It’s been more than two years since Rogers Neighborhood Realty moved into the building at 317 E. Main Street. The ground floor was updated to accommodate the real estate business, but the second floor has remained vacant. However, that will be changing soon.
“We purchased the building with the intention of building out more rental units upstairs, but there has been much work to be done to get to this point,” says Amanda Rogers, who heads up Rogers Neighborhood Realty. She and her husband Bob are partners in Rogers Leasing, the business that owns 317 E. Main Street.
Thanks to a Build MI Community Grant, the project is a go now with Todd West, a local builder and owner of Advanced Homes of West Michigan, at the helm of the renovation. It is hoped the apartments will be done and ready to rent this fall.
Rehabbing a 115-Year-Old Building
Built in 1910, the building at 317 E. Main Street has gone from being a blacksmithing barn to an auto body shop to a retail space to a real estate office.
Given its long history, there were challenges to overcome with the structure and layout of the building. “A main point was the stairs themselves needed to be completely turned around,” Rogers says.
When work on the second story is done, there will be a one-bedroom unit at the back of the building and a two-bedroom unit facing Main Street. While monthly rental rates have yet to be finalized, Rogers anticipates they will be $1,300 and $2,200, respectively, with most utility costs included.
In addition to renovating the upstairs, the Rogers are also making improvements to the ground floor which houses Rogers Neighborhood Realty. Those updates include a new bathroom and making the space fully ADA-compliant.
State Grant Makes Project Possible
It isn’t cheap to renovate a building as old as this one, particularly given that the upper level hasn’t been used for much beyond storage during the past 50 years. The total price tag for the building purchase and expected renovation is more than $675,000, and once the Rogers saw that figure, they began exploring what funding options might be available.
They found a promising possibility through the community revitalization programs offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The state agency awarded Rogers Leasing $210,999 through its Build MI Community initiative. This grant program is intended to “support small-scale, incremental redevelopment projects in Michigan communities, focusing on activating vacant spaces and promoting private investment,” according to a MEDC press release about the award.
“(It) has been a long process, but we are very grateful to be at this point,” Rogers says.
The funding helps add much-needed housing to the downtown and will add to the city’s tax base.
“This project will revitalize a key downtown space, add rental housing, and enhance walkability,” said City Manager Mike Burns in a written statement, adding that he appreciated the Rogers commitment to the community.
All photos courtesy of Amanda Rogers.
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