Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, center, and Chris Belser, right, owner of the new Sohrbeck Lofts, talk with people during a tour of the new downtown Moline apartments on Thursday, Nov. 7. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
A new loft apartments project in downtown Moline has a touch of history mixed with a lot of modern amenities. “I’m amazed by these apartments. … They’ve retained the old and added a lot of new qualities,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said as she looked over the six apartments that make up the new Sohrbeck […]
A new loft apartments project in downtown Moline has a touch of history mixed with a lot of modern amenities.“I’m amazed by these apartments. … They’ve retained the old and added a lot of new qualities,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said as she looked over the six apartments that make up the new Sohrbeck Lofts at 1601 Fifth Ave. The apartments occupy the second and third floors of the historic Sohrbeck Building.
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held for the Sohrbeck Lofts at 1601 Fifth Ave.
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati welcomes guests to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the downtown’s new Sohrbeck Lofts on Thursday, Nov. 7. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati looks over one of the new apartments at Sohrbeck Lofts, located in the heart of downtown. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Chris Belser, center, the owner of the new Sohrbeck Lofts, looks over one of the apartments in the renovated downtown Moline building on Thursday, Nov. 7. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Chris Belser, center, the owner of the new Sohrbeck Lofts, looks over one of the apartments in the renovated downtown Moline building on Thursday, Nov. 7. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Here is a bedroom in one of the apartments.
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, center, and Chris Belser, right, owner of the new Sohrbeck Lofts, talk with people during a tour of the new downtown Moline apartments on Thursday, Nov. 7. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The Sohrbeck Building was built in 1912 to house G. Henry Sohrbeck’s drug store. Some of that history was on display during Thursday’s ribbon cutting.
This is the kitchen area of one of the apartments in the new Sohrbeck Lofts at 1601 Fifth Ave., Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The Sohrbeck Building was built in 1912 to house G. Henry Sohrbeck’s drug store. Some of that history was on display during Thursday’s ribbon cutting.
Ms. Rayapati was one of about 20 community and business leaders to attend a Renew Moline ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 7, to celebrate the new housing option in the downtown’s Moline Centre district.“This block is the center of downtown. … It’s a little snapshot of all the things we have downtown,” said Kirk Marske, Renew Moline’s program director for the Moline Centre Program, at the ceremony.He pointed out that the new apartments are in the heart of the downtown commercial district. That neighborhood includes two barbershops, a hair salon, restaurants, retail shops, a live theater, financial planners, a shoe store and much more.“This is a great example of the life going on down here. … There’s a lot going on,” Ms. Rayapati added.In the coming weeks, it’s possible there will be more people living in downtown Moline to enjoy that city life and its growing business district. That’s because the Sohrbeck Lofts are getting interest already from possible renters, said Chris Belser, owner of the apartments, and owner/president of Bi-State Masonry in Rock Island.Mr. Belser, who gave the QCBJ a tour ahead of Thursday’s ceremony, added that he will be showing an apartment to a possible renter this weekend. He hopes to have all the apartments rented in the coming weeks. The project’s cost and investment was not disclosed. He believes the apartments’ features will sell themselves to people who want to experience downtown living. Some of those features include great views of downtown Moline as well as being located on a MetroLINK bus route and within walking distance to Moline’s riverfront, Mercado on Fifth, John Deere Commons and many other nearby attractions.Mr. Belser said that work on creating the Sohrbeck Lofts has been going on for about two years. The newly renovated space used to be home to a dance studio for many years, he added.Most of that work is complete, but there are still a few finishing touches that need to be done on the apartments in the coming days.Here’s a closer look at the Sohrbeck Lofts:
Units: There are a total of six two-bedroom apartment units on the second and third floors. There are four units with two bathrooms each, and two units with one bathroom each. The apartments range in size from 820 to 880 square feet.
Rent: Monthly rent will be about $1,400 to $1,500 for each unit.
Amenities: Each unit includes a washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, modern finishes and quartz countertops. The rent also covers high-speed fiber internet and all utilities, except electrical.
Building history: The Sohrbeck Building was built in 1912 to house G. Henry Sohrbeck’s drug store. Some of that history was on display during Thursday’s ribbon cutting. A portion of that history display showed a reprint from the Nov. 22, 1913, Moline Daily Dispatch newspaper that featured a story on the then new building. “The east side (of the building) will be occupied by Eric Okerberg, the jeweler, and the corner room will be the new home of the Sohrbeck drugstore,” that story reported.
Rest of the building: While the second and third floors now have been converted into apartments, the first floor is home to two businesses: Julie’s Artistic Rose and Sugar a la Mode.
More information: Go here for more information on the lofts, such as a tour and rental information.
“This is all just wonderful. … I would be happy to live here,” said Ms. Rayapati after her first tour there.
