2008 Woodie Awards
Downtown development continues
Kim Burdick
Issue date: 7/4/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Local developers have begun the task of rebuilding downtown Whitewater apartments that have been in disrepair for years and turning empty spaces into new housing.
The Whitewater Hotel is one of the redone buildings. Developer Russell Walton said he saw the building, which was originally labeled a "tear down," as an opportunity to add character and student housing to downtown.
"We look at it as though [students] are customers and we try to help out our customers," Walton said.
Walton said that more development needs to take place in order to successfully remake downtown Whitewater.
"When we first started working on apartments above the storefronts, we had trouble with roaches coming through the walls from buildings that weren't being kept up."
Although the renovations to the building cost more than $500,000, Walton said he believed the project was worth the money. He also said he enjoys seeing a building that was formerly infected with rats and cockroaches turned into a nice living space that his tenants can call home.
"I like going in the apartments for a service call and seeing shoes by the door," Walton said. "I enjoy seeing everything together and decorated."
The Whitewater Hotel is also home to the SweetSpot Coffee Shoppe.
The remodeling won the Best Historic Preservation Award.
"I love to design," Walton said. "I love creating. I don't have to have anybody know who I am, but it's nice when somebody walks past your building and says 'that's really cool.'"
Walton is also redeveloping the former Beacon Place apartments on the corner of Main Street and Milwaukee Avenue across from the Brass Rail.
"I hope [the Downtown Revitalization Group] are all on the same wavelength that it's not just the bars," he said. "There are shops. I hope that people see downtown as a fun area. I think my money is well invested for that reason."
The Whitewater Hotel is one of the redone buildings. Developer Russell Walton said he saw the building, which was originally labeled a "tear down," as an opportunity to add character and student housing to downtown.
"We look at it as though [students] are customers and we try to help out our customers," Walton said.
Walton said that more development needs to take place in order to successfully remake downtown Whitewater.
"When we first started working on apartments above the storefronts, we had trouble with roaches coming through the walls from buildings that weren't being kept up."
Although the renovations to the building cost more than $500,000, Walton said he believed the project was worth the money. He also said he enjoys seeing a building that was formerly infected with rats and cockroaches turned into a nice living space that his tenants can call home.
"I like going in the apartments for a service call and seeing shoes by the door," Walton said. "I enjoy seeing everything together and decorated."
The Whitewater Hotel is also home to the SweetSpot Coffee Shoppe.
The remodeling won the Best Historic Preservation Award.
"I love to design," Walton said. "I love creating. I don't have to have anybody know who I am, but it's nice when somebody walks past your building and says 'that's really cool.'"
Walton is also redeveloping the former Beacon Place apartments on the corner of Main Street and Milwaukee Avenue across from the Brass Rail.
"I hope [the Downtown Revitalization Group] are all on the same wavelength that it's not just the bars," he said. "There are shops. I hope that people see downtown as a fun area. I think my money is well invested for that reason."
Be the first to comment on this story