Lofts 321

Lofts 321

Lofts 321 occupies the Shell Smith Building, built in 1926 and designed by architect W. J. Van der Meer. It opened onto what was then Peach Street — the name Rockford's west side carried until later that year, when the city renamed it for Thomas Jefferson.

It was built for the Peach Street Retail District, and its first tenants were the Osborne Furniture Company, which billed itself as the pioneer store in the new district, and Carl Stromberg, interior decorator, who took the west half of the building.

Rockford firms built it: Security Building Company as general contractors, cut stone by Gust Olson from his yards at Water and Jefferson, plumbing and heating by Swords Bros., plastering by O. M. Grip, roofing by David Carlson, and Montgomery elevators.

Urban Equity Properties has restored the building as loft residences, its original beams and brick left exposed.