BY MIKE PETTINELLA
For Video News Service
Demographic trends show that more and more millennials – those born between 1981 and 1996, give or take a year or two – are looking for market-rate housing close to a community’s business section.
For those in that largest segment of the United States population who want to reside in the Batavia area (and slightly older Gen Xers), the renovation of the former C.L. Carr Company Inc. department store building at 101-107 Main St. and 5-7 Jackson St. could be an answer to their search.
Entrepreneurs Ken Mistler and Pete Zeliff have joined forces – with assistance from New York State grant funding – to develop 14 state-of-the art apartments on the second and third floors of the downtown building, with two of the units fully handicapped accessible.
The Carrs Reborn project also lists about 8,400 square feet of retail/office space on the first floor on Main Street.
Mistler, while giving Video News Service a tour of the apartments on Tuesday, said a one-bedroom apartment has been rented. Remaining are 12 two-bedroom units and another one-bedroom unit.
The apartments range from 950 to 1,400 square feet. Monthly rent is set at $2,100 for one bedroom and $2,500 for two bedrooms, which feature two full bathrooms. All of the units are fully electric (not included in the rent).
“There’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to these apartments,” Mistler said. “We offer elevator access, water and trash removal, access to fiber optics through Empire Access, access to cable TV and appliances, including a washer and dryer.”
The units also feature an intercom system that connects with people at the outside entrances (two on Main Street and one on Jackson Street), sprinkler system throughout and central air conditioning.
Completion of the project caps a lengthy process that began with the awarding of $1 million from the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative in 2018. In May of 2023, a $1.85 million NY Restore Grant was awarded.
The remaining part of the approximately $5 million venture is the investment by Zeliff and Mistler, who noted that the grant money is received “only after everything else is done.”
“Both are reimbursable grants, meaning that we have to fund the project in advance and provide proof of the work that has been done,” he added.
Additionally, federal and state taxes are required to be paid on the $2.85 million in grant funding, and the NY Restore Grant comes with the stipulation that Mistler and Zeliff must retain ownership for at least five years.
The Main Street building features two one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom units while the Jackson Street structure has four two-bedroom units. Edward Jones financial planning and Creamy Creations are first-floor businesses on Jackson Street.
Whitney East was the general contractor, and the firm of Ciurzynski Consulting was instrumental in design aspects of the renovation.
The project represents another milestone in the revival of Batavia’s downtown, city officials said.
“The opening of the Carrs apartments marks an exciting time for Batavia – bringing modern living spaces to the heart of our city while honoring the buildings’ rich history,” City Manager Rachael Tabelski said. “This project reflects Batavia’s commitment to growth, revitalization and creating opportunities for people to call Batavia home.”
Tammy Hathaway, director of the Batavia Development Corp., said, “After 20 years, it’s considered a chronic vacant site and it was basically like a black eye on Main Street. To have it revitalized and redeveloped is exciting by offering housing that we desperately need.”
For more information, go to www.carrsreborn.com.
I would like an application for the Carrsreborn apts on main st in Batavia
Nice apartments, but what happened to affordability!!
I remember a time years back when rents were affordable!!
Please send me a application for me to have a 1 bedroom apartment for rent in July of 2027