

A recent post on the SRA Blog talked about the new HepCat Loft Development in Warsaw, Indiana.  It’s an interesting concept and one I might consider including in our Sand Hill Farm Development when it moves forward.  There is not much in the way of what I would call “loft space” developed as such in Culver.  Most of the spaces above the downtown buildings have been developed as more traditional apartments such as what Susie Mahler has created above Cafe Max.  (Listing with pictures here.)  Jan Nanini’s building at 110 North Main Street took the old Masonic Lodge on the second floor and subdivided it into apartments as well.  (You’ll need to go to Jeff Kenney for better history of that building.  He tells us it’s haunted here.)  Others, such as the space above Fisher & Co. have been left undeveloped and have been relegated to storage.

When I think of “Loft Space” I think of open concept and high ceilings, generally having exposed trusses and often having spiral duct HVAC systems.  (I love Google Image search, but it’s frustrating when I look through so many pictures and don’t find exactly what I want.  This time I came pretty darn close!)  It is very much the look Larry Surrisi went for in the original design of The Edgwater Grille (now The Lakehouse Grille) in Culver.  There are more of these spaces in Plymouth.  We worked on a loft space at the site of the old Moose Lodge and George Schricker has developed some loft apartments above the former Vine Restaurant as well.

This is very much what RW Kidd Construction has gone for in their concept design; the difference being that instead of rehabbing existing abandoned second floors of buildings, they have used “Loft Space” as a style for their new construction.  It is somewhat of a minimalist style that should lend itself to some cost savings.  It looks like RW Kidd had outfitted them at a fairly high level though to go along with the HepCat theme, which has reintroduced costs.

I like the flat roof patios.  I’m picturing them along the east property line of the Sand Hill Farm Development where they would look out over the baseball diamonds.  It could be an interesting concept there.  I also like the multifamily format.  I think some  limited mix of this type of building could fit well in my mixed use scheme.  As mentioned above, it would be something different for Culver.  I also wonder if it could be modified to work with a more traditional loft theme where there could be some home-based retail on the first floor, possibly moving the garage entrance to the back off of an alley.  There’s potential here!

I’m in Warsaw enough that I will need to swing by and see them in person.  There are quite a few pictures at the HepCat Loft Development site listed above, so check them out if you’re interested.  Let me know what you think.  Is this something that could work in Culver?