Plans for Former Moose Lodge Condos Unveiled to Agents, Brokers

More than 20 local real estate brokers and agents got a chance to preview plans for two proposed luxury residential condominium apartments at the former Moose Lodge during an open house on Feb. 11.

The Doylestown Borough Historical & Architectural Review Board has recommended that Borough Council approve the proposed exterior restoration for the 8,800-square-foot brick landmark on East State Street that was built as the Moose Lodge in 1913.

The Ernst Brothers Designers & Builders plan calls for extensive rehab and restoration to the exterior that will return its appearance to what the original architect, Oscar Martin, had in mind for the Moose Lodge when it was constructed over 100 years ago.

“This is a dream project for all of us because it allows us to work with a piece of borough history and enhance its value to the community and future generations,” said Jake Taylor, partner with Ernst Brothers.

Among the plans to return the exterior to what Oscar Martin envisioned, Ernst Brothers will replace all the windows with modern black casements that meet the vision of the designer from over a hundred years ago.

Inside renovations call for two 4,000-square-foot luxury condominium flats, each with its unique floor plan featuring three bedrooms with an optional fourth. The one-floor units will include their own private landscaped garden and two off-street parking spaces.

The flats are expected to go on the market in the $1.29M to $1.39M range with Jennifer Walton at Weichert Realtors Doylestown. Ernst Brothers plans to have the first unit, located on the second floor, ready for occupancy before school starts in the fall.

The building’s current restaurant on the first floor and event facilities on the second floor have most recently served the needs of The Standard Club, a restaurant, private social club and banquet facility that celebrated the community and Martin, a renowned local architect whose body of work from the late 1800s to mid-1900s includes many of the borough’s most treasured structures.

In fact, The Standard Club hosted the opening portion of the Oscar Martin Excellence in Design Seminar and Tour presented last September by the Central Bucks Chamber’s Architectural & Environmental Committee. Ernst Brothers was one of the house sponsors of the tour.

The landmark building sits at the eastern border between Doylestown’s retail and residential district along State Street.