Developer Opens Doors to New Loft Apartments During ArtPrize

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, September 17, 2012 (Press-News.org) Urban property management firm 616 Lofts will be opening the doors to its much-anticipated historic loft-style apartments at 1 & 7 Ionia throughout this coming ArtPrize season. The newly rehabilitated, or "upcycled", units are located at the intersection of Fulton and Division and sit next to the Van Andel Arena. The new units, many of which will be true "loft-style" apartments, have been under construction since this spring. The downtown apartments will feature a fusion of the Gunn and Hawkins buildings' historic architecture, such as exposed beams and brick, along with modern amenities, such as stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. A completed and furnished model unit will be available for tours throughout ArtPrize.

For 616 Lofts, the alignment of 1 Ionia's construction and ArtPrize couldn't be better.

"We've really been looking forward to showcasing these to the community," 616 Lofts founder and managing director Derek J. Coppess stated. "For us, and for our development partner 616 Development, this entire project has been so organic, and inspired. The creativity and collaboration that's taken place to bring this project to fruition have been incredible. To us, this completed property will be a work of art. It's something we want to celebrate and share with the public."

The finished property will house four finished floors, with 20 loft-style apartments on the third and fourth floors and a buffer of office spaces on the second floor, adhering to the 24 hour building model used by 616 Development, the loft management company's development partner. Barfly Ventures' reincarnated Grand Rapids Brewing Company will make its home on the ground floor as 1 Ionia's anchor retail tenant. Construction is scheduled to be complete late this fall.

ArtPrize goers who tour 1 Ionia will be able to get a glimpse of the interior of the new pub as it is being completed. Water, refreshments and 616 swag will also be available to visitors.

616 Lofts on Ionia will open its doors for tours of the completed model loft apartment throughout ArtPrize (September 19th through October 7th). A detailed schedule of when the model loft unit will be open is available at 616lofts.com/artprize-2012.

Signs marking the property's entrance will be clearly displayed during scheduled viewing times. 1 Ionia is located at the intersection of Ionia and Fulton, next to the Van Andel Arena, in downtown Grand Rapids.

616 Lofts is a boutique-style urban property management firm specializing in creating communities in revitalized properties in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. With an emphasis on sustainability and community, 616 Lofts upcycles unused prime real estate into urban loft apartments, office and retail spaces. To learn more, contact Monica Clark, 616 Lofts Director of Operations, or view property listings or learn more at www.616lofts.com.