Downtown enthusiasts and pessimists are focused on the Inner Harbor as Benderson Development with a dollop of taxpayer money is driving the Canal Side project forward. Two blocks to the east of Main Street, the transformation of the area around HSBC Arena is already underway.
Sam Savarino and Chris Jacobs, following First Amherst Development’s Elk Terminal Lofts, saw the potential of the Cobblestone District and the foot of Main Street years ago. Savarino and Jacobs are nearly finished transforming a stretch of Mississippi Street into a mix of office, residential and restaurant space. The final piece of their project, conversion of the former Benlin warehouse, will welcome its first tenants in just a few weeks.
Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) has signed up to be the anchor tenant in the five-story building at 95 Perry Street. The State agency leased the top two floors, but recently disclosed that it will sublease one of those floors. ESDC staffers will be in their new space by mid-January.
Watts Architecture & Engineering, P.C. is taking the third and half of the second floor. Five, two-bedroom apartments will fill the balance of the second floor space.
The ground floor will include a tenant fitness center and additional office and retail space. Savarino is currently searching for a restaurant operator for the corner space which includes a covered patio (photo below).
Benchwarmer’s Sports Bar & Grill will soon join W. J. Morrissey’s Irish Pub at adjacent 30 Mississippi Street (below) once its liquor license application is approved.
Get Connected: Savarino Cos., 716.332.5959