THE PROJECT
The Star Block is an 8,000-square-foot mixed-use building at the heart of downtown Osage City, Kansas. A major commercial hub when it opened in 1883, it has fallen into disrepair over the years and is now vacant. But we're bringing it back to life, preserving and restoring the historic architecture while returning the building to productive use.
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To pull off a project of this size in rural Kansas requires a little financial creativity, and we're relying on grants and historic tax credits to make it work. We've secured listing on the National Historic Register and the Register of Historic Kansas Places, which gives us access to federal and state tax credits. And we've won three grants: a Kansas Heritage Trust Fund grant, a Community Development Block Grant, and a Kansas Historic Economic Asset Lifeline grant. We hope to complete construction in 2024.
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We envision the building housing short-stay apartments (Airbnbs) and multiple businesses once complete.
THE DETAILS
Many historical details are still intact, but the building also had structural problems and badly needed a new roof, as water had infiltrated much of it. All major systems -- plumbing, electrical, HVAC -- need to be replaced. In short, this is a full rehabilitation.
While we're making the building suitable for use again, we plan to restore many of the original details that have fallen into disrepair or disappeared over time as well. The facade of the building, which has been gradually altered over time, will be returned to much the look it had when the building opened in 1883. The upper-story windows, which have been shrunk and filled in, will be restored to their original size. The two storefronts will be replaced with glassy, light-filled designs similar to the ones that originally graced the building. And along the top, a cornice and three gables modeled on the original design will be added.
THE SPACES
When complete, the Star Block will house five Airbnb apartments and two storefronts. We've surveyed the community and are trying to install a collection of businesses that Osage City residents most want.
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On the first floor, the western storefront, at nearly 2,000 square feet, will be outfitted for Henry's Coffee House, a popular local coffee spot that plans to move in and expand its operations. The eastern storefront, at less than 1,000 square feet, will be the perfect home for offices or boutique retail. On the rear of the eastern floor will be an ADA-accessible Airbnb unit with its own private patio in back.
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The second floor will be reconfigured into four Airbnb apartments -- a two-bedroom and three one-bedrooms -- around a central hall. Two will have grand skylights (the octagons in the rendering), and all will have dramatic 13-foot ceilings and all-new kitchens and bathrooms.