Courthouse to library to professional building

• Steven Rorem in front of the Hudson Professional Building

Steven Rorem stands in front of the Hudson Professional Building which he purchased in March 2010. Photo by Margaret A. Ontl
• The lobby of 901 Fourth St.

The lobby of 901 Fourth St. is welcoming and bright. Photo by Margaret Ontl

Talk about it

The Hudson community has witnessed an evolution of sorts on Fourth Street. The building at 901, formerly 911, Fourth Street was built in 1965 as the St. Croix County Court House.

“It is a beautiful building,” said present owner Steve Rorem. “The structure is incredible and it has one of the best insurance ratings possible.” Contributing to its appeal was the fact that while it was owned first by the county and later, in the early ‘90s by the City of Hudson, it was meticulously maintained.

“It was well built and well maintained and I was looking for an investment,” said Rorem, a Twin Cities native. Rorem started his career quietly as a developer investing in his first building while still in college at the University of Minnesota in 1970.

The Hudson Professional Building currently has a wide assortment of tenants representing everything from non-profits to builders.

Rorem, with the help of his wife Ann who is a community education art instructor as well as a water colorist, has updated the look of the building inside and out. From landscaping to paint and new carpet the building offers a whole new feel.

“I hopefully will find more tenants that are a great as the current ones,” said Rorem. The building is 30,000 square feet; 10,000 on each floor. “It is a great location just a couple of blocks from downtown with plenty of off street parking.”

In the meantime the improvements in the building continue under Rorem’s watch from a display system being installed, so art work and other items may be hung without damage to the walls to energy efficient lighting.

“What appealed to me was the location, all concrete construction, the amazing terrazzo floors and the nice setting with exceptional neighbors,” said Rorem, who knows a good investment when he sees it.

For more information on the building, go to www.hudsonprofession.com or contact Rorem, who is a licensed Real Estate Broker at steve@swanleasing.com or call (715) 254-9653. He maintains an office in the building as well.

Tags: business, development, hudson