Uniland Development Co. made an informal presentation to the Preservation Board of its redevelopment plans for the northwest corner of Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street yesterday. An architect from HHL Architects representing Uniland said the plan is to clear the site including the circa-1917 Delaware Court building. The two-story, curved building’s ornate façade would be recreated using terra cotta in what would be a mixed-use complex of all new construction.
Last September a subsidiary of Uniland paid $3 million for the Delaware Court building along with a gas station/convenience store fronting S. Elmwood Avenue. Downtown is abuzz with talk that Delaware North Cos. is relocating its corporate offices to Uniland’s mixed use development that some say will be in the 15 to 20-story range. Delaware North’s lease for 110,000 sq.ft. of space in the south tower of Key Center expires in 2015.
Uniland is not providing any additional details on the project contemplated for the two-acre site. The Preservation Board was told the plans are not ready but that the new building will be “glorious” and “one to remember.”
HHL Architects and Diamond Schmitt Architects out of Toronto have been hired to design the project. HHL and Diamond Schmitt also teamed up to design Uniland’s proposed Gates Circle condominium tower.
Uniland officials are planning to return to the Preservation Board on September 5 to provide more details on their proposal.