One of the very first posts I ever made to this blog came in May 2012 when I wrote a short story about the pending renovation of the long abandoned St. Margaret's hospital at 759 Vermont Avenue into a beautiful loft / apartment building (see previous post).
That renovation is nearly completed, and on Thursday, December 19, I was blessed to be able to attend the ribbon-cutting for the new City View at St. Margaret's.
Coincidentally, one of the postcards that I recently scanned for my "then and now" series was of old St. Margaret's Hospital. The postcard shows what the hospital looked like many decades ago. Some of the structures visible in the postcard (like the tower with the flag on it) were demolished over time leaving the building in the configuration that I have always remembered. Click on any picture to see a larger version.
Here are a couple of photos that I took back in May 2012. The building was in horrible shape and I believe it could have easily qualified as the worst eyesore in Kansas City, Kansas.
Here are a couple of photos that I took as I arrived for the ribbon cutting Thursday. Wow! My photos don't do justice to how much the building and grounds have been transformed.
The renovation was completed by Foutch Brothers, LLC. They specialize in renovating and repurposing historic structures like St. Margaret's. Managing director Steve Foutch has been the driving force behind this renovation and other similar projects in Kansas City, Kansas including the renovation of the old Horace Mann School at 824 State Avenue.
The company completed the physical renovation of St. Margaret's in just about 12 months, but Steve said that he has been working on aspects of the project for almost 5 years.
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| The company's mission statement is: "Respecting the past as we build for the future." |
City View at St. Margaret’s is a $16.2 million project. It features 111 energy-efficient, loft-style apartments for seniors ages 55 and over. There will be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units in the building with contemporary interiors, two rooftop decks, a community lounge, on-site dining and laundry facilities, paid utilities and Google Fiber.
Because the project was partially financed by Low Income Housing Tax Credits, about half of the apartments will have rents that are adjusted for seniors who have lower incomes. Rents will range from $400-$600 for tax credit units and $750-$1200 for market rate units.
Foutch Brothers expects to have units available to the public by January 1, 2014. See their website for contact information.
I can't tell you how thankful and appreciative I am to have a company like Foutch Brothers working with us to steadily improve historic Kansas City, Kansas. Here are a few more photos of the ribbon-cutting event.
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| The ribbon cutting took place in the former hospital chapel. The stained glass windows survived years of neglect. (Photo courtesy of Bill Hurrelbrink) |
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| Steve Foutch joined Kansas Governor Brownback (center), other dignitaries and some neighborhood residents to cut the ribbon. (Photo courtesy of Bill Hurrelbrink) |
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| Here's a look at one of the finished units. Wow! (Photo courtesy of Bill Hurrelbrink) |
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| Steve Foutch (left) spent a few minutes telling Governor Brownback about the project and sharing how his company used state-of-the-art construction techniques and mechanical systems in the building. |
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| It was a privilege to be a part of this group. From left - Steve Foutch, Governor Sam Brownback, Mayor Mark Holland, myself, Commissioner Jim Walters. (Photo courtesy of Bill Hurrelbrink) |
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| Three views from one of the rooftop decks. You should definitely click on this photo to see a larger version and fully appreciate the view. (Photo courtesy of Bill Hurrelbrink) |
Until next time, have a great weekend!
