Lure4.2017

More documents

Recommendations

Info

EMERSON FROM PAGE 16 rebuilt the office space from scratch in order to restore an architectural gem to the city. Although historic preservation can be daunting, the state’s housing credits and historic tax credit program help make the challenges worthwhile. “I focus on downtown because it is such an important region for the city,” he said. “Plus, if I can take a crappy building and make it new and fresh again, it improves all of downtown. It has inherent benefits to the rest of my buildings and to downtown.” Changing With the Times Other obstacles he has encountered during his career include the changes in the banking industry and a struggle toward work-life balance. While he used to work day and night with his job as an architect and do the demolition on the side, he has become a better delegator, entrusting employees to keep him in check. “In the office and construction areas, I empower people extremely well so they buy into the project,” he said. “It saves me time.” Technology has also enabled him to have a more flexible work schedule, working from home in the mornings and evenings as needed, or even answering questions while on vacation. As of February, Mr. Emerson is working on seven projects that will result in approximately 147 residential units. These vary from 32 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments in the Smulekoff’s building to new and historic townhomes in Kingston Pointe, the old ESC building, 323 Third St. and other developments. Mr. Emerson is excited about the way Smulekoff’s is evolving into a mixed-use development. He’s also exploring an innovative solar/green roof combination on this and two other buildings. While he prefers living near Center Point with his wife and two children on an acreage with woods and a pond, he appreciates the urban lifestyle. “The people who want to live downtown aren’t just people who work here,” he said, noting that a cross section of older and younger couples and professionals live in his buildings. “You can park your car and you don’t need to drive on weekends.” | Inside Tip Top Cakes, one of 808 on Fifth’s first commercial tenants, and a popular meeting place for Mr. Thomas. 808 FROM PAGE 29 It’s that energy and dedication to detail that drew in Randy Miller, owner of Miller Monument and a longtime real estate investor and broker. Mr. Miller was introduced to Mr. Thomas by a mutual friend, and began doing some consulting work on the earliest stages of 808. Despite Mr. Miller’s preference against partnering on projects and the prospect of an early retirement on the horizon, the two hit it off and struck a partnership that continues to grow, just like their development. Mr. Miller, for his part, compared their partnership to TV’s “Odd Couple.” He serves as the opposing force to Mr. Thomas’ big dreams and boundless energy, preferring to work in the background and crunch numbers while Mr. Thomas does the gladhanding. “I’m 58 now, and I have a lot of patience,” Mr. Miller said of his partner. “I’m not sure how we would have done back when I was 30.” “Blaine likes to take an idea and run with it, and sometimes you can’t – you have to think about it,” he added. “But then again, that’s why the two of us get along so well. I’d be sluggish without him.” Mr. Thomas, 40, affectionately describes his partner as “the” leash that keeps him from chasing the next thing to flutter in front of his face, as well as his cheerleader, keeping him grounded in the realities of large-scale development. “When I’m talking about the numbers, the performance, the contractors, the timelines, the interest rates … who do I call? Randy,” he said. “Instead of [my] going and jumping off the Iowa River bridge, he pulls me back.” While Mr. Miller originally set a time limit on their partnership, pledging to retire after five years of work on 808, that now looks like a casualty of Mr. Thomas’ expanding vision. Plans are moving forward for the fifth building, which will be “loaded with commercial space,” according to Mr. Thomas, and the partners are working with the city to purchase three properties on 10th Avenue for future residential development. Mr. Miller also has his own plans in action, as the developer behind The Crossings development in Iowa City (see page 15). If Mr. Thomas has his way, 808 on Fifth will evolve into a central piece of Coralville’s emerging downtown, connecting the Plaza on Fifth building, the Watts Group’s Old Town development and reshaping 10th Avenue down to the strip. “I have to continue the mantra of a pedestrian development. This is downtown,” he said. “Is it going to keep going down Fifth Street? Of course it is. Is it going to go to the north? Of course. It’s just a matter of time.” | 38 LUREOF THE CITY
Let us make your space extraordinary! Commercial and Residential Interior Design 319.320.6971 www.melanieolson.com A spacious lobby greets guests and residential and office tenants. It features historic pulleys and wood beams original to the Wind Mill & Pump Co. building. MOTTS LOFTS FROM PAGE 31 used because the original windows had none. Functional additions include a parking lot and water retention basin, which is required in order to preserve water quality. In addition, a short black iron fence was added to deter geese that would walk up the banks of the Cedar River. Per Hobart’s original plans for the building, commercial leases are taking off in the lower level and main floor. Synergy Massage opened a studio in the lower level before the flood of 2016. Several businesses are on the docket for the rest of the available space on the main floor. An artisan jeweler plans a workshop there, and other professional services companies have expressed interest in the space. A yoga studio will occupy a bright, open space on the east side of the building, where the original, ornate safe door remains in place. The build-out for four businesses began in February, and most of the businesses are expected to occupy their new spaces this year. | FOCUSED ON BUILDING QUALITY Plaza on Fifth 319.338.1125 1310 Highland Court, Iowa City LUREOF THE CITY 39
Page 1 and 2: LUREOF THE CITY Inside: Featured Fa
Page 3 and 4: The Landing II COMING SPRING 2018 R
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS 6 Discovering the Lure of
Page 7 and 8: Area residents reflect on life in t
Page 9 and 10: Just like you, we chose the Corrido
Page 11 and 12: The Metropolitan 450 First St. SW,
Page 13 and 14: Pre-approve your mortgage FASTER wi
Page 15 and 16: Sabin Townhomes 509 S. Dubuque St.,
Page 17 and 18: O T After 87 years of serving thous
Page 19 and 20: When the Row Houses on Second were
Page 21 and 22: REASON TO LIVE DOWNTOWN #34: CLOSE
Page 23 and 24: the electric fireplace in the livin
Page 25 and 26: David and Kathy Gimer.
Page 27 and 28: “In 2013, we talked about investi
Page 29 and 30: IN PERSON here’s an ‘odd couple
Page 31 and 32: helping your business make the righ
Page 33 and 34: Thinking about BUYING or SELLING a
Page 35 and 36: Randy Miller is honored to have rep
Page 37: Other tips to help with a move from

Lure4.2017

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?