A historic renovation project in Mid City is proving more tricky and costly than originally anticipated.
Collis Temple’s redo of the Deville Apartments, a classic example of mid-century modern architecture tucked away on North Street between 11th and 12th streets downtown, was supposed to be completed by May. Instead, the three-building, 52-unit complex is only about 65% done and won’t be finished until next summer.
Temple, the building’s owner and the contractor on the project, says he had to replace all the plumbing and electrical wiring in the building, which required demolishing eight-inch thick concrete walls.
“It was a lot of demolition and concrete removal and then we had to go back in with all new electrical and plumbing,” he says. “We really did some major stuff. From an interior standpoint it is going to be a brand new facility.”
Temple originally planned to spend $2.5 million renovating the complex, which totals 29,000 square feet. So far he has spent more than $1 million, and says costs are running higher than anticipated because the workload is more than he originally planned. Temple says he has applied for historic building tax credits to help finance the project.
Dyke Nelson, who has renovated several historic buildings downtown, is the architect on the Deville, which was built in 1956 by A.C. Lewis. It is marked by glass-front units overlooking a terraced swimming pool on North Street.
Once completed, Temple will market the complex to young professionals. Lease rates will range from $800 for a 600-square-foot, one-bedroom unit to $950 for an 800-square-foot, two-bedroom unit.
“They will be market rate,” Temple says. “But I’m trying to price them so people can afford them and so I can not put a strain on anyone who tries to live there.”
The redevelopment of the Deville Apartments, which languished for years in disrepair, is one of three new multifamily projects in the up-and-coming area between downtown and Mid City. It is just one block away from The Elysian, a mixed-income complex that opened in late 2013 and has enjoyed 100% occupancy ever since, and from the planned The Elysian II, which will begin construction next year.
—Stephanie Riegel
