LeChase recently celebrated a ribbon cutting for the Victory Lofts in Johnson City, NY. The company partnered with Paulus Development on the project, which transformed the historic Endicott-Johnson (EJ) Victory Shoe Factory into 156 market-rate loft apartments and new commercial space.
“LeChase was proud to partner on both the development and construction of the Victory Lofts, and we are excited that the restored building will continue to serve the local community going forward,” said LeChase President Will Mack, who was among speakers at the event. “In addition to congratulating our colleagues in Broome County and our partners at Paulus Development, we thank the many workers who poured their talent, time and effort into this extraordinary transformation.”
When the 275,000-SF EJ Victory building opened around 1920, EJ was among the world’s largest shoe manufacturers – responsible for nearly all U.S. Army footwear during WWI. In fact, it’s name “Victory” honored the allies’ triumph in that conflict. After closing in the late 1960s, it served as a vehicle storage site until being abandoned in the 1980s and lying vacant for 40 years.
After a groundbreaking celebration in March 2022, crews embarked on the building’s transformation – gutting and renovating the interior, repairing and updating the façade, and adding new parking and landscaping. Some historic elements – including the sawtooth roof, interior pillars and the iconic stone-inlay V on an exterior tower – were restored; other historic features were replicated, most notably the hundreds of 10-foot by 50-foot factory windows. Today, units in the Victory Lofts offer modern comforts and amenities, while maintaining an industrial feel through features like concrete ceilings and exposed brick. The building also features shared areas including a fitness center, technology lounge, and pet spa, as well as optional indoor parking, electric vehicle chargers and bike storage.
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