Refurbished building readied for apartment dwellers

photo Joel Trujillo trims two-by-fours to frame walls while renovating the apartment building at 1617 Rossville Ave.

• Name: Mountain City Lofts

• What: Building constructed in 1910, gutted and transformed into apartments while keeping structural charms

• Location: 1617 Rossville Ave., just off East Main Street

• Status: Planned for completion in November, this sagging building formerly contained an auditorium, grocery store and a Pepsi bottling plant before falling into disrepair for many years. Workers have now finished constructing the wooden frames that will hold the walls and have stabilized the building's exterior brick walls, but much is left to be done. Before the building was gutted, apartment builder Robert Gustafson discovered a large tree growing through the wall, and a number of the windows were bricked over and had to be opened back up. Gustafson plans to work with a graffiti artist to decorate parts of the structure and plans a patio area. Aside from structural work, all of the interior furnishings have yet to be installed.

• Price: Apartment prices range from $750 per month up to $1,300 per month.

• Features: The Mountain City Lofts feature high ceilings, exposed brick interiors, custom fixtures and counters, original wood floors and the original wood staircase. Large windows offer views of Chattanooga.

• Amenities: The building is in a prime location a block from Main Street, near Niedlov's Breadworks. A roof deck reveals views of Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the downtown skyline. The building's location allows residents to walk almost anywhere downtown or take the bus.

• Owners: Kathryn Nash, Robert Gustafson, co-owners of Chit Chatt Properties

• Builder: Chazler Construction

• Contact: 706-581-7666

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