Take a sneak peek inside Rockford's latest $30M downtown apartment building

It's hard to believe the 64-unit industrial loft apartment complex taking shape on South Main Street in Rockford is the same building that stood in there near-ruin two years ago.

The 100-year-old building's windows were either boarded up or smashed. The brick facade looked ready to fall over. The parking lot was a mess. The addition toward the rear of the building was painted a ghostly white.

"The building was an absolute wreck," said Justin Fern, founding principal of Urban Equity Properties. "It was all painted in kind of creamy whites and different colors. It had rusty, rotted windows with boards covering most of the windows that were broken. Pigeons were probably 100 deep. I mean, it was just an absolute disaster."

This summer, Fern plans to cut the ribbon on his latest contribution to Rockford's housing landscape.

The estimated $30 million Water Power Lofts, 700 S. Main St. in walking distance of the Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront and the soon-to-be revamped Davis Park.

The history

Once home to Rockford Brass Works — a company founded in 1890 that for more than seven decades manufactured brass castings and custom valves — the building had been considered dangerous and abandoned by city officials after it had sat vacant for years.

The eye-catching windows

As opening day draws near, glazers put finishing touches on new floor-to-ceiling, energy-efficient and historically accurate windows.

There are two window types, ones that appear similar to the windows on the original building from 1925 and others that match what was originally on the 1958 addition.

The apartments

The mix of studio, one and two-bedroom apartments will feature ceilings that range from 12-feet tall to as high as 35-feet. Apartments and common areas will feature floors of polished concrete, with exposed duct work and industrial finishes, but modern amenities. Kitchens will feature stainless steel appliances, gas ranges with hoods, quartz countertops and islands you can eat at.

Rents will range from $1,250 to about $2,200 a month for the best two-bedroom, two-bath, two-story loft apartment on the top floor that offers views of the Rock River.

The outside

The parking lot is fenced and equipped with an electronic gate to deter car theft and burglary. There will also be building security measures and cameras, Fern said.

From the bottom to the top

The ground floor will feature a tenant lounge for gatherings, birthdays and hanging out. There will be place for a television, a billiards room with a pool table and an arcade.

What was once a factory foundry on the top floor is being converted into a fitness center that will feature high-end gym equipment. Red brick pavers are being restored as the floor of the center and the ceilings will be 35-feet high.

The building is being made accessible so that people who use a wheelchair not only can access the building via a new ramp, but will also be able to use an elevator to reach the rooftop deck.

In the middle of it all

Fern said the building will offer luxury amenities and plenty of activities nearby, not far from a planned train station, the downtown and the new hotel.

"There are a lot of amenities, a lot of things to do within a couple of blocks of this property," Fern said. "If you're into fishing, it's here. I think they are putting $10 million into improvements at Davis Park with lots of family-friendly things there. And there's maybe a skate park going in out there, too."

Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at  (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Much-anticipated Water Power Lofts opening this summer in Rockford