New green lofts in the warehouse district of Spring Grove are now open for business.
Conveniently located at the edge of downtown in a quiet industrial area,Tommy's Lofts, developed by Woody Jee, are environmentally friendly 'green' apartments. Jee transformed the entire Harrison Terminal Building (1220 Spring Grove Ave.) using green practices and materials.
"I am really excited about doing this and being one of the first ones, but at the same time, it has been difficult," Jee said. Unfortunately, not long after the building was purchased and renovation began, the bottom fell out of the U.S. economy. With help from the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, a grant was received from the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund to help defray many of the costs associated with a required environmental site assessment at the property.
Renovating and reusing the previously vacant warehouse was not the only 'green' part of Jee's development plan. Jee started with the foundation, keeping solid brick and concrete walls along with the warehouse's original large wood beams. He reused everything from the original building including the metal doors, frames, fiberglass insulation, and wood from the ceiling for the trim in each of the units. A water retention pond adjacent to the development recyles water for the apartment complex.
"I have a dumpster but I rarely call Rumpke because I constantly recycle and have very little waste," Jee said. He even takes the empty cardboard boxes from appliances to a cardboard recycling center, and takes any unused metal to a junkyard on Green Street.
The 18-unit apartment complex contains Energy Star stainless steel appliances, high efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment, energy star rated windows, and fluorescent lighting. The building also has 1,000 feet of commercial space on the first floor.
Jee thinks the apartments will attract tenants in their mid-twenties and mid-thirties.
"Younger people are more green conscious and want to get away from suburb living," Jee noted.
Five apartments are available beginning in November. Interested renters can contact Woody Jee at 513-328-2567.
Writer: Lisa Ensminger
Photography by Scott Beseler
and supplied interior photo
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