(Updated with slideshow) The Raleigh condos, the latest addition to Kirk Avenue
The renovated building at 123 Kirk Avenue. Photo by Amanda Codispoti
There have been plenty of apartments popping up downtown in recent years, most recently at the Patrick Henry, Sixteen West, and the Lofts at West Station.
But for the first time in a while there are new condos on the market in downtown Roanoke.
Mike Levan, president of Virginia Building Services of Roanoke, has spent the past few years transforming a 102-year-old building into four condos and a retail space on the first floor.
Levan bought the building at 123 Kirk Avenue, next to Sheila’s Cafe, in 2009. He said the brick, three-story building was an addition to the old Raleigh hotel, which was on Campbell Avenue where Studios on the Square is now located.
The building has one two-bedroom unit on the third floor and three one-bedrooms on the second and first floors.
Levan finished the condos with hardwood floors, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, tiled bathrooms and showers, and thick, white crown molding and baseboards. The finishes differentiate the condos from many of the new apartments I’ve seen downtown, which have taken on a more industrial, historic feel with exposed brick walls and exposed piping and ventilation.
The two-bedroom condo will sell for $450,000, Levan said. It is 1,600 square feet.
The one-bedroom condos, which range from about 700 to 785 square feet, will sell for about $250,000.
Levan acknowledged that the condos and their price tags will appeal to a small market.
“That’s a lot of money,” he said. “They are not for everybody.” But, he added, “They are one of a kind.”
He would not say how much he spent renovating the building, but did say that he financed the project himself.
All but a one-bedroom condo and the retail space are finished. The 500-square-foot retail space has not been leased.
Here are some before and after pictures, courtesy of Levan.
March 22, 2012 - 1:13 PM
Speaking of condos, there appear to be some new condos that look directly out over the rail yard. Really? Who wants to have coal trains in his backyard?
@Old Blue: Are you talking about the H.L. Lawson & Son building?
While I have no problem paying 250k for a downtown condo, It would never be in a property like this one. The market is over priced for what you get. I would like to see new construction, balconies, swimming pools, weight rooms, and some amenities in a condo complex. Enough with the over priced rehabs and give us some new/mordern units. Condo and/or apartments. Me and a number of friends have expressed for sometime the need and desire for highrise condo/apartments like in many other cities. Even some the size of Roanoke. There is a market for it. I’m one.
I think Old Blue is probably talking about the Warehouse Row Condos. What is the deal with them? Have any ever sold? A realtor friend of mine told me they were asking over 500K for a unit. You’d have to like trains a lot.
I agree with Tony, there is a need for newer construction in a condo complex. I would like to see something around the old YMCA building with balconies, gym, pool, etc. I would also be interested in newer construction downtown. BTW, why didn’t Carilion decide to build an apartment downtown rather than next to railroad tracks in the middle of nowhere next to the Hospital of all places? How boring?
Amanda, I just heard the craziest thing (from two sources). Buffalo wild wings Tanglewood is supposedly moving to Townside Festival near Montano’s. Is there any truth to this?
Nice looking condos, but I don’t see the asking price in them.
@Brian: My first thought is that I don’t think that parking lot could handle a Buffalo Wild Wings. I’ll check on it, though.
That’s a really good point Amanda. Seems parking is the last consideration of potential businesses. Just look at VV !
Head anymore about Bonefish and others coming to Tanglewood? What about new stores for Valley View!
@Chris: I haven’t heard anything more on either of those fronts, but rest assured I’ll let you know when I do!
There’ve been some fascinating articles about the millenial generation and auto ownership in the New York Times and The Atlantic recently. The extent to which this generation, compared to others, prefers to live in urban areas and, at best, is indifferent to owning a car is difficult to overstate. Those of us over, say, 35 probably can’t grasp it since we all couldn’t wait to get our license. Cars and the suburbs aren’t about to disappear, but we’re probably still close to the beginning of the increase in downtown living. I predict there won’t be much difficulty in selling these units.