Rehabbed downtown Ypsi storefronts to open soon, lofts to follow

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Work is wrapping up on three downtown Ypsilanti storefronts, with businesses soon to move in and work on the lofts also set to begin soon.

Eric and Karen Maurer have been renovating 120, 122, and 124 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Ypsilanti, among other historic buildings they've turned into retail space and lofts. Eric Maurer, co-owner of Maurer Management & Properties, says work is wrapping up on the retail spaces, with one planned to be a high-end salon which should be moving in sometime in the next few weeks, and another to be occupied by The Rocket candy and novelty store, to take advantage of his larger space.

Because they're old buildings, the 10-12 lofts in the combined upstairs space will have to be designed to fit, with details like stairs placement and allowing maximum light all to be addressed. "Every building's a little bit different," he says. "We're working with the architect to figure out the best plans."

Once the lower floor is rented out, they can get funding for the lofts part of the project. He hopes to have the lofts ready for move-in by next fall.

The properties need a full gut rehab, including a new roof, windows and interior. The mid-20th century metal facades were removed in favor of what the buildings originally looked like. The old drop ceiling and tin ceiling in one of the storefronts needs replacement.

The buildings were built in the 1850s and served as the home to Mellencamp's, a retail store, for their first 124 years. They fell into disrepair in recent decades and the ground floor recently served as the home to accounting, retail, and tax firms.

Source: Eric Maurer, co-owner of Maurer Management & Properties
Writer: Kristin Lukowski