A worn-down warehouse at 405 N. Mulberry St. is now home to Cityscape Lofts.
Each of the units has different layouts, but all the kitchens have Bosch appliances and granite counters.
The apartments have high ceilings and wood floors. The square footage ranges from 653 to 1,315. Rents start at $1,440 a month.
After undergoing nine months of major renovations, a badly dilapidated warehouse at North Mulberry and West Lemon streets has been reborn as Cityscape Lofts.
The 39,644-square-foot, four-story building — which possibly dates from the 19th century — now features 24 one-bedroom, one-bath luxury apartments, and a rooftop patio with panoramic views of Lancaster city.
The project was developed by Shadow Lawn Enterprises, which is headed by former Auntie Anne's owner Sam Beiler. Shadow Lawn bought the edifice from the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster in 2011 for $275,000.
Though it was structurally solid, the warehouse at 405 N. Mulberry St. was in bad shape otherwise, with holes in the roof "and every single floor," said Andrew Weikert, Shadow Lawn's business manager.
Windows also were broken, he said, and workers ended up hauling away more than 30 Dumpsters full of junk.
"We recycled a lot of stuff, too," Weikert said.
He wouldn't disclose the price of the project, but did say it was funded with 100 percent private investment. It's the type of endeavor "that required a patient investor in it for the long haul," Weikert said.
Instrumental is seeing the renovation come to fruition, he said, were Cornerstone Design Architects; Providence Engineering Corp.; and Ashlin Woods Carpentry Services Inc., New Holland, which supervised construction.
As to the building's history, "I was told it was originally a wood-planing mill, Weikert said.
At one point, it also was a market, said Joan Wurster, Shadow Lawn's business coordinator.
When installing the new roof, the developer made sure the materials would accommodate a green roof system, which may be done later on, Weikert said. Additionally, two collection tanks absorb rain, helping to reduce stormwater runoff.
The first floor of the building has been turned into a radiant-heated indoor parking lot, with 17 spaces for apartment residents. Other spaces are available outside.
The sidewalks along Lemon and Mulberry are radiant-heated, too, Weikert said. Landscaping on the property will be completed this spring, he said.
The apartments, which are on the structure's top three floors, all boast different layouts; three of the 24 units have lofts, and at least two of the rentals boast wine racks built into the steel trusses.
Also, three former loading docks have been converted into balconies.
The square footage ranges from 653 to 1,315, and rents start at $1,440 a month. Tenants have access to the rooftop patio, which will include tables and chairs, pavers and Wi-Fi access. They also get a bird's-eye view of fireworks from nearby Clipper Magazine Stadium, Wurster said. A patio off the first level of apartments has Wi-Fi access, too.
New steel trusses reinforce the structure, and wood beams and ductwork have been exposed. Each unit has "a very contemporary, industrial feel," Weikert said.
The building is handicapped-accessible as well.
Cityscape Lofts feature hot water heaters and geothermal heat pumps; there are roughly 20 geothermal wells under the building, Weikert said. Individual heating units are in the hallways, so they don't take up space in the apartments, he said.
The energy efficiency is further enhanced by spray foam insulation, Weikert said.
There's also 24-hour maintenance, and the apartments are sound-proofed, he said. Cityscape Lofts is a nonsmoking facility.
Every apartment is equipped with high ceilings (some sloped) and wood floors; a Bosch washer and dryer; wood Venetian blinds on the tilt-in windows; a bath with a granite washbowl and ceramic-tile floor and walk-in shower; and spacious closets with shelving. The kitchens feature Bosch appliances, soft-close cabinets and drawers, a ceramic-tile backsplash and granite counters.
Included in the rent (along with water, sewer and trash) are a 150-plus-channel DirecTV package, 50-megabyte Internet access, and unlimited domestic calling with a wireless phone handset, Weikert said.
The apartments also have individual security systems, and the building is accessed by electronic keycard.
Although the date hasn't been set, Shadow Lawn Enterprises plans an open house.
Two of the units are rented; the first occupant moved in this past week. Weikert said he expects Cityscape Lofts to attract young professionals and retirees.
Anyone interested in the apartments should call Joan Wurster at 490-6933 or 203-0763.
