Residents have started moving into the first of two new projects from the Lykens Companies on Detroit Avenue.
The four townhomes on the south side of the narrow Italian Village street were originally proposed as a for-sale product, but are now for rent.
“Those are pretty unique, and we’ve seen a lot of excitement for them,” said owner Kevin Lykens, “we went over and above on finishes.”
The 2,000 square foot, two-bedroom units each come with a parking spot in the attached garage. Rents range from $2,900 to $3,300 a month.
Leasing is also underway on the second project, the renovation of the former E.J. Thomas building directly across the street, at 180 Detroit Ave. The building features 20 one-bedroom apartments which range in price from $1,100 to $1,800 a month.
The Detroit Avenue buildings are just two of many projects from the Lykens Companies in the neighborhood. In addition to the high-profile Budd Dairy project (which now includes multiple adjacent parcels), work will be starting soon on the three-story Spring Cleaners development.
Also, currently in the design phase is a plan for the Columbus Electrical Works, at 777 N. Fourth St., which will eventually hold a mix of office space and about ten residential units. The brick building just to the north of the Electrical Works, meanwhile, will likely be renovated and leased for restaurant use.
A lot has changed in the neighborhood since Lykens spearheaded the conversion of the former Wonderbread factory into loft apartments in 2013 (the building opened to residents in January of 2014). In addition to hundreds of units coming online at Jeffrey Park, smaller infill projects have been completed throughout the area.
“It’s amazing, in four short years, what the neighborhood has done,” said Lykens, adding that, “even with all the new product, our historic projects are doing really well…demand never been higher at Wonderbread.”
