The 1913 historic Handley building in downtown Sioux Falls has hosted everything from a hardware store to a barber shop.
Most recently, it was under the ownership of Terry Gloe as Gloe Chiropractic. 605’s Alana Snyder came to a halt when driving by on 6th and Franklin on the way to work one morning.
“When I drove by the building and saw a ‘for rent’ sign on the window, I picked up my phone and called to meet the owner,” she recalled. “I asked if he would be willing to sell, and that was the beginning of a six month conversation and process to close on our dream space.”
Alana mentions Gloe believed in the couple and their vision for the building, which boasts both walkability downtown as well as being part of the Whittier neighborhood.
“Our first guest moved in before we could even make finishing touches and stayed for 11 months.” -Alana Snyder
“I love that I can walk to shops, restaurants, and events, but I also love that I can talk to people in the neighborhood and grab a quick coffee or grab supplies at Manna Bakery,” said Alana.
Drawn by the large, spacious windows overlooking the downtown scene, Alana says the Snyders could easily visualize the potential.
Achieving the potential was another arduous story.
“The building is a structural marvel on the outside, but it needed a lot of repair work inside,” explained 605’s co- founder and director of photography and cinematography John Snyder.
Alana continued, “Phase one was the upstairs apartments, and phase two was the lower level, which would be our office and creative studio.
The couple demolished the entire interior, including the ceiling and the walls, removing the floor to plane down the sub-floor and straighten it.
“When we bought the building there were four rooms upstairs, but when we started pulling the wall paneling off, we found six extra doors between rooms and from the hallway, so at some point there were 10 rooms up there,” shared John.
After the full demolition of multiple layers of plaster, wood, drywall, and wallpaper, they brought it all the way down to the brick-and-mortar.
“That also needed to be repaired,” laughed John.
Next was disassembling the banister, stairs, and refinishing all of the floors. In fact, the units all feature the original hardwood floors the couple salvaged and patched up using the extra wood from the hallway.
The interior doors and transom windows are also originals that have been repaired and refinished.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Forgot something? The lofts provide hair dryers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors, coffee and tea, and a fully stocked kitchen for cooking.
After those repairs, the couple did a full HVAC renovation, taking care to keep extensive ductwork out of the units. Then came insulation, new windows, new plumbing and electrical, high speed internet, and all new appliances.
The process wasn’t easy, but it was rewarding.
“I liked being able to talk with the previous three generations of owners, interview them, and get a little history and find out all the fun things about the building,” shared John.
Alana recalls the moment she really felt like the team was creating something special for visitors: When they completed the hallway.
“When we first bought the building it was dark with old carpet, patched up faux wood walls, and a broken chandelier,” she said. “John and the construction crew transformed it into this welcoming, bright, modern first impression for guests.”
“It makes my heart full when we have return guests, which happens more often than I expected.” -Alana Snyder
As local art collectors, the couple’s inspiration for the lofts was to create a modern, clean, and fresh space that’s surrounded by local art. They wanted it to feel like a “home away from home.”
Many of the pieces are from exhibits at Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City, Rose & Eugene Presents in Sioux Falls, and of course, from one of Alana’s hobbies: dropping into artists’ DMs on Instagram.
Along the hallway is a gallery wall picturing various 605 Magazine endeavors across the state, and at the top of the stairs is an eye-catching rhino painting by Sioux Falls native artist Shaine Schroeder.
With finishing touches complete, the 605 Lofts officially opened for business in October 2023, managed by Kayla and Albert Huizing from property management company SoDak Stays.
“I had met Kayla when we featured SoDak Stays in 605 Magazine, and I really was drawn to her passion for what she does,” said Alana. “I knew they would do an incredible job, and they just so happened to have openings for vacation rental management, so we swooped in.”
In 2020, the Huizings rented out their basement on Airbnb because they had extra space.
“It was wildly successful, and we were surprised at how much fun we were having welcoming people into our home,” remembered Kayla.
When her parents bought a piece of property and asked the couple to manage it later that year, SoDak Stays was born.
Three years, 22 properties, and 3,000 guests later, the Huizings are Superhosts on Airbnb.
“It’s because of them that we’ve already become Superhosts in our first year of renting,” said Alana, adding that Albert has literally put his sweat (and possibly tears) into the property, helping with furniture, advice, and even fixing a water heater in the middle of the night.
“We love walking beside people and providing a comfortable space for them, no matter what life brings them,” shared Kayla.
Each of the 605 Lofts is thoughtfully named after one of the iconic presidents carved into Mount Rushmore— South Dakota’s claim to fame. The Washington and Jefferson are studios, while the Lincoln and Roosevelt are one-bedroom apartments.
Unit amenities include a queen-sized bed, 65-inch smart TV, futon, full-sized shower, in-unit washer and dryer, and parking four blocks away from downtown.
The lofts are similar, but like the faces on Mt. Rushmore, they all have their own unique touches. For example, a light-up Sid’s Crown Liquor sign that used to hang in 605 Magazine’s previous office in Cherapa Place is now a statement piece in the Roosevelt’s living room.
ABOVE & BEYOND
Superhosts are top-performing Airbnb hosts who have to meet a series of requirements like maintaining a 90% response rate, a less than 1% cancellation rate, and 4.8 star overall rating.
“My favorite unit changes depending on the day of the week,” said Kayla. “I appreciate that every unit is different, giving them all their unique character.”
The lofts are available for short or long-term rentals, welcoming all walks of life, from traveling nurses to tourists to those on business trips.
“We’ve already had sightseers from Maryland, professionals coming in for meetings, and visitors from the United Kingdom,” shared Alana.
Each guest also receives a custom 605 Lofts magazine-style guide with some of 605 Magazine’s favorite restaurants, attractions, and stops.
“605’s mission is to connect our readers and followers to the people and places of South Dakota,” said Alana. “There’s no better way to do that than by hosting them at our very own downtown office building.”
