HOBBS TAYLOR LOFTS, a 32-unit loft-style condominium, is being constructed northeast of Eighth and New Hampshire streets. Residents will own their lofts rather than rent. The lofts are scheduled to be completed by the end of this summer.

Lawrence is a town where the hipsters flock and trends start.

So it’s only natural that Harris Construction Co. should bring lofts, the latest trend in homes for the upwardly mobile and young urban professionals, to Lawrence.

Not that anyone can really define what exactly a “loft” constitutes. For Lawrence, at least, the standard is being set by Hobbs Taylor Lofts, the latest addition to the Mass. Street living scene.

The lofts, set to be completed in midsummer, are selling for about $250,000 unfurnished. But these lofts seem to be attracting a different type of crowd. Bo Harris, chief executive officer of Harris Construction, says two-thirds of the building’s 32 lofts are spoken for, mostly by empty nesters and Kansas University employees. Young professionals, Harris said, simply don’t call Lawrence home.

“Our market has certainly been empty nesters of all age groups,” he said. “I think that is the segment of the market that is looking for a carefree lifestyle and being away from the obligation of the exterior maintenance, including the landscaping and the yard.”

That was the draw for Marian Hukle and her husband, Jack Porter. Facing a soon-to-be empty nest, the couple were looking for a change, something with less maintenance and a bit more “urban,” Hukle said.

As of mid-March, two-thirds of the 32 lofts at Hobbs Taylor Lofts had been spoken for.

“We looked at the cooler cities like Boston and San Francisco, but they’re too expensive. We even looked at Kansas City. We were just tickled to see that Lawrence was going to build these,” she said.

Hukle and her husband both work at KU and live on the west side of town, an inconvenience, Hukle says, because they spend a great deal of time downtown.

“We are always there eating out, having coffee, going to the library,” she said. “Now it seems like such a major operation to go downtown. I don’t like not being able to walk anywhere.”

Hukle is clearly looking forward to her new loft lifestyle. Harris said lofts could mean many things. In this case, the lofts will have high ceilings, large windows and open spaces.

“We wanted a loft component to our building because we felt like there would be a market for it because of the vibrancy of downtown Lawrence,” Harris said.

For more information on Hobbs Taylor Lofts, go to http://www.hobbstaylorlofts.

com.