The emergence of Longmont’s first large-scale urban apartment community is just the start of the resurgence of a part of the city once dominated by the Butterball Turkey plant, the head of the Longmont Downtown Development Authority said Wednesday.
In August, developers unveiled the completed first phase of South Main Station, including four of five buildings at the multi-family and mixed-use project at the intersection of First Avenue and Main Street. The first phase is part of the larger $70 million redevelopment of the 26-acre site of the former Butterball plant.
Developed by Mass Equities, a private real estate investment firm, and designed by Shears Adkins Rockmore, South Main Station comprises 253 apartment units and 10,000 square feet of ground floor space including residential and commercial units fronting Main Street, according to Mile High CRE. Brinkman Construction also partnered on the project.
The Butterball plant was shuttered in 2011 and torn down in 2014 to make way for mixed-use development. The Butterball plant was the last major agricultural industry in Longmont.
Of the five buildings, two include street-level retail with residential units above and one building is a traditional walk-up with garden-level units, according to Mile High CRE. The Phase 1 unit mix is 35 studio, 161 one-bedroom and 57 two-bedroom apartments averaging 860 square feet.
Kimberlee McKee, executive director of the LDDA, said South Main Station is already spurring development around the site and more is likely to come.
“We’re going to see more commercial and housing development in the second phase of this project,” McKee said. “We think this whole area will continue to grow.”
Brian Bair, Mass Equities Inc. principal and senior VP for acquisitions and development for Colorado, said South Main Station will help in the growing demand for new apartment and retail amenities in downtown Longmont.
Tenant move-ins began in early January, with the first building gaining occupancy at the end of last year, and is rapidly continuing as additional buildings have become available, according to Mile High CRE.
South Main Station’s design is a nod to the industrial roots of the site with steel accents and masonry facades.
Mass Equities’ Bair said, “Brinkman was the perfect strategic partner to help bring our vision of a community with an updated urban feel that still reflects Longmont’s historic charm.”
Unit interiors come with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and sliding barn doors. Residents have a mix of covered, private and surface parking, according to Mile High CRE. The development includes a rooftop lounge with fire pits, a bar and expansive communal areas. The apartments include access to a gym, yoga room and community room with kitchen, as well as swimming pool, hot tub, mail center and storage. Also on hand is a DIY garage with a self-service bike and ski workshop open to all tenants, according to Mile High CRE.
Jim Ciesla, president and CEO of Brinkman Construction, said,“This has been a flagship project for us. We’re proud to be partnering with Mass Equities to bring something unique to the Longmont market.”
