Whittier building has new owner, lofts planned

• Whittier school

Pictured here is the former Whittier School building at 410 W. Second Ave. in Mitchell, which was recently sold for possible conversion to apartments. (Chris Huber/Republic)

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The former Whittier School building at Second Avenue and Sanborn Boulevard in Mitchell has been cleared out, and new owners are preparing to tackle a renovation.

Former owners Boyd and Kay Reimnitz transferred the deed to Whittier Lofts LLC for $175,000 on Monday, according to the Davison County Register of Deeds Office.

Ross and Amber Determan, and Brad and Karol Ciavarella, all of Mitchell, are the initial members of Whittier Lofts LLC.

The tentative plan is to put apartments in the building, and Ciavarella Design plans to locate its offices in the building.

“If we can help save this building, that’s what we want to do,” Brad Ciavarella, an architect, said Friday afternoon.

The company is working to obtain a building permit through the city, but since the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the company also needs to meet with the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.

The Determans and Ciavarellas formed Whittier Lofts LLC on March 30, according to the secretary of state’s website.

Ciavarella said initial plans are to keep the exterior of the building and the hallways inside the same, and renovate other portions inside the building within state guidelines.

Nothing is set in stone as of yet, he said, because everything is in the early stages.

The Whittier School building was built in 1935 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

In recent years, it was used as a daycare center and then a flea market.

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