The premier urban residential rental experience in downtown Alton is here! Located in the pearl of downtown Alton – what was the old Franklin House, and formerly the Lincoln Hotel, are eleven upscale residential apartments! 

AMENITIES:

All Lincoln Loft units will feature:

* downtown or river views or both

* free wifi and cable TV

* large capacity washers / dryers in each unit

* free private designated parking

* high efficiency central heat / air conditioning with exposed ducts

* gourmet kitchens with sleek Euro cabinets and stainless appliances

* hardwood or laminate flooring

* tiled showers with rain shower heads

* European vessel sinks

* architecturally designed for interest and function

* Hunter ceiling fans in bedrooms

Some units feature:
* two levels

* Swedish stairs

* offices

* breakfast bars

* walk-in closets

* coat closets / broom closets / additional storage

* fireplaces (decorative historic)

* interior historic windows or sliding doors

* exposed brick walls

PRICE AND UTILITIES:

Lincoln Loft units are priced from $650 - $1200 per month and will include water, cable tv, wireless internet, trash, sewer, private parking, and secure entry system card reader access.

SAFETY:

The building is equipped with a state-of-the-art sprinkler system, hard-wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, emergency pull alarms, fire escapes, emergency exits, and emergency lighting for the utmost in safety.

HISTORY, HAUNTINGS AND LEGEND:

This property is listed on the National Historic Register. It is rumored that Abraham Lincoln slept here during the time of the Lincoln Douglas debates. His rumored bedroom is located in what is now unit A or “Abraham.” While his sleeping here has not been corroborated, there is reliable information suggesting he most certainly dined here.

This building was commissioned by the owners of the First National bank of Alton in 1836. The building was then an insurance company, called Marine Fire and Casualty. After that, the two buildings were combined to house the 42-room Franklin House Hotel. Some time after Lincoln’s visit, the hotel was renamed the Lincoln Hotel. After many years, the hotel, once elegant, became a flop house for transients. Eventually the hotel closed.

The building’s lower floors were revitalized in the late 1980’s to house the Franklin House tea room and gift shops. The owners of the building did extensive work on the lower floors but the upper floors remained vacant. Another restaurant, the Seafood Escape, eventually took the building over and while ignoring the upper floors, operated a semi-popular restaurant and bar. After the restaurant eventually closed, the building was foreclosed upon.

We purchased the building in 2006, with the intention of chic urban residential development. After finally ridding it of the flocks of pigeon occupants, we were able to focus on repairs needed to save the structure and then on to architectural plans. We were intent on maintaining original corridors and as many as possible original historical features, posing a huge burden on our architect. With his help, we managed to find the balance between history and modernization and thus was born the Lincoln Lofts.

The building has been a regular stop on the haunted Alton tours over the years because of numerous rumored ghost sightings. The main legend of haunting was of a little girl named Rachel who was ill during her family’s travels and died during her stay at the hotel. Her family buried her and went on their way. While not believers ourselves, our workers have claimed to have seen a small girl sitting with a man in a Civil War uniform. Other workers have seen (and heard) other supposed “ghosty” sights and sounds. The encounters, though, have always been passive, if not a little friendly.

Besides our Lincoln link, there are many other great benefits to living here. The stone structure across William Street behind the building is what remains of the Alton Confederate Penitentiary. The wall and monument can be easily seen from the rear facing apartments. Many visitors come to view this landmark year round.

The infamous “Piasa Bird” (an Illini Indian word meaning bird that devours men), an Alton legend from the 1600’s, described as a birdlike monster as large as a calf with horns like a deer, red eyes, a beard like a tiger's, a face like a man, a body covered with green, red and black scales and a tail so long it passes around the body, over the head and between the legs, the Piasa Bird is painted on the bluffs less than a mile away from the Lincoln Lofts along the Mississippi River and can be easily seen while on a walk, jog, or bike ride, up the bike trail just outside your back door!

You can also eagle watch right out your windows! The once near extinct bald eagle now roosts virtually outside your door many months of the year. Watch them dive for fish in the frozen river while sipping your coffee in your cozy cosmopolitan home.