Lofts at the Zarah
1917 Lakin Avenue | Great Bend, Kansas
Lofts at the Zarah reimagines the historic Zarah Hotel in downtown Great Bend, creating 28 new apartment units through adaptive reuse and historic preservation of long-vacant upper story spaces.
Project Overview
In 1925, the Zarah Hotel emerged as a testament to Great Bend's flourishing downtown, boasting a dynamic blend of hotel accommodations, retail spaces, and offices on its first floor along Main Street and Lakin Avenue in Great Bend, Kansas. This architectural gem was erected during an era of robust economic expansion that both Great Bend and central Kansas were witnessing. The hotel portion of the building remained in use until the 1970s. Later that decade the building ground floor was renovated for retailers.
In the present day, the former Zarah hotel building is only being used on the first floor, leaving the second, third, and fourth floors vacant for about the last 50 years. The goal for the Zarah is to develop moderate income housing (MIH) lofts in the upper floors of the building.
Project Milestones
1925
Original building constructed
2022-2024
Development planning and design
2025
Construction complete!
Property Before Images
Project Hurdles
The biggest challenge with this project was structuring the deal to make best use of all the available incentive programs. Additionally, reconciling the requirements of the State Historic Preservation Office with the physical attributes and limitations of the building is always a challenge worth noting.
After Images
Project in
progress
Future Property Features
In-Unit Washer and Dryer
Modern Appliances
Premium Countertops
Contemporary Finishes
Commercial space on ground floor
High Speed Internet
