New building brings first retail-residential mix to Broadway By Sarah Riley News-Chronicle Loft-style downtown living will be introduced to the Broadway district by the end of the year when a historic building is converted to a retail-residential mix. Urban Concepts LLC, led by Jessy Geurts, plans to renovate the empty former Swette Distributing building at 126 S. Broadway. The first floor will be retail space with a traditional-looking front. Geurts said three possible tenants are a bakery, a men's clothing shop or an electronics store. Upstairs will be a 1,800-square-foot open-concept, loft-style apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The building's original brick walls, wood floors and wooden rafters will be incorporated into the "primal" design. A two-stall garage with a deck above it will be built off the back of the building, which could be ready by the end of the year. The space can be purchased or he will rent it out. Asking price is about $165,000. Geurts said he wanted to created a space "where people can live, eat and breathe downtown." Naletta Burr, director of On Broadway Inc, said developments in the district have been extensive but aren't complete without living spaces. "One element that's always been missing is the residential element," she said. "I think this is really a great opportunity." "This is a prime example of what can be achieved with a little creativity and a historic building," she added. Mayor Jim Schmitt said he hopes the development is one of many residential-retail mixes coming to downtown. "We're the third largest city in the state and we're going to start acting like it," he said. "We look forward to many more of these, not only on Broadway but in the downtown district." Loft apartments made from converted businesses are popular in larger cities because of their unique look and proximity to downtown areas. Geurts said this is his first residential-retail mixed use project. He looked at the building last year but was not ready to purchase it, he said. When he saw it up for sale again, he jumped on the chance. Geurts said he has worked on residential and commercial developments for eight years.