The first apartments are nearing completion to welcome renters in December.
More than two years ago, the walls of the former Pensacola News Journal headquarters on East Romana Street in downtown Pensacola came tumbling down, signaling a new era of development and making way for hundreds of new apartments that would soon rise above the downtown skyline.
Next month, the first of those 258 apartment units will welcome their first residents, according to Studer Properties, the developer of the project.
A view of the Southtowne courtyard and pool under construction in Downtown Pensacola. (Studer Properties/Special to The Pulse).
“Two years ago, we started with an old, run-down building,” Andrew Rothfeder, President of Studer Properties said Monday “We have transformed this block of downtown Pensacola into what will soon be a thriving and lively place to shop, dine, play, and most importantly, live.”
The Southtowne development, located on the site of the former Pensacola News Journal headquarters on East Romana Street, broke ground in May 2015. Pensacola businessman Quint Studer is developing the $52 million project.
According to the Southtowne website, rental rates for studio apartments will range from $750 to $1,170 per month. One-bedroom apartments will rent from $1,100 to $1,560 per month, two-bedroom units from $1,500 to $1,925 per month, and three-bedroom units from $2,400 to $2,705 per month.
Each apartment will include free and unlimited access to a variety of amenities and shared spaces, including:
- Over 750 square feet of fitness space
- A 1,200 square-foot rooftop deck
- More than 2,500 square feet of indoor leisure space, including a resident lounge, game room, and club room
- An outdoor courtyard, heated pool, outdoor kitchen, and fire pit area which total over 20,000 square feet
- Over 1,000 square feet of business and meeting space, including a “cyber cafe” computer lounge
- Package delivery lockers
- Wi-fi in common areas
A view of a Southtowne apartment in Downtown Pensacola. (Studer Properties/Special to The Pulse).
“We have worked very hard to build an apartment project that provides an entire downtown living experience, while still keeping rental rates as low as possible,” said Rothfeder.
The development will include 28 studio, 109 one-bedroom, 109 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom units.
A view of a Southtowne apartment in Downtown Pensacola. (Studer Properties/Special to The Pulse).
The entire campus will be pet-friendly and non-smoking, and each unit will boast hardwood-style flooring, granite countertops, and an in-unit washer and dryer, and will be equipped with USB charging ports and internet-TV ready connections.
A view of the Southtowne apartment development in Downtown Pensacola. (Studer Properties/Special to The Pulse).
24-hour maintenance will be available, and residents will be able to manage leases and service requests via an online portal. Developers also said a variety of services will be available to residents for an additional fee, including valet dry cleaning, pet walking, and housekeeping services. A bike share service is also planned.
The entire development is planned for final completion in spring 2018.
A view of a Southtowne apartment in Downtown Pensacola. (Studer Properties/Special to The Pulse).