Page 84 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2020

DOWNTOWNS
84 | July 2020 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Downtown Livin’ story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos by David Krause and courtesy of Josette’s
There’s just something glamorous about downtown living
– the idea of living, working and playing in the same area. Wanting to be close to good food and even better times, many are opting to ditch the suburban landscape for a more metro locale.
David Krause, better known on the Coast as “The Lawdog,” is the poster child for living downtown and doing it well. The Ocean Springs attorney lives in an apartment above his law rm on Government Street, ful lling his goal of living close to work.
Upon purchasing the pre-existing building, Krause started designing his dream abode, a place where he could live and work. “I couldn’t nd anything like what I had in mind,” he said. “It needed to t in on the street, which has a coastal vibe, but I wanted the interior to have a modern industrial feel and incorporate a fairly new architectural movement: biophilic design.”
David Krause’s downtown home above his o ce.
Biophilic design aims to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the incorporation of natural elements in interior spaces, including plenty of natural light, plants and nature-inspired décor.
While Krause admits that downtown living is sometimes lacking in privacy, he says there’s nowhere else he would rather be. “There’s a feeling of coolness about living here,” he says. “It’s a clean, family-friendly place that lets loose some at night. It’s like walking through Mayberry – I feel like Andy Gri th because I see so many people I know passing by.”
If downtown living seems like your style, Biloxi may soon have the place for you. Developer Jordan Nicaud recently purchased the old Josette’s building and plans to transform the property into Biloxi’s premier apartment living complex. The $3.4 million project will include 24 residential units, a workout room, as well as some retail space on the rst oor.
“He’s keeping a lot of the historic elements in it and adding balconies to the Caillavet Street side,” said Biloxi Main Street Executive Director Kay Miller. “It’ll bring 24-hour living back.”
Former Josette’s builidng to soon be residential units.