New York-based company confirms it has bought Naismith Hall and plans renovations; other real estate sales for the week

Posted by Chad Lawhorn February 7, 2013 at 10:01 a.m.

New York-based company confirms it has bought Naismith Hall and plans renovations; other real estate sales for the week

As we previously reported in Town Talk, all the signs were indicating that the major national apartment firm The Bromley Companies had purchased the large, privately owned student residence hall at the northeast cover of 19th Street and Naismith Drive.

Well, the New York-based company has now confirmed it. In a press release, the company said it has purchased the 504-bed Naismith Hall and plans some major renovations.

“It is an attractive, well-located building that has housed over 20,000 University of Kansas students over the years, and we plan to make a significant capital investment to transform the common areas and student rooms into exciting, fun, modern spaces for future generations of KU students.”

The company in 2013 plans to renovate the lobby to create a new lounge, study area, eating area and exercise area. Plans also include a multiyear project to modernize student rooms. Part of the renovations will focus on expanding wireless Internet connections throughout the building and upgrading broadband speeds, the company said.

After last night’s basketball game, I wonder if there are some flat screen TVs to replace as well.

According to property records, a Miami Beach-based company previously owned Naismith Hall.

As far as other land transfers, I have the list for the week ending Jan. 28. Click here to see it. There’s not much to report that we haven’t already mentioned before.

It does appear several deals we have reported on got finalized in the week. Investors in the Poehler Lofts building in East Lawrence purchased from longtime Lawrence property owner Harold Shepard additional land just south of the building for a possible second affordable house apartment project. And Genesis Health Clubs also completed its deal to buy the real estate of the former Lawrence Athletic Club from the lender that had taken over the property.