Construction is not an uncommon sight in Athens, but two private projects within the city are nearing their end — renovations at 280 E. State St. and 74 & 74 ½ N. Court St.
Stylish Spaces on State
280 E. State St., also known as the Flats at Kinnear Warehouse — a former car dealership — has been undergoing renovations since last year to transform the back portion of the building into apartment units, Bob Prebe, an owner and real estate broker for Uptown Realty, said.
The building currently houses office space leased by TAM Construction in the front. The back will feature six apartment units in total, with five located on the ground floor and one loft unit, Prebe added. As part of the building’s transformation, masonry walls were built to section the space into proper units.
“It’s a very industrially designed place so everything is very exposed — exposed plumbing and exposed ductwork. It’s a very interesting design. We have polished concrete floors,” Prebe said. “So it’s not going to be something that everybody’s gonna like, it’s definitely a unique aesthetic.”
Each unit, however, is being “universally designed” to accommodate any and all potential residents, he said. Prebe hopes to have the apartments open in August, although some construction is still underway.
One unit has already been leased, Prebe said. He plans to lease the remaining units at market value, which he estimates to be between $1,000 and $1,600 per month.
Prebe hopes to hold an open house prior to listing the units, so the public and the city have an opportunity to see the work they have completed.
Coming Soon to Court
74 and 74 ½ N. Court St. sat vacant for a significant period of time due to the building’s instability, Prebe said. However, the building has now been stabilized and is being renovated to house Hot Box Chicken and the Basement Arcade, he said.
Located along Court Street and across from North End Kitchen and Bar, Hot Box Chicken will occupy the ground floor unit at 74 N. Court St., Kevin McNamara, owner of Hot Box Chicken, said.
“We’re taking the chicken finger concept to a little bit of a new creative place,” McNamara said. “We’re going to have the box as the name Hot Box implies. But in addition to the regular sandwiches, we’re going to have a little wider assortment of sandwiches. Also, in place of the crinkle cut fries, we’re going to have tater tots, and we’re also going to have something called our flat fries.”
Hot Box Chicken will also feature a version of the classic upstate New York “garbage plate,” he said. Customers will be able to layer tater tots, flat fries, chicken and a variety of toppings into the box, with the purpose of sharing the meal with friends, McNamara added.
The restaurant will also work to be heavily involved with the community, as McNamara feels a strong connection with the town. He plans to take advantage of creative marketing opportunities more available to him as a small business owner in a college town, he said.
“From the schools that I’ve gone to or that my kids have gone to, there’s always that one place that everybody talks about and everybody goes to, and after they graduate, when they come back for football games or reunions, they go there,” McNamara said. “That’s what I want.”
Hotbox Chicken will begin the hiring process soon, via a sign in the building’s window, he added.
The Basement Arcade will be just a short walk from the restaurant, located in the building’s basement at 74 ½ N. Court St.
A unique addition to the culture of Court Street, the Basement Arcade will feature old-school games such as pinball and other classic arcade games, as well as a bar, Prebe said. With its entrance located in the alley adjoining the building, the arcade bar will cater to both families and college students.
Owned by Christina Curry, the arcade seeks to remedy a gap in hangout spaces for high school aged children and will be maintained as a family-friendly space until a certain time each evening, Prebe said.
“There really is nowhere for high school kids and junior high kids to hang out,” he said. “They end up hanging out on the green. They hang out in Baker Center. They hang out at the vape shops and it’s just, there needs to be more things for them to do.”
While renovations are still underway, they are nearing the finish line. Prebe said he hopes to have both businesses open later this year.
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