Rosenbaum condos nearing completion
By Staff
ALMOST READY Bill Kennedy, left, Bill and Christine Barham and Tim Snowden make final design decisions about the Barhams' condominium in the Rosenbaum Building, undergoing renovation in downtown Meridian. The Barhams' unit is scheduled to be the first one completed.Photo by Carisa McCain / The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael/staff writer
Jan. 23, 2002
After being vacant for nearly 30 years, the Rosenbaum Building is scheduled to have new tenants by late February or early March.
Condominiums will occupy the second and third floors. The first floor is being renovated and will be leased for commercial use.
The restoration of the historic building located across the street from The Grand Opera House of Mississippi was the project that sparked the revitalization of downtown Meridian, according to owner Barbaree Heaster.
Family tradition
Heaster's great-grandfather, A.L. Rosenbaum, developed the building more than 100 years ago. The four-story building on Fifth Street housed lawyers, Realtors, dentists and other small business offices in the late 1800s.
Heaster said she decided to restore the building because she didn't want to see the beauty of the historic building wasted.
Heaster hired O.L. Snowden and Sons as the general contractors for the $3 million project, which includes the construction of 14 condominiums on the second and third floors of the building. Kemp and Associates are the architects.
Condo features
The partially completed condos feature 10- to 14-foot ceilings, ceramic tile, art niches, grand foyers and natural light from large windows.
Heaster also tried to keep intact as much of the original look and feel of the building as possible, including: large open windows, pressed metal ceilings, exposed brick walls and architectural details around the entrance of the building.
The condos are 1,200-1,400 square feet and start at $180,000. Most are already sold.
The condos on the third floor are the most elaborate and have been custom-built with personal touches by the owners. One of the condos on the third floor takes up three units, encompasses 4,500 square feet and features a grand foyer with a 20-foot sky light.
Working relationship
Tim Snowden, co-owner of O.L. Snowden and Sons, said his company has had a wonderful working relationship with Heaster.
Snowden called this project a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to be able to work on the historic building. He said he hopes to be finished by the first of March.