Apartment Leasing Begins in Saint Paul’s
Historic Pioneer Endicott Buildings
Luxury
redevelopment project will create
a new way to experience downtown
Contact:
651-269-8756
Rental information
877-799-2422
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Pioneer Endicott buildings were the
premiere place for business in downtown Saint Paul when they first opened more
than one hundred years ago. Today the historic
landmark begins its new role in the community as a luxury apartment complex,
with the leasing office officially opening today. The three-building complex
will be home to 234 apartment units with wireless Internet, two new
restaurants, a bar, health club, museum, spa, wine store, and a number of other
unique features that will make it a dynamic new place to live in downtown Saint
Paul. The first residents will move into
their new apartments in May.
Construction on the full project will be complete in the first quarter
of 2014.
“We are very
excited to officially begin the process of renting units,” said Rich Pakonen,
president of PAK Properties and one of the project’s developers. “The Pioneer Endicott buildings are monuments
of architectural excellence with rich histories. We believe this complex meets the needs of
today’s resident while maintaining its cherished 19th century
charm.”
The complex
includes the 16-story Pioneer building as well as the two Endicott buildings on
Robert and 4th streets. Pakonen
and Clint Blaiser, president of HBG Group, bought the buildings in 2011 and
have worked with a team of construction and historic preservation experts to
restore and revitalize the buildings. In
addition to offering unique, historic units, the Pioneer Endicott buildings
will give residents a set of services and amenities that are new to Saint
Paul. Every unit in the complex will
have high-end features and finishes more typical of a condominium than an
apartment, including granite countertops, washers and dryers, stainless steel
appliances, custom cabinets, and marble floors.
The buildings
will also have a concierge staff and access to a comprehensive array of world
class services such as a dog run/spa, access to a special club room and party
area, and other features. The location
of the complex also benefits residents, as it lies between two light-rail
stops, near Mears and Rice parks, two blocks from the Mississippi River, and
less than ten miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport.
“This project is
another example of the exciting things that are happening in Saint Paul,” said
Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “The Pioneer Endicott buildings will
bring hundreds of new people to Lowertown as we get ready for the new Lunds
grocery store and as the new ballpark begins to take shape. Saint Paul
has a great history that has been preserved in buildings like this.
Downtown's momentum continues to grow and I couldn't be more excited to see
what the future will bring.”
About the Pioneer Endicott Buildings
The 16-story
Pioneer Building was built in 1889
to house the Saint Paul Pioneer Press
and was the city’s first skyscraper. The
Pioneer Press moved out in 1908, and
four stories were added to the structure in 1910. Famed architect Cass Gilbert designed the two
Endicott buildings, which were built in 1890.
The Pioneer and Endicott buildings were later connected by an arcade
that has a suspended lead crystal ceiling.
The buildings were
home to businesses for decades until 2007, when the last commercial tenants
moved out. Pakonen and Blaiser bought
the buildings in 2011 and worked with historical architects to restore the
building’s architectural features, upgrade utilities, and make the updates
necessary to convert the building from office use to residential.
“We worked hard
to first understand the historical significance of these two buildings and then
to find the best way to bring them back to life,” said Blaiser. “While over a century old, the quality of the original
design is second-to-none. Our challenge
was finding a way to respect the history while creating a great place for
people to live.”
Complex construction project
Crowe
Construction Management worked with both the Pope and McDonald and Mack
architecture teams on the design and construction plans. Crews started the initial work last fall
removing asbestos and beginning the process of clearing areas of the building
in preparation for construction work.
The Crowe team then helped create and manage the construction plan that
took into account the unique building and complex project details. The first apartments will be complete in
mid-May. General construction work is
expected to be completed in early 2014.
The Pioneer
Endicott project is the fourth building redevelopment project the PAK
Properties/HBG Group/Crowe Construction team has undertaken in downtown Saint
Paul. The others include the Produce
Exchange, the Rossmor, and the Lowry Buildings.
In each case, they restored and redeveloped the properties to bring new
or higher residential and commercial uses to historic buildings.
“It will be difficult
to find another location in the Twin Cities that brings together such
remarkable history and architecture combined with a wide array of features,” said
Pakonen. “We believe that people across
a number of different demographic groups will want to live in this very special
place in downtown Saint Paul.
About PAK Properties
PAK Properties
is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based real estate development company focused
primarily on urban residential development.
Led by its founder, Rich Pakonen, the company creates a variety of
residential rental and for-sale units and commercial space within new and
existing buildings.
About the HBG Group
The Halverson
and Blaiser Group, Ltd. is a diversified real estate investment and management
company that provides fee-based services in the areas of multi-family
residential, commercial asset, leasing, development consulting, brokerage, and
homeowner association management. .
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