Mammoth Makeover
Tremont Place Lofts marks rebirth of behemoth Union Gospel Press building

By Lou Kren

It was a university. It was a hospital. It was a publishing house. It was a boarding house. Most recently it was an eyesore. Not anymore.

The complex of buildings at 710 Jefferson Avenue in Tremont, best known as Union Gospel Press, has been reworked top to bottom, inside and out. The immense project has culminated in the opening of Tremont Place Lofts. UGP Properties LLC (the UGP stands for Union Gospel Press) spearheaded the effort to transform a vacant brick, wood and steel labyrinth – 4.5 acres under roof – into 102 apartments with 26 of them serving as extended-stay hotel suites, from 775 to 3,000 square feet. And no two are the same.

Eleven buildings, constructed periodically over a century and a half and eventually interconnected, comprise the Tremont Place Lofts site. Principals for the transformation included Sandvick Architects, Inc. and Jera Construction Management, both of Cleveland.

Properties met Sandvick’s John Sandrock and Jera’s Michael Rickenbacher in the Tremont Place Lofts leasing office, formerly a boiler room. A bit unique, but the ensuing site tour revealed much more: horse stables converted to residential units; ironing-board cabinets incorporated into suite décor; a European courtyard where the barroom tree from The Treehouse, a Tremont watering hole, was fabricated; a massive center staircase highlighting a luxury two-level unit. Then there’s the unit built around a truck scale, a remnant from the site’s publishing past; and the safes; and the abundance of light wells – remember, a number of site buildings were constructed prior to the invention of the light bulb, so designers and builders back then had to bring in as much natural light as possible. And don’t forget a dumbwaiter in a common area, an original skylight…and the list goes on and on.  

Seemingly every square foot of Tremont Place Lofts boasts a unique characteristic. Residents – nearly all of the units are leased – can take in these architectural subtleties as they enjoy myriad amenities. These include open floor plans, stainless-steel appliances, in-suite washer and dryer, granite countertops, European-style cabinetry, gas fireplaces, business center and Wi-Fi throughout, attached parking, controlled entry and concierge service. A basement fitness center includes state-of-the-art Precor cardio and resistance equipment, a Pilates studio and a party room. About one-third of the units feature balconies. Put it all together and you have what many call the last big piece of the puzzle in the transformation of Tremont. You also have an award-winner. Tremont Place Lofts was recognized at the 2010 Heritage Ohio Preservation & Revitalization Conference as Best Residential Rehabilitation Project.

To read the rest of this article, download the July 2010 issue of Properties Magazine now. [July 2010; download PDF; 11.9 mb]