Lofts proposed at shoe factory

Renovations would create 75 affordable housing units

The building that formerly housed the International Shoe Company on East Capitol Avenue was sold to a Springfield firm that plans to renovate it into loft apartments.
The building that formerly housed the International Shoe Company on East Capitol Avenue was sold to a Springfield firm that plans to renovate it into loft apartments.

One of Jefferson City's most historic, long-shuttered commercial landmarks may soon have 21st century soles and souls trodding its wooden floors, playing video games beneath its massive beams and decorating its brick walls with Jays and Crusaders memorabilia.

The Vecino Group of Springfield announced plans this week to develop Capitol Avenue Lofts, a 75-unit, $13 million rejuvenation of the 110-year-old former International Shoe Company factory at 1101 E. Capitol Ave.

"Renovating historic industrial buildings into residential lofts is a housing trend responsible for urban renewal across the United States," said Stacy Jurado-Miller, a special needs and supportive housing developer and part owner of Vecino, which is Spanish for "neighbor."

Capitol Avenue Lofts "would be the first development of its kind in Jefferson City," Jurado-Miller said. "Preserving the last of Jefferson City's historic factory buildings, Capitol Avenue Lofts will create much-needed affordable housing for working people in the community."

Jurado-Miller and her partners operate in San Diego, Salt Lake City, Kansas City and St. Louis, as well as their home base in Springfield, which she calls home. Her team will file an application Jan. 16 with the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) as a 4 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) bond deal and will premiere its proposal at the Jefferson City Council's Jan. 17 meeting.

Vecino anticipates knowing the fate of its MHDC bid in March.

Jurado-Miller met earlier this week with Mayor Carrie Tergin and 1st Ward councilmen Rick Prather and Jim Branch.

"This is a very cool concept," Tergin said. "This is not a done deal, but the mayor's take, after a long look at the proposal, is that this is going to be something very good for Jefferson City, for a lot of our folks who need quality housing."

Branch was at Avenue HQ on East Capitol Avenue on Friday to discuss the proposal at a meeting of the East Side Business Association. That group welcomed the news, Branch said.

"I think I may have been one of the first ones looking at the property, looking at the background of the company involved and taking a hard look at its proposal," he told the News Tribune. "I think this thing has legs."

Branch said his personal research has convinced him "Vecino does things right."

The councilman encouraged residents to explore the Vecino website, vecinogroup.com, to review some of its other historic repurposing projects. One such structure, in Troy, New York, bears striking resemblance to the International Shoe facility in Jefferson City.

Kolb Properties is handling both sides of the transaction for current owner Joseph DeLong. He was unavailable for comment Friday. Chris Gates, speaking on behalf of his partner, Larry Kolb, joined Branch in the positive reaction to the Vecino proposal.

"Jeff City really needs a win like this," Gates said. "This is a very, very good proposal. This will be great for Jeff City, especially for the many young professionals and young families who need quality, lower-priced housing."

He added, "We really need the public to be behind this."

Jurado-Miller, of course, is in blanket agreement with Branch, Gates and Tergin. She embellished the support with a quiver of pro-Capitol Avenue Lofts arrows to help subdue any opponents to her plan.

"The project will serve individuals at or below 55 percent of the area median income," she said. "Qualifying incomes are dependent on family size. In Cole County, an individual making $24,000 a year would income-qualify, while a family with four people could make $34,485. LIHTC housing is designed to serve entry-level and lower-wage earners who struggle to find quality affordable housing."

Jurado-Miller said the full-gut renovation would have an estimated $13 million project cost.

Vecino expects 10 studios, 36 one-bedrooms, 25 two-bedrooms and four three-bedrooms to be created within the International Shoe walls. On-site parking will be provided, and no neighborhood street parking will be required. Rent rates and operating budgets have yet to be finalized, Jurado-Miller said.

Actual rental rates are likely to be revealed at the Jan. 17 council meeting.

Jurado-Miller added, "Full accordance with (federal housing law) will create the accessible housing for seniors and individuals with disabilities."

The five-story International Shoe edifice has dominated the 1100 block of East Capitol Avenue since its original 1907 construction. A bustling demand for its lace-up footwear spurred a 1922 addition, and further modifications were made in 1956. Owned by the DeLong family for many decades, the 65,300-square-foot property has been largely vacant, save a few storage occupants, for about 45 years.

The Vecino Group has developed more than 1.5 million square feet of projects totaling $200 million in construction. Jurado-Miller and her partners "believe that the combination of experience and idealism can result in housing for the greater good," she said.