CARLTON LOFTS
Creative reuse of historic school provides much-needed housing
LOCATION
CLIENT
CONSTRUCTED
PROJECT DATE
PROJECT SCOPE
PROJECT SIZE
Cloquet, MN
Roers Companies
1921-1958
2018-2021
Historic tax credit certification, National Register of Historic Places nomination, condition assessments, design guidance for historic building redevelopment
60,000 sq. ft., 57 units
Historic tax credits make the redevelopment of a historic school possible.
CHALLENGE
The former Cloquet High School was decommissioned by the Cloquet School District in 2017. New owners planned to complete a renovation of the building for multi-family housing using state and federal historic tax credits. However, the school had not yet been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places as is required to access historic tax credits. Additionally, the project faced a unique design challenge: preserving the historic character of the school while meeting requirements for a residential reuse.
SUCCESS
New History completed historical research to demonstrate the building’s historical significance and eligibility for the National Register. New History worked with the project team to develop design solutions to meet preservation standards, resulting in a unique housing opportunity for Cloquet residents. In 2020, the project was designated a Top Project by Finance & Commerce.