Lure4.2017

ADAPTIVE REUSE
Mott Lofts: Where Past & Present Meet
BY RUTH PAARMANN PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER
Back in 1902, the Iowa
Wind Mill & Pump Co.
made and housed its
wares in several facilities
on the west bank of
the Cedar River. One
structure remains: the
main brick building, which
was labeled “Mott Inc.”
in the 1990s. In 2012, the
building was placed on
the National Register of
Historic Places.
The previous owner, Linn County, used it for storage and
debated using the land for other purposes following the
flood of 2008. But the county decided to sell, and Hobart
Historic Restoration saw the value in the sturdy structure.
“My husband and I always liked the building, especially
the setting on the river. We admired it for years before the
opportunity came along to work on it,” said owner and
project manager B.J. Hobart.
The company made plans to convert it to a mixed-use
building, completing its residential apartment units in
2016. According to Casey Dunagan, property manager, all
units were occupied by July.
“Several of our residents work at Rockwell or Transamerica,
and some of them travel a lot,” said Mr. Dunagan.
He noted that many of them relocated to Cedar Rapids
from out of state, and most are young professionals in
their 20s and 30s.
The apartments feature similar layouts with wood-look
flooring, stone counters and open floor plans. Most units
offer one bedroom, while four are two-bedroom units.
Residents must agree to respect the brick walls and beams
that add historic character and value to the building, Mr.
Dunagan noted.
The lobby features exposed beams, pulleys and photos
of the building. Residents can use the elevator, but many
opt for the rustic restored staircase.
While the building stands close to a number of downtown
gyms, a workout room was added in the basement for
residents. Hobart also occupied a space for its maintenance
shop to easily access the mowers, snow blowers and other
equipment required to keep the property tidy.
Outside, with its refreshed white lettering, the building
is a prominent landmark on the river’s west bank. The
brick structure was cleaned and tuck-pointed to secure the
exterior. New custom double-hung wood windows took the
place of old ones, but screens could not be > PAGE 39
30 LUREOF THE CITY