Photo by Walker Evans.

A plan to redevelop the cluster of historic buildings at the corner of Front and Long Streets Downtown is back on track after a series of delays. First announced in 2014, the project still calls for micro apartments over ground-floor retail.

We recently checked in with developer Brad DeHays, of Connect Realty, to get an update on the development.

“We ended up having to tear off the face of the building at Front and Long because of vibrations from an adjoining development,” he said, explaining that because the project is receiving historic tax credits, “we had to go through the National Park Service to get approval on the type of brick to re-face it with, and we had to stop everything and block off the sidewalk.”

That set the whole project back, pushing the opening date into the second quarter of 2019 (DeHays had originally hoped to see the first apartments occupied by late 2016).

Despite the delays, “We’re happy with where we’re at,” said DeHays. “The area around it is filling in nicely…we were happy to get the parking garage on Long Street done, and we think we’ll be coming to market at a really good time with an affordable product.”

Connect Realty’s other tiny-apartment project — marketed under the Micro Living brand — features 300 square-foot units in the Stoddart Block Building, at 260 S. Fourth St.

For more information, visit www.microliving.net.