2 Deep Ellum Buildings Get Modern Twist
New development company August Real Estate Co. launched a 100K SF modernization process in Dallas’ Deep Ellum district to bring two historic buildings up to date while preserving the nostalgic feel of the neighborhood.
Formed by brothers Evan and Jordan August, August Real Estate Co. announced plans to transform The Continental Gin Building and 333 1st Avenue into urban, mixed-use spaces for businesses wanting to operate out of Deep Ellum.
The projects are designed to restore and improve the buildings while constructing creative office spaces alongside food and beverage amenities for future tenants and the neighborhood.
The Continental Gin Building dates back to 1888. It served as an artists' studio from 1982 until the August brothers bought it in 2018 and asked the 55 artists in residents to vacate. Once construction is finalized, the building will offer tenants a boutique hotel feel that highlights the building’s original 14-foot ceilings, large wood beams and classic hardwood floors. The developers even repurposed a freight elevator inside the asset, turning it into a stairwell.
Around the original footprint of the building, August Real Estate added glass windows and storefronts and repurposed an old loading dock into a wrap-around deck.
The final project will offer food and beverage amenities, WiFi, shared conference space, and large patios and plaza areas to foster connectivity among tenants. The building is near the Santa Fe Trail, which connects East Dallas to the White Rock Lake area.
The developers describe pre-leasing activity at The Continental Gin Building as strong with Common Desk already committed to 22K SF. Fiction Coffee also intends to operate out of the building’s lobby. August Real Estate plans to create 22K SF of spec office suites with enough flexibility to accommodate multiple tenants up to a full-floor user.
With the coronavirus in mind, design at the building will provide tenants with hospital-grade air filtration standards, UV light systems and touchless features combined with anti-microbial surfaces.
The second project, 333 1st Avenue, is a building that dates back to 1926. The facility underwent renovation in 2006 and offers 36K SF of creative office.
The two developers intend to upgrade the building’s exterior and create a brick-and-glass circulation tower that will eventually host a passenger elevator and stairwell. Being in Deep Ellum, the site will offer an Uber drop-off zone for car-less workers and guests.
