Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
Highlight includes Free State Apartments tour
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Quality Places Division visited downtown Augusta last Tuesday to celebrate National Community Development Week. The tour included 26 stops over five days across the state of Kansas.
Stopping in downtown Augusta was an easy yes for the Kansas Commerce when they were wanting to highlight and revisit impactful projects that are revitalizing Kansas communities. The project they visited in Augusta was the Free State Apartments which are fixated in the upstairs of the full-service bicycle shop Free State Cycle Works.
Owned by Shawn Davis, Free State Cycle Works has been a staple in downtown Augusta since 2020. Davis moved the shop to its current location of 508 State Street in 2023 after purchasing the historic building in late 2022. He utilized Go!Augusta to apply for grants through Kansas Commerce and secured a Historic Economic Asset Lifeline grant, (HEAL), which assisted the store’s remodel downstairs for the bike shop.
The shop was occupied historically by the old Prairie State Bank and built in 1911. Davis opted to keep the original tin ceiling he found after removing the drop ceiling and the original wood floor.
Upstairs, Davis applied and secured a Residential Opportunities on Main Street grant, (ROOMS), which assisted in his remodel upstairs, that are now apartments. The first apartment he rented has been occupied successfully for about a year now. He is finishing up the remodel of the other two apartments that will be available soon.
The apartments are small but boast plenty of character and upscale kitchen feel with new appliances. Outside the apartments in the shared hall space, tenants have three ventless wash/dryer combos to use for laundry. One other small perk is living steps away from local eateries, breweries and boutiques.
Putting livable apartments on Main Street in small towns is a great way to utilize state grants while getting people back to enjoying their communities again. Among the visitors were local business owners, Go!Augusta personnel, Kansas Commerce employees and Kansas Senator Larry Alley.
“Every time I drive through Augusta, State Street is busy,” said Senator Alley. “I’ve got to ask what is going on. This was a good way to see the progress happening.”
