Loft Apartments for Athens?

Spirit of Athens board has discussed the possibility of Loft Apartments in downtown Athens for several years, Thursday evening it became a broader discussion. Mac Martin, City Planner and Economic Restructuring chairperson for SOA, brought Chris Chain of Columbus Mississippi to Athens for a meeting with individuals interested in learning more about loft apartments downtown.

(Left) Speaker Chris Chain with City Planner &
SOA Economic Restructuring Chair Mac Martin

Chain has 25 years of experience in developing upper-floor apartments in downtowns across the State of Mississippi. Beginning in his hometown of Columbus, MS, Chris has become a leader in developing historic buildings to maximize their potential and that of the downtown as a whole. His philosophy is that developing residences in the upper floors of historic buildings helps to preserve historic assets, create new housing options within the community, and develop downtown into a vibrant 24-hour-a-day place that attracts retail development options.

Chain has expanded his business's footprint to cities across the State of Mississippi and has worked with city officials, community leaders and property owners to make downtown apartment housing a reality. Through his company, Renovations of Mississippi, Chris offers numerous services from consulting to general contracting in historic restoration and new construction.

Depending on the amount of renovating, a buyer could purchase a property from $30 - $40 per square foot and may spend double the cost in renovations. With Federal and State funds and tax credits available there could be some great incentives and cut the cost of the project, as long as the integrity of the style and the historic desire of the property is maintained.

To the skeptics Chain offered these words, “If you build it, they will come,” there is a large market for people who want to live downtown. Martin told the group that Athens has a process already in place that allows this type of development and the Mayor is supportive as long as they meet our adopted codes.