One of Emporia’s newest real estate projects will offer shopping and living space — all under one roof in downtown Emporia.
Cory Haag, a local developer and property manager, said Granada Plaza & Lofts, 726 Commercial St., will offer three to four commercial suites that can be used for retail, commercial, offices, restaurant or other business services. The lofts will offer 13 loft-style apartments that will have personal balconies overlooking the Granada Theatre. The apartments all will be “super-sized,” with one bedroom and will come with kitchen appliances and a washer/dryer.
“The exterior has been designed to blend with the historical characteristics of downtown Emporia,” Haag said.
Kyle Trendel, owner of Devore & Associates Architects in Ottawa, helped design the building and Dustin Ochs, owner of CKEC Engineering in Emporia, is the engineer, Haag said.
Dirt work began on the project this fall.
Haag has been a part of several developments in Emporia, including the Ashley II and the Ashley developments, Prairie Sage, Brentwood Court, Whittier Court and the Olpe Main Street Cottages in Olpe.
“The goal is to provide the highest quality of (rentals) in Emporia,” Haag said. “We try to have a niche in the market. We try to make every development unique and special. I enjoy watching the seasons change with the trees, flowers and shrubs that are at each development. I have just started to add water fountains and waterfalls at developments.”
Haag said he enjoys downtown development.
“Emporia has a beautiful downtown,” he said. “We also have a great university sitting at the end of our downtown. There is a lot of potential in downtown Emporia because of its size and because of the university location to Main Street.”
Haag and his father have traveled all over Kansas to look at downtown districts, Haag said. He said Emporia’s downtown district is unique and it has more potential than any Kansas downtown community.
“Once you get downtown, everybody is willing to help out,” he said. “There’s a lot of downtown community support. It’s a neat group. The lofts will be good to bring people back downtown.”
Haag said Emporia has a lot going for it. Emporia is near several large and small towns, has a university and good weather conditions. Emporia also has a good school system, Haag added.
“We are located in a very stable location in the state,” Haag said. “Our weather patterns are usually very nice. ... Economically we are also stable. If you drive through Western Kansas you will see the effects of population decline and what it does to the economy. Our population has remained constant.”
Business leaders in Emporia bring a lot to the town as well.
“One of the key points in this town is the business leaders,” Haag said. “In this community they are all about recognizing young professionals, teaching and fostering grown and passing that on.”