Construction is on schedule for a new student living facility downtown, with an expected unveiling this August.

Formerly a vacant office, Creekwalk Commons will be transformed into a four-story apartment building at 324 W. Water Street. The building is expected to house 146 residents — including students from any of the area’s colleges and universities. It will also include amenities such as a fitness center, several study rooms and about 8,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor.

The building used to house National Grid offices and a customer service center, but became vacant in 2010, said Charlie Breuer, one of the building’s owners and project manager for Hueber-Breuer Construction Company.

“There is a lot of office space available downtown, so it’s a pretty saturated market,” Breuer said.

He added that the idea to renovate the building into student housing surfaced roughly two years ago.

Breuer said living downtown gives students an “urban living experience” and a different living situation. He also noted the building’s proximity to other colleges and universities, including State University of New York at Oswego’s downtown Syracuse campus.

“With some of our prior experience with student housing, we thought it would be a good fit (downtown),” Breuer said.

Construction on the apartments began in October. Currently, the second and third floor apartments are completely framed out, and the fourth floor has to be added to the building. Work on that addition will begin soon, Breuer said.

The building will mostly hold two-bedroom apartments but will also include studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom suites, said Linda Charles, vice president of management for Sutton Real Estate. All apartments will be fully furnished.

Charles added that leases are 11.5 months and range from $1,050 to $1,250 per person, which includes utilities, basic cable and Internet. The company is currently accepting leasing applications for the 2014-2015 school year.

Linda Hartsock, director of the office of community engagement and development at SU, said the building is close to the Warehouse and near the Student Sandbox.

In addition, the location will be convenient for students who work downtown or on the Near West Side because it will give them a chance to go home to study and sleep, Hartsock said.

Creekwalk Commons’ proximity to the Connective Corridor would allow students free transportation to and from campus as well, she said.

“At the Student Sandbox, students are working there and living there all semester long,” Hartsock said. “It was not uncommon for me to come in in the morning to see people sleeping on couches.”

Hartsock also said the housing will give the apartment residents a chance to interact with the downtown community, adding that students make the area more vibrant.

“I think students enjoy being part of Armory Square — the restaurants, the shopping, the nightlife,” she said.

Hartsock said she hopes the presence of students in that location will help spur additional interest from area business owners in the Connective Corridor.

Breuer, one of the building owners, said Creekwalk Commons brings a different crowd to downtown.

Said Breuer: “Everyone’s excited for it to be happening.”

Published on January 21, 2014 at 2:20 am

Contact Kristen: kaeskow@syr.edu