605 STOPS BY | THE LOFT ON PHILLIPS

605 STOPS BY THE LOFT

O N P H I L L I P S

by Alana Snyder | Patio Photo by Tim Hanson Productions

When Katie Krantz and her husband, Rodney, purchased the 210 Phillips building in downtown Sioux Falls with Brad and Christal Dietzenbach in August of 2019, they were thinking of office expansion.

“We purchased the building for future growth of our architectural business, VanDeWalle Architects. If the opportunity was there, it’s right next door to our existing location and we’re maxed out at our current location,” said Katie. “The loft was just an added bonus to that.”

The 1,400-square-foot loft had formerly been the primary residence of the art gallery owner below, and the 210 Phillips, LLC team hoped to find a tenant.

“Our goal was to find a longer-lease tenant with the idea to eventually rent it out down the road,” she said.

After there weren’t any bites with the loft’s original state, Katie says they decided to take the leap and make renovations to launch a shortterm rental dubbed The Loft on Phillips. Construction began in February 2020.

“That month we decided to go forward with plans to remodel, and then of course COVID-19 hit in March,” she continued. “But we were into it, and we kept going.”

One of the biggest obstacles was moving the entrance since the former owner’s entrance was directly inside of the gallery. “In order to get into the loft, you had to go into the gallery and up the stairs, so the first thing we had to do to rent it out was to get access directly to the exterior,” explained Katie.

They started with reconfiguring the main floor bedroom and walk-in closet, turning the walk-in into a mudroom and adding a new staircase on the north side with direct access.

“We do still have a staircase connected to the gallery, but we needed to keep that for building code, so it will always be there for emergencies,” she said.

MODERN & SIMPLE+

Katie describes The Loft’s style as minimalist with wood tones and black and white throughout.

For the rest of the inside, they did what Katie describes as mostly a cosmetic remodel.

“We put in new flooring, painted the cabinets, gutted one of the bathrooms, and put in a tile shower with a floating vanity,” she said. “Also, we modified some of the closet spaces. With a shortterm rental you don’t need as much closet space.”

The rental can sleep up to six with one king-size bed on the upper level, a queen-size bed on the main level, and a queen sofa hide-a-bed. Katie describes the décor as Scandinavian-modern, and says The Loft also has plenty of amenities. “The kitchen is fully stocked,” she said. “We have extra folding chairs, extra bedding pillows, things like that.”

One of the best features is the location along Phillips Avenue. The private and secure living space is near a variety of shopping, groceries, restaurants, and attractions downtown. “We’re within walking distance of anything downtown, whether they’re coming here for a concert at the Washington Pavilion or outdoor events this summer, or going to see [Falls Park]. I think we’re in the best location in the city,” said Katie.

TIP

Don’t be confused when the address says Mall Avenue. The entrance is in the back of the building, with parking in the adjacent parking structure off 10th and 11th street.

The Loft on Phillips owners Katie Krantz and Brad Dietzenbach.

And The Loft has one of the best views of the city, with a rooftop patio with over 1,500 square feet of entertainment space. This includes a sound system, two outdoor gas firepits, a gas barbecue grill, a dining table, and patio furniture that seats 10 people.

“On the rooftop patio we also put in string lights on a timer so it creates a nice ambiance at night,” described Katie. The outdoor space can host up to 40 people and has been used for reunions, corporate events, birthday parties, and weddings.

“We have quite a few wedding rentals where the bride and their friends will come in on a Friday night, and the bride will stay there with her bridal party and get ready there the next day,” she said. “Then the couple will stay there on the wedding night.”

While Katie says it’s fun to sit along the 50-foot railing on Phillips Avenue to watch the hustle and bustle of Sioux Falls, guests can simply switch sides for a more private experience.

“If you sit on the backside of the patio closer to the loft area, it all goes away and you feel like you’re in a different space,” she said.

Even the owners themselves have stayed at The Loft just to relax.

“It’s just a fun little getaway for a night to not deal with the stress in our own house.”