A rainy day couldn’t quash the bright mood of A.M. Titan Principal Anthony Bradford.
Bradford, who leads the Covington-based contractor, debuted one of the firm’s most ambitious restoration projects in the heart of the city. Carnegie Flats, located at 1019 Scott Blvd., is just the latest historical restoration to finish in Covington.
In 1983, USA Today called Covington ‘the most blighted city in the United States’ due to its aging housing stock and population loss. After decades of investment in the city’s urban core, Covington has shaken off the label.
Historical restoration projects help cities preserve their historical identity by maintaining valued buildings and landmarks. This approach is becoming increasingly popular due to rising construction costs and a greater focus on sustainable building practices.
A.M. Titan has completed other adaptive reuse projects in Covington, including the Ernst Mansion co-working space and Mildred Flats I and II.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 30, Covington Mayor Ron Washington touted A.M. Titan’s investment in the city’s urban housing stock.
“Taking these whole old homes and bringing them back to life is just wonderful, and it’s a big part of our city,” Washington said.
The Carnegie, situated next to the development, gives the new complex its name. Built in 1904 as a public library funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the building now hosts arts and theatre exhibitions.
It is also home to the Otto M. Budig Theatre and Eva G. Farris Education Center. A.M. Titan believes that Carnegie Flats’ proximity to its namesake building will help promote it as a desirable place to live.
In total, Carnegie Flats features 21 fully restored apartments throughout the over 7,000-square-foot complex. The renovations include newly installed wooden floors, restored staircases, and new appliances, among other things. The apartments are currently available for lease. Prior to A.M. Titan’s restoration, the building sat vacant for years.
Bradford told the audience that this project was an example of his firm’s commitment to the rehabilitation of the city’s historic buildings.
“Carnegie Flats is the prime example of that,” he said. “What once was a blighted vacant block in the heart of our community received several million dollars of investment and is now 21 pretty nice apartments where folks live, and it’s more than just apartments, they’re homes.”
Bradford said Carnegie Flats is the culmination of 24 months of work. The project cost approximately $4 million, with two of its largest financial partners being the Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky and Cevista Bank.
The Catalytic Fund has heavily invested in restoring historic buildings in Northern Kentucky’s urban center, including Hotel Covington, Boone Block Lofts, and Kent Lofts in Bellevue. Some of its recent investments include the Burton Building in Dayton and SparkHaus, an entrepreneurial hub in Covington.
“They’re homes for people who want to be in Covington, who want to experience what Covington has to offer, and ultimately, it’s a community of people who will help continue to drive economic growth in our community and in Covington,” Bradford said.