Former storage facility gives way to upscale apartments

Looking to capitalize on the demand for urban living, ION Development of Bethlehem decided to acquire a former storage facility for Casilio Concrete on West Union Boulevard in Bethlehem and transform it into The Bungalow.

Once complete, the two-story building will have 23 units, said Garrett Benner. He and his brother, Brandon, are developing the project. Tenants will have 20 parking spaces in the rear of the property and another 20 spots that ION Development will lease from the city on a lot across the street, he added.

Benner said the company already has leased several units and that two-bedroom units were among the first to go. The project began this summer and should finish by November, he added.

The estimated construction cost is $3.3 million, he said.

Benner said the company chose to develop the project because of its location.

“The biggest amenity is being downtown,” Benner said.

Other amenities in the 22,000-square-foot-building include central air, washers and dryers in each unit, marble countertops, and storage lockers in the back of the building.

The interior will have an industrial look with concrete ceilings, metal beams and exposed ductwork. The developers also said they want to paint the building’s exterior red brick façade black. Large windows would also allow natural light into the units, they said.

Rents start at $1,300 for one-bedroom units and go up to $1,900 for two-bedroom units. Unit sizes range from 700 square feet to 1,100 square feet.

Quadratus Construction Management of Whitehall is the construction firm working on the project. Workers have begun hanging drywall, redid the roof and installed new windows, said Jim Eck, president of Quadratus.

Workers started framing the units this week, he added.

RFE LLC of Bangor designed the project.

The Bungalow is at 123-128 W. Union Blvd.