The thriving South End commercial strip will
get an infusion of housing and street-level businesses in a
project unveiled Thursday by developer David Furman and Crosland.
The $27.5 million, 175,000-square-foot
project will include 115 residential units -- 25 percent of which
will sell for less than $100,000 -- and cover three acres on South
Boulevard across from SouthEnd Brewery.
"This will bring more residents to
South End, and more people living there is what makes everything
else go," Furman said.
In addition, he said, The Village of
Southend will perpetuate the redevelopment momentum along the
strip of South Boulevard from uptown to Ideal Way and help bridge
South End with the Dilworth neighborhood.
Furman's Boulevard Centro plans four
"communities," each featuring different designs, sizes
and price ranges. Each community faces one of the streets bounding
the village: South Boulevard, Magnolia Avenue, McDonald Avenue and
Euclid Avenue.
The Village of Southend will be one of the
largest condo projects ever announced for the inner city.
The site was assembled three years ago by
Jim McCurry of McCurry Properties and Bob Langford. The original
emphasis was on upscale retail and offices with 38 Boulevard
Centro condos.
"We hit a timing problem -- the office
market was weakening when we were trying to get it started,"
McCurry said. "Now there's a greater emphasis on condos and a
minimum amount of office space."
He said the shift in strategy will enable
him to renovate for commercial use a 9,000-square-foot building
that would have been demolished for parking across McDonald from
the village.
"The silver lining in the cloud is the
residential market remains strong," McCurry said.
"Boulevard Centro and Furman Architecture have a unique
specialty in creating super-hip condos and lofts on very tight
urban sites."
Furman's other projects include Gateway
Lofts in Third Ward and Skyline Terrace and four others in First
Ward.
The Village of Southend condos will wrap
around a 144-space parking deck, likely to be started in November.
Condo construction probably could start in early spring, and the
first units could be completed by late next year.
Crosland will renovate an 8,000-square-foot
1940s industrial building for commercial use and add 7,000 square
feet, including mezzanine space and an adjoining three-story
building.
Eric Vargosko, vice president of Crosland's
office and industrial division, is quoting a $25-a-square-foot
lease rate for commercial space in the complex, designed by MWT
Architects.
In addition, Crosland will sell about 6,500
square feet of commercial condo space included in the village's
residential buildings for about $200 a square foot.
Here are specifics on each of Boulevard
Centro's communities:
• Plaza
Lofts: a four-story building facing South Boulevard, includes
three levels of open loft units above ground-floor retail. Twelve
units range from 816 to 1,100 square feet and sell for $149,500 to
$198,000.
• Magnolia
Court: 63 units built on four levels around a courtyard and
fountain; lofts and townlofts with designated sleeping and living
zones; 545 to 1,126 square feet, $89,000 to mid-$130,000s.
• The
McDonald Towns: 16 loft-style units in a four-story building; 862
to 896 square feet; $143,500 to $153,500.
• The
Euclid Towns: 24 units, three-stories with a traditional design to
mesh with Dilworth houses; 841 to 1,134 square feet; $135,000 to
$181,000.
Boulevard Centro officially opens sales
today, but Furman said 18 units already are under contract.
Elizabeth Phares, who is handling sales at Boulevard Centro, said
an on-site sales office will be open Saturday and Sunday.
Furman said he's negotiating with Carocon
Corp. to construct the condo buildings.
Doug Smith
