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About Your Developer
First Building |
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Joseph Lino,Your Developer
When the company I've worked for the past 15 years changed their business model, and went to all independent franchises, I had no choice but to buy the business that has been established for 82 years. Electrolux, now known as Aerus Electrolux. The floor care vacuum giant for many years.
I had found myself in an expensive lease signed by corporate, but only had 1-1/2 years to live out that lease. I told my good friend Steve Vanlerberg, a land developer here in Kansas city, "Keep your eyes open for a retail building for sale that I could move the vacuum shop to". He immediately said " I know of one" I said it was too early, but I would look at it.
The building is located on a major through street in the heart of downtown Shawnee Kansas, 1 block from City Hall had been a florist shop for as long as he could remember. It was vacant for the last 3 years and was going up for sale at auction in 2 months. This was way ahead of schedule for my time frame, but I looked anyway, WHAT A MESS!! Long stories short,with hardly any money and no bank to loan me the money, I won the auction on February 22, 2005. All the people I had sold central Vacs to in the last 15 years that were in contracting, I CALLED IN ALL MY FAVORS"
We did have a year until my lease was up in the other corporate store. We started demolition the day after closing.
The property address is 11216 Johnson Dr. Shawnee Kansas 66203, 3,000 square feet two stories building with 10,700 square feet parking lot. Parking wasn't a major issue because we were predominantly a direct sales organization, this will tie in later.
Our plan was to take the downstairs 1,700 square feet and convert it into the vac shop. We transformed the offices upstairs,1,400 square feet to a two bedroom, two bath loft. Heated marble and granite floors, built in Jacuzzi, walk-in shower with 24 kt. gold fixtures, executive kitchen, built in flat screens, surround sound, and one of the most affordable living areas. I lived there for approximately one year and loved it.
The remodel went so well beyond my expectations, I asked Steve Vanlerberg just as we were finishing up the exterior of the existing building, November 2005, what do you think about doing the same concept on the other side of the parking lot? Commercial downstairs with a high end loft above. He said, "it couldn't be done". I proceeded to prove him wrong. I began my newest endeavor by designing a 4,000 square foot structure. All the things we couldn't do in the remodel and all the things I wanted to put in for my personal use and couldn't. Much more contemporary, European cabinets, plasmas, hot tubs, 2 balconies, surround sound theater package, 3 fireplaces, a different look altogether. I completed the loft and moved in November 2006, and then sold the lower commercial space to a local attorney and they moved their practice in March 2007.
During this process we have re-platted the 2 buildings into a condominium complex and added another garage, currently known as "Johnson Drive Condos And Lofts". I leased my first loft and started a Homes Association which takes care of all the maintenance, trash and snow removal for the complex.
NOW, "LINOS BARTON PLACE": During the process of moving into my new loft, furnishing it, open houses ect., I had so many compliments and words of encouragement from local residents and business associates.These positive accolades triggered a purchase and a design you see here today, "LINOS BARTON PLACE", "A Residential Living and Office Community." Over 25,000 square feet of office and residential living space.
The concept has remained the same as the remodel, and the remodel part is what has inspired me to continue to update properties and take advantage of incentives that cities offer like the City of Shawnee.
This has brought a major transformation in my life. I still run one of the top Aerus Electrolux franchises in the United states and Canada. But I have touched everything during this remodel and new construction from a jackhammer to a backhoe, and being one of the most screwdriver challenged individuals I know, IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO DELIVERING AN AWESOME PRODUCT TO THE END USER ON BARTON STREET.
Respectfully yours,
Joseph Lino
Designer & Developer
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