Box Board Lofts in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the fruit of a three-plus-year project to transform a vacant, 100-year-old, 200,000-square-foot American Box Board warehouse into a 173-unit residential community listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The project was developed by Monroe Residential Partners, a vertically integrated firm that specializes in infill projects within emerging neighborhoods.
The property offers residents over 30 unique floor plans spanning from studios to two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. The property targets young professional renters seeking proximity to the urban core of Grand Rapids, new finishes, and full amenities. The developer says the Box Board Lofts will serve as the anchor of the southern portion of the designated City Center zoning in Grand Rapids and sets the stage for continued development in the area in the future.
Unique to the original structure—an American Box Board company location—the apartments feature 13-foot-plus ceiling heights and 12-foot windows offering full views of the Grand River and downtown Grand Rapids. Original red fire doors throughout the building were also maintained and incorporated into the project’s design. During the renovation, two two-story open-air atriums were cut to create the necessary dimensions for two double-loaded “race track” corridors to maximize the number of buildable apartments. The addition of the atriums provided an opportunity to create corridor lounge areas for residents, fully furnished by interior designer Stanton Interior Concepts.
Apartments include stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, in-unit washers and dryers, subway tile tub surrounds, and luxury-vinyl tile flooring throughout. Resident amenities include a direct-access underground parking garage, a spin and yoga studio, a fitness center, a clubroom with a full kitchen, gaming areas, a co-working space, a resident lobby, and on-site property management and maintenance.
