Robin Godwin: Annapolis Architecture Firm to Lease 10,000-Plus Sq. Ft. at Union Bros. in Sharp-Leadenhall

The Union Bros. development at 37 W. Cross St. in Sharp-Leadenhall has signed its first office tenant as Annapolis architecture firm CRGA will be relocating to a 10,032 sq. ft. space in the complex. Developers Len Bush and John Roe have transformed the former 40,000 sq. ft. Union Bros. Furniture and Plymouth Wallpaper property into an office and retail complex.

Work began on the $8-million Union Bros. redevelopment in June 2018. Roe said the “base buildings” of the three-building complex is complete. This includes a renovated exterior, new windows, a new roof, new stairwells, new bathrooms, new mechanical systems, and restored historical elements including walls and floors. Tenant build-outs in the spaces will take place as leases are signed. Roe and Bush will manage that process for the tenants.

“It’s been a lengthy process mostly because it’s a historic renovation,” said Roe. “We are excited to be finished and even more excited to get some tenants on board.”

Union Bros. has three interconnected buildings that surround a BP Station. The Benjamin Building is a two-story building fronting the 1100 block of S. Hanover St. It has a 4,446 sq. ft. restaurant space on the first floor with an adjacent outdoor courtyard, and a second-floor 4,687 sq. ft. office space. The Rubin Building faces the unit block of W. Cross St. and has a 6,057 sq. ft. restaurant space with access to a future 1,200 sq. ft. rooftop deck above the third story, a 5,883 sq. ft. second-floor office space, and a 5,924 sq. ft. third-story office space. The Phillip Building is a located on Clarkson St. and has a 1,859 sq. ft. first-floor space, a 5,883 sq. ft. second-floor space, and a 5,924 sq. ft. third-floor space.

Union Bros. is a block east of the $300-plus million Stadium Square mixed-use development and a block west from the recently-renovated Cross Street Market in Federal Hill.

Roe said CRGA’s space, which will occupy the third floors of the Rubin Building and Phillip Building, will likely begin a six- to eight-week build-out in April. CRGA approached his team in September and the deal came together pretty quickly.

Roe also noted that a lease for the 1,859 sq. ft. first-floor space in the Phillip Building is currently under review. Union Bros. has about 12,456 sq. ft. of office space available on the second floors of the Rubin Building, Phillip Building, and Benjamin Building. Roe said this could be leased to one tenant or broken up.

Bush and Roe are working with MacKenzie to lease the restaurant spaces. They are hoping for restaurants or breweries to occupy these spaces and made accommodations for the height needed for brewing equipment. Roe said he doesn’t anticipate any issues acquiring a liquor license since the project is in Sharp-Leadenhall rather than Federal Hill where there is a moratorium on new licenses.

Union Bros. has 14 parking spaces on its property and is leasing another 62 spaces on Monday to Friday at an adjacent parking lot for Leadenhall Baptist Church.

“We are absolutely happy to have some leases,” said Roe. “It was slow for a good part of last year, but activity has picked up in the last few months. We are having more inquiries and more showings.”

Bush and Roe, who are both South Baltimore residents, previously built The Townes at Marshall Green, a five new-townhome development at Randall St. and Marshall St. “John and I like to stick to projects in Federal Hill where we live, work, and play,” said Bush.

Bush and his wife Donna are also the owners of LEN The Plumber, which purchased and renovated a 42,000 sq. ft. warehouse at 1552 Ridgely St. in Carroll-Camden Industrial Area.

The Benjamin Building