by Bailey White
Staff Writer
By this time next year, the Lofts San Marco should have its first tenants.
The work to convert the building at 1450 Flagler St. — once the South Jacksonville Grammar School — into 38 loft-style apartments has begun.
“Our projected completion date is spring of 2004,” said Bill Cesery, president of the Cesery Companies, the project’s developer. “We’re really excited about it and we already have a few deposits from people who want to make sure they’ll get first pick of the units.”
Designed by Victor Earl Mark and Leeroy Sheftall, architects who studied with Henry J. Klutho, the building is two-story brick with large windows and high ceilings. It served as a public school until 1971 and was then used as administrative offices and storage for the School Board. The Cesery Companies purchased the building from the School Board in 2001.
The main building will offer 35 apartments and the company will add another three apartments as part of an addition to the back of the building.
Cesery said they’re paying attention to detail and the preservation of some of the building’s most unique elements.
“The original windows will be refurbished and, in most areas, the original wood floors are being preserved,” he said.
Some of the units will feature the chalkboards used when the building was still a school.
Lofts will range in size from 500 to 1,500 square feet, with the average being between 800 and 900 square feet. They’ll be broken down into studio apartments with large, open spaces and one bedroom and two bedroom units and will be priced from $1.06 to $1.25 a square-foot.
The building’s cafeteria, a space with 26-foot high ceilings, is being transformed into six two-story units.
“These will feature a true loft sleeping space above,” said Cesery.
Outside, the company is building 20 garages and a pool.
The building is zoned for commercial, residential and office use so tenants will be able to live and work from their units.
“They’d work well as artist studios or for graphic designers or web designers and they’ll be able to get occupational license without getting an exception,” said Cesery, adding the project has met with a positive response from the neighborhood.
“We own the Bistro Aix building and renovated that property and the Cedar Street apartments are also ours,” he said. “We have a track record in the area and are known for first class work and this building will be no different.”