Community, governor-candidate tour loft apartments
PHOTOS BY ALISON JAMES Developers Chris Wallace, who is also a Franklin County commissioner, and David Grissom, who is also mayor of Russellville, joined by Trish Black of Main Street Alabama, celebrate the opening of Russellville’s first downtown loft apartments, a step in the revitalization of the downtown area.
Russellville resident Danny McDowell waves from the balcony of the new Russellville loft apartment overlooking Jackson. McDowell was one of dozens of community members who attended the open house for the downtown apartments Sunday.
Patricia Reed Gardner is the daughter of Gene Reed who owned Reed’s store from the 1930s-1970s and is a cousin to Grissom. Grissom and Wallace discovered the old REED letters and had them restored and re-installed on the building façade.
Made in USA Properties has already leased both loft apartments which feature all new appliances and fixtures in a trendy industrial atmosphere.
Grissom invited Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle to attend the downtown loft tours and to speak on his run for governor.
Grissom said when he first began contemplating the revitalization of downtown Russellville, he envisioned loft apartments in the second story of downtown businesses. Once the new zoning guidelines were established downtown to permit loft apartments, Grissom teamed up with Wallace and, together as Made in USA Properties, they purchased what once-upon-a-time was Reed’s General Store – Grissom’s great-uncle’s store – and began to renovate, with an eye toward developing two apartments on the second floor.
The one bedroom, one bathroom apartments each have balconies and feature all new appliances. Both apartments have already been leased to tenants – the front one to a mechanical engineer with IHP and the back one to a nurse.
Numerous people traipsed up and down the staircases to check out the newly-renovated apartments – among them, Alabama governor-candidate Tommy Battle, who is mayor of Huntsville. Battle and Grissom had previously connected at Alabama League of Municipalities meetings, and Grissom invited Battle to come speak and see the changes taking place in Russellville.
“You ought to be very proud of what you have here because this is a great thing to be starting in your community,” Battle said. “It has a multiplier effect. It provides jobs, it provides economy – it provides for your area to be able to grow.” Battle said growth is the one reason he got in the governor’s race – particularly job growth.
Another guest Sunday was Trisha Black of Main Street Alabama. The city council and revitalization committee have coordinated heavily with Main Street Alabama to envision possibilities for revitalizing the downtown area. She said loft apartments are a great catalyst for downtown growth.
“I’m so thrilled to see they have moved forward in building the loft apartments,” Black said. “You have people in your downtown 24 hours a day. They typically are going to shop and eat downtown, so you start seeing more retail open up and more restaurants.”
Jamie Harris, a city councilman and member of the revitalization committee, said the loft apartments, and the obvious interest in them, represent a positive step forward for Russellville. “I think it’s a great thing,” he said. “I think this is going to be a big start for a great future here … We’re getting headed in the right direction.”
Chase Sparks, who is also a member of the revitalization committee, agreed. “This is really exciting. Apartments just bring a beautifying effect to downtown – the balconies look really nice.”
“I think it’s good for Russellville,” Wallace said. “Everything has been positive.”
Grissom also expressed his excitement. “It’s a dream and goal we had several years ago, and it’s just neat to see the dream come true, to get the first downtown loft apartments completed here in Russellville.”
With the interest in loft living on the rise, Wallace and Grissom said they hope to take on another remodel – and they hope other developers will follow suit. Grissom said he thinks the potential for loft apartments is going to be a key attractor for potential investors and developers. The capability means property owners can utilize and optimize the entirety of a building’s square footage, pulling in funding from multiple rental units in one building.
