Brinkman completes South Main Station’s initial phase for Mass Equities

Brinkman Construction recently completed the first phase of South Main Station, including four buildings of the five-building multifamily and mixed-use project at the intersection of First Avenue and Main Street in Longmont. Part of the larger redevelopment of the 26-acre former Butterball Turkey plant, the $70 million mixed-use development is the first large-scale urban apartment community in downtown Longmont.

Developed by Mass Equities, a private equity real estate investment firm, and designed by Shears Adkins Rockmore, South Main Station comprises 253 apartment units and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor space including residential and commercial units fronting Main Street. Of the five buildings, two include street-level retail with residential units above and one building is a traditional walk-up with garden-level units. The phase 1 unit mix is 35 studio, 161 one-bedroom, and 57 two-bedroom units averaging 860 sf.

“Mass Equities is excited that this first phase of South Main Station Apartments is completed, providing for the growing demand for new apartments and retail amenities in downtown Longmont,” said Brian Bair, MEQ principal and senior vice president of acquisitions and development for Colorado. “Brinkman was the perfect strategic partner to help bring our vision of a community with an updated urban feel that still reflects Longmont’s historic charm.”

When asked about the challenges of a mixed-use project, “Building the mixed-use product type requires the incorporation of multiple construction types and code requirements,” said Brinkman Project Manager Dane Hix. “We contracted with multiple trades for the same discipline in different parts of the building to ensure delivery within a prime leasing season for our client.”

South Main Station’s design is a nod to the industrial roots of the site with steel accents and masonry facade.

“South Main Station is located on the former industrial Butterball Turkey site and was designed as a southern extension of historic downtown Main Street,” said Kari Daly, SA+R project architect. “The new architecture is reminiscent of the existing urban fabric along Main Street while also acknowledging the site’s industrial history. This context gave us inspiration for the use of brick, concrete accents and steel balconies used throughout the development.”

As for the interior, units feature quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and sliding barn doors – along with a mix of covered, private and surface parking.

“Tenants will value the well-appointed apartment units as well as the wide variety of public amenity spaces,” said Patrick Bohler, SA+R senior associate and project manager.

Of the many on-site amenities offered, the rooftop lounge with fire pits, a bar and expansive communing areas is a focal point. The apartments also include access to an on-site gym, yoga room and community room with kitchen, as well as a swimming pool, hot tub, fire pits, pet spa, mail center and storage. A do-it-yourself garage includes a self-service bike and ski workshop.

“The development has shared spaces to accommodate both work and play activities and ample room for both small and large gatherings,” Bohler said. Shared spaces were designed to take advantage of the environment with a spacious pool deck, courtyard and rooftop deck with views to Main Street, the expansive Front Range and Longs Peak, he continued. “This location provides easy access to Boulder and Fort Collins and an immediate connection to the very walkable downtown Longmont with its assortment of bars, restaurants and retail.”

“This has been a flagship project for us,” noted Jim Ciesla, president and CEO of Brinkman Construction. “We’re proud to be partnering with Mass Equities to bring something unique to the Longmont market.”

Published in the Sept. 16-Oct. 6, 2020, issue of CREJ.