EL DORADO -- Nestled between Creative Means Picture Framing and Main Street Antiques is a door that leads to a new place -- a set of fully furnished downtown loft apartments.
Downtown lofts are residential developments most often found in larger cities, such as Little Rock.
But now the trend is reaching smaller cities such as El Dorado, a south Arkansas city with about 18,000 residents. The largest employer is Murphy Oil.
Buddy McAdams, a board member of Main Street El Dorado, and Howard Cupp Jr. represent Mac's Rental Properties LLC. The two own the downtown El Dorado building and have been working on turning upper floors into high-end lofts. They wanted to draw more people into the city, McAdams said.
"We saw a need for housing company executives and project managers and tried to make it as accommodating as possible," he said. "For example, if something happens at Lion Oil and a plant manager has to come in for a year, we want to give them an opportunity to live in a nice spot near the square."
The loft apartments are above Main Street Antiques on the downtown square, and officials held an open house Thursday afternoon.
Third- and fourth-floor renovations at the antique building are complete, with five loft apartments available to rent: two two-bedroom spaces and three one-bedroom spaces. The apartments are furnished with kitchenware, furniture, bath ware, smart TVs and high-speed Internet, McAdams said.
"All you need to bring is your suitcase," he said.
The apartments have a Southern-modern flair with industrial touches, such as exposed brick walls and pipes, McAdams said.
Apartment prices are based on square footage and an all-inclusive contract, which varies from room to room.
Also, the fourth floor has a conference room McAdams referred to as "the man cave" with a bar, piano, four TVs, couches, a dining table, and large windows overlooking Main Street.
McAdams said he and Cupp have owned the building for eight years and have always intended on using the space for downtown living, but other projects kept them busy until recent developments in the city.
"With the new arts district, thriving downtown and upcoming Festivals & Events plans, we decided to move forward with the antique building lofts," he said.
This is the second building Mac's Rental Properties has renovated. The company first worked on the GenWealth building at 301 N. Washington Ave., which has five apartments inside: three two-bedrooms and two one-bedrooms.
"I think they're a great addition to the downtown area," said Beth Brumley, executive director for Main Street El Dorado.
Mac's Rental Properties has more partnerships and properties located two to three blocks from the square for development in the near future, McAdams said. McAdams and Cupp are next scheduled to renovate the Barton Building, and they plan to have seven apartments inside with a New Orleans theme.
State Desk on 04/23/2017