Housing in Salina is a difficult thing to find. Although there's a unique option in downtown, it's just about as scarce.

More than 50 lofts can be found above the various businesses and restaurants along Santa Fe Avenue and surrounding streets, and the owner of more than half of those said every unit he has is currently filled.

Brian Richardson got involved in renovating upstairs units along Santa Fe 15 years ago.

"I had always liked the construction piece (of things) and dabbled in it for a while," Richardson said.

He said it started with some of the old Brown Mackie College buildings that were downtown, which sat vacant for nearly 10 years by the time he began work on them.

"We went in kind of on a whim and didn't really know what we wanted to do (with them)," Richardson said.

Richardson, who owns some commercial properties downtown as well, said when he was in the Charlotte, North Carolina area he saw some interesting concepts for buildings that he thought could work well in Salina too.

"At the time there...a handful of downtown lofts, maybe only five, six or seven," Richardson said. "So we put four lofts up there."

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Richardson, through his business, Santa Fe Properties LLC, has taken up other property and now owns and manages 30 lofts along Santa Fe Avenue.

A diverse range of downtown tenants

From the beginning, Richardson said the age of the people who live in these one-bedroom lofts is a wide range, with people in their 20s up to their 70s or 80s.

"It really has met an interest for a wide range of age demographics and income demographics," Richardson said.

Richardson said the people living there have changed a bit over the years, but a couple of factors have drawn tenants, one being the look and feel of downtown.

"There's a lot of character (in the buildings)," Richardson said. "How did people...build those monstrosities of buildings (like the Temple or the United Bank)."

Another factor is the proximity to key businesses downtown.

"We've had a lot of residents that have worked for the hospital and the city or county (government), with those being the two largest employers sitting on either end of Santa Fe, " Richardson said.

With the transformations that have taken place in the last five years, particularly with the revitalization efforts put into the downtown area, he said, there has been a shift in the demographics of new tenants.

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"We're seeing what you would typically see in these urban settings, more of the young professionals, inquiring (about the lofts)," Richardson said. "(But) we're full right now."

One example of this move to the young professional is Richardson's 25-year-old daughter, who just moved into one of these lofts in the past two weeks. She runs the residential side of of the business.

"That's who we're seeing, these young singles or couples that want to move to, (or back to) Salina for the reasons that are happening," Richardson said. "They like that downtown opportunity to hang out at the brewery, go to the Stiefel (Theatre) or go get ice cream and not have to get in their vehicle (and drive)."

As more development happens, more interest is expected

Richardson said he's excited for the future of Salina and for downtown in particular. With more businesses moving into town and projects happening, he's expecting there to be more interest in people looking at living downtown.

"People have been wanting to move downtown for 15 years," Richardson said. "With the transformation that's happened on main street...that certainly has brought a lot more interest in the acquisition of property and redevelopment."

One project in particular that Richardson is excited to see move forward is the Smoky Hill River Renewal.

"As that comes more and more to fruition, and with the big announcement last week of the $22.1 million, that probably pushes more (development and interest)," Richardson said. "I think that brings a whole different piece to downtown."

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina's downtown has seen a surge in upstairs apartment loft living