Plant 1 Lofts marks a significant milestone in Legacy Plaza development

Inside the apartments of Plant 1 Lofts in Buildings 16 and 50 of Legacy Plaza is a setting few rental properties have achieved in Newton thus far. It is a space rooted in rich history and uplifted by developers who have not only embraced its classic qualities but also let them thrive in a significantly more modern design.

Rebecca Crady, property manager of Plant 1 Lofts, said the newly opened apartments offer occupants a “small town living with big city vibes.” And the fact these units used to be intrinsic parts in the Maytag Corporation operations — just look at the photos on the walls — only adds to the facility’s overall character.

High ceilings complement the exposed wooden beams and brickwork prevalent in each unit. Tall windows cast a blanket of natural light into each space and its modern furnishings. The handful of lofts available to tenants only amplify these qualities, and they are the most breathtaking units of the bunch.

There is no laundry room because every unit has its own washer and dryer. There are no patios because Plant 1 Lofts is affixed with its own clubhouse, outdoor fire pits and lounge area for residents to enjoy. There is easy access to other amenities in Legacy Plaza, like the pub and brewery in the next building.

In addition to her management of Plant 1 Lofts, Crady is the property manager of another historic renovation in Grinnell: Spaulding Lofts. Molly Meeker, regional manager of Indigo Living, which is the company handling administration of both apartment buildings, said Crady is well acquainted with these types of facilities.

“The community Rebecca oversees is also a historic rehab,” Meeker said of Spaulding Lofts, which is located in downtown Grinnell and is a former horse-drawn buggy manufacturing plant founded in the 1870s. “So I’d say she’s kind of like a pro at these at this point.”

As someone who has given multiple tours of these historic rehab buildings, Crady said preservation is very important to community members. Just recently, she said, a few individuals who toured Plant 1 Lofts were in tears when recognizing some of the features and historical photographs lining the walls.

“They really get excited,” Crady said. “I’ve got a resident moving in whose grandpa retired from here. It’s all sentimental.”

For many years Buildings 16 and 20 were nothing more than empty spaces filled with tall pillars, and many, many years before that they were part of Maytag operations. The first floor of Building 16 was home to manufacturing in the 1940s, and the upper floors were a warehouse of washers and other parts.

When the Newton-based manufacturer closed its headquarters and plants in the mid-2000s, these buildings were entrusted to DMACC, who envisioned a multi-use campus now known as Legacy Plaza. Slowly but surely DMACC had begun filling the buildings, developing plans for the future and creating excitement.

Plant 1 Lofts is the culmination of several partners coming together toward one goal, and the project serves as a major turning point for Legacy Plaza.

Christensen Development led the rehabilitation of the 78-unit Plant 1 Lofts with the assistance from partners like the State of Iowa, Jasper County, City of Newton, DMACC, Newton Development Corporation and Bank Iowa. All are recognized in a dedication plaque next to the clubhouse entrance.

Project team members like Beal Derkenne Construction, Slingshot Architecture, Axiom Consultants, Raker Rhodes Engineering, Brockway Mechanical, Tesdell Electric, Heartland Finishes and the Jasper County Historical Museum also played a big part in making sure the project was fully realized.

There is more to come in the second phase of the project in Buildings 1 and 2. Currently, the plan is to develop the brick buildings into 49 extended-stay hotel rooms and studio apartments. The iconic facade will mark the location of a future cocktail bar on the lower level.

Efforts from everyone involved paid off significantly in the final product. Meeker said there are plenty of cookie cutter apartments out there — and that might be great for some people — but living somewhere with a lot of charm can go a long way. Crady said Plant 1 Lofts gives people a unique option for living in Newton.

“I think they’ll take more pride in the space that they have with the amenities and everything,” Crady said. “They’ll respect it and they’ll enjoy their space.”

Spaulding Lofts is similar to Plant 1 Lofts in that it inspires community from within the apartment complex itself. Meeker said Indigo Living tries to put an emphasis on community building. Crady has worked hard to cultivate that culture in Grinnell, and she anticipates doing the same thing in Newton.

“It’s supposed to be a community, family feel,” Meeker said. “We work here but these are people’s homes. We want this to be a place where people are excited to come back to at the end of the day and have their friends and family over and talk with their neighbors and chit-chat with people down the hall.”

Meeker added that a facility like Plant 1 Lofts in a smaller town like Newton can lead the way for more opportunities.

As someone who grew up in Pella, Meeker has seen some of the opportunities that have changed that city over time by just having more people living in town and shopping local businesses and calling it their home. Now, she foresees that happening here in Newton, whose proximity to the metro is a major plus.

“I’m excited to see what else comes up in Newton for the people who already live here but also the people who are going to move here,” Meeker said. “…Our hope is to attract people that aren’t necessarily from here but are looking for a small town feel but still have big town living. Which I think is huge.”

Plant 1 Lofts will be hosting an open house and live tours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 1 at 515 W. Fourth St. N. in Newton. The public is invited to attend.