Thursday, July 21, 2005
BOJI SNAPS UP HOLLISTER BUILDING
LOFTS, RESTAURANT, OFFICES PLANNED FOR LANSING LOCALE
By Stephanie Murray
The Hollister building n downtown Lansing could become the area’s first mixed-use development combing lofts, offices and retail shops under a renovation plan by new owner Ron Boji.
The Boji Group bought the historic seven-story building at 106 W. Allegan last week from Petroff Realty, which had owned it since 1976. Boji declined to say how much he paid for it. “The most important part of what I want to do is on the facade of the building – I want to continue to landmark the historical look it has,” Boji said. “The building is tired. It needs new life.”
Renovation plans include:
Boji said he hopes to land a national restaurant chain for the first floor, in addition to the current three retail tenants: Mr. Toad’s Paper Co., Cigar Connoisseur and Draper Eyewear. The state’s Family Independence Agency also has offices in the building. In total the building is 25 percent occupied.
“I am excited. It’s encouraging for us because we’ve been wanting to renovate our space,” said Rich Murdock, who owns Draper Eyewear, which has been at the same location since 1969.
Principal Shopping District Executive Director Kevin Green said other cities across the U.S. and Michigan – like Grand Rapids and Royal Oak – already have such three-way mixed-use developments like Boji is planning for the Hollister Building. “Unfortunately, we are slightly a step behind many other urban environments,” Green said.
Boji hopes to start construction by spring of 2006.