LINN  — Band Properties co-owner Caleb Bax is pleased with the progress of the 105-unit student housing project as the former Linn Nursing facility is being renovated.

“This is a two-year project,” said Bax of The Lofts, noting the completion date is August 2025. “We took a lot of steps backward before we could start going forward. We are just now starting on the groundwork for all the plumbing. We’ll have all new plumbing and electrical for the whole place. The housing project will be close to all brand-new once finished. We’re also going to have our leasing office out there as well, instead of our staff working remote as they are currently.”

So why choose The Lofts?

“We strive to offer competitive, modern features to make your off-campus renting experience simple,” the features section reads at www.StateTechApartments.com, which lists rent at $645 plus a $650 security deposit.

Bax said his prices are very competitive when compared with other furnished apartments in the area, but these will be unique in the aspect that all students will have private living, and pay one price that includes electric, water, sewer, and trash. Each unit is also fully furnished.

“We’re offering everything except mattresses,” said Bax. “Students will need to provide that. I don’t want to sleep on someone else’s mattress, and I don’t think students will, either.”

Each unit has the same design. “They will be one-bedroom studios,” Bax explained. “Everybody will have their own bathroom, living room, and a fully-stocked kitchen (everything you can think of), couch, Smart TV, nightstand, bed frame, desk, and blackout curtains, to name a few.”

Bax added that privacy is important to students. “They’ll each have private living, which is a driving factor for many of these kids right now,” he said. “They all want singles.”

In addition to the 105 units, Bax said office space is being developed. “We are excited to actually have a leasing office where people can check in, check out, get keys, and have a home base,” he added, noting that no additional employees will be hired at this time. “We run much of the business ourselves or within our family.”

Caleb Bax handles the financial aspect of the business. Partners Nathan and Eric Peters are boots on the ground, making sure development is done at the proper pace. Nathan’s wife, Sarah, is the property manager, and Caleb’s wife, Molly, is the leasing manager.

Caleb Bax said one unit will be reserved as a showroom available at all times.

There will also be a new maintenance area with an office for Tom Hubecky, who oversees the department.

“Tommy’s office ties into his maintenance storage, which makes sense,” said Bax. “We’re going to have a huge common area for all the students with pool tables, ping pong tables, cornhole boards, gaming rooms, a study room, and a weightlifting room. That’ll all be included in the rent for the students.”

Bax noted he is also considering adding outdoor concrete cornhole boards. “We’ll probably have a half-court basketball area and maybe add a sand volleyball court, the possibilities are endless for the property.”

JLL Construction owner Lucas Lee is overseeing the project. “We were hoping this was going to be partially done by August, but there are too many unknowns and supply issues,” said Bax. “They cannot give us a final date; however, Lucas has done all of our building projects in the past, and I have total trust and confidence in his crew and subcontractors.”

Bax noted the plan was to stagger construction so the wings opened with the office. “Now, it’s looking like it’s probably going to be fully opened all in the summer of 2025.”

Band Properties currently has 400-plus bedrooms across its various developments, and is close to being completely full for the 2024-25 school year. “We still have a few other units open, but they fill up fast,” Bax said, noting that in August 2024, he anticipates having approximately 450-plus beds and another 100 by August 2025.

Caleb Bax said he hopes to hold an open house in the summer of 2025. “I think a lot of the people in the town might just come to check it out and see how it’s transformed from what it used to be, its going to be a lot different,” he added.

For more information, visit www.StateTechApartments.com.