SYRACUSE - A new assistant professor at Syracuse University's (SU) School of Architecture recently purchased the former Altmann & Sons Bottling Company building located at 307 E. Division St., for $165,000, says the property's broker, David Thomas, of CB Richard Ellis, a global commercial real-estate firm.
Kevin Lair recently relocated to Syracuse from Boston and is an assistant professor at SU. Thomas says Lair saw the property listed and contacted him to buy the 6,302-square-foot building. Lair says he bought the building with private funding. He declined to provide further details on the funding.
Lair says he plans to refinance and renovate the building through a loan from Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), based in New York City. CPC is a national organization that assists developers finance and build affordable multi-family housing. He couldn't provide loan details.
Lair says the building's architectural structure attracted him to it.
"The material and spacial qualities were appealing so they could be both celebrated and enhanced in a renovation project," Lair says. "The building has open floor plans and they don't require significant demolition and it's ideal for a live/work mixed-use program."
Lair purchased the building from former owner Fanizzi Cosimo, Ill who has owned the building since 1998. Thomas says Cosimo used the first floor of the three-story building for retail space at one time. Cosimo placed the vacant building on the market a few months ago.
Lair currently lives on the building's top floor and plans to use some of the space for design projects while it goes through a renovation. He says he plans to use the first two floors of the building for architecture and design space.
"The rest of the building will be for live/work space that I will use. I intend to create some opportunities for public events and/or interactions," Lair says.
During the renovation Lair says he will use the project to look at innovative methods, materials, and environmental-management tools. He says he couldn't yet predict a renovation budget for the project.
"I'm trying to find creative resources and collaborators to help make this a model of sustainable, eco-effective practice," Lair says.
In 1909, architect Charles Colton designed the headquarters for A.V. Altmann & Sons Bottling Company.
"It is connected to local landmarks such as Antonio's Restaurant and North Salina Street," Lair says.
Lair moved to Syracuse from the Boston area at the end of August.
"I came here to teach design and technology at the Syracuse University School of Architecture and to create a new design office in the community," Lair says.
© 2007 Central New York Business Journal Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
