ESCANABA — A historic building at the entrance of downtown Escanaba will under go a transformation, with the hope of being the catalyst to bring attention to the downtown area.
Once home to a brewery, veterinarians office, gymnasium and hairstyling school, the former Delta Building will undergo a transformation from being vacant and in threat of demolition, to being restored.
Matt Sviland, owner of Sviland Paint and Wallcoverings, purchased the 20,000 square foot building and is working with various state agencies and private funding sources to covert the 108-year-old building into retail space and loft style apartments.
“The Lofts on Ludington will be the premier residences in Delta County, offering the newest amenities and features, in a contemporary loft setting,” said Sviland.
The goal, he added, was to bring new life to the downtown area through renovation and rejuvenation of the landmark building. “Through this project we are not only intending to renovate, but to take the lead in making it a green project, by recycling and reusing materials from the building to maintain the architectural integrity of the building,” he said. He added the goal is to minimize the environmental impact of the development and existence of the lofts.
Friday afternoon, city and county representatives were provided with a walk-through tour of the building. Sviland explained his vision, using the building to highlight its potential to fit that vision.Currently Sviland is working with the State Historic Preservation Office and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to obtain funding for the estimated $2.14 million project.
A staff member from MSHDA visited the site earlier this year. Sviland is working with MSHDA to secure grant funding and tax credits for the project.
The project outlined Friday by Sviland calls for 3,300 square feet of the building’s main floor to be converted into retail space, with the upper three floors converted into loft style apartments.
“There will be a total of 17 lofts with most having access to roof top terraces overlooking Escanaba,” said Sviland.
Most of the lofts will be 1,400 square feet, with one loft being slightly smaller at 1,000 square feet. Most of the lofts will feature a mezzanine, while a loft to be constructed on the fourth floor will feature a roof top garden area.
Helping to design the concept for the building was Barry Polzin Architects of Marquette. Under the design presented by Polzin, the basement area of the building will be converted to underground parking for small, compact cars. As part of the concept design, state historic preservation guidelines were used to ensure the project retains the building’s historical aspects.
“Phase one of the project has been completed, which is basically cleaning the building and removing debris and pigeon droppings,” said Sviland. “Phase ll is underway, with Polzin working to document all aspects of the project for the historical society.”
The documentation required by the State Historical Preservation Office for Phase II of the project is time-intensive, according to Lisa Black, an architect working on the project. However, it is necessary to obtain funding for the project.
“Through the creation of a new option for living, we hope to meet the needs of current residents, as well as attract attention from people exploring the area as an option for relocation,” said Sviland. “This new project is not only meant to provide a new foundation for living in Escanaba, but it is our hope that it will help to lay the groundwork for growth in our city.”
Work on the project is expected to begin by late fall or early winter and is expected to take 15 months to complete.
