Robin Godwin: Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Named Second Tenant for Union Bros. in Sharp-Leadenhall

The Union Bros. development at 37 W. Cross St. in Sharp-Leadenhall has signed its second office tenant as the Madison, Wisconsin-based Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is leasing a 2,058 sq. ft. first-floor space. 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.

Fairway has an office in Fells Point along with additional locations in Maryland and around the country.

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.

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 1,859 sq. ft. second-floor space, and a 1,859 sq. ft. third-floor space.

Fairway will be occupying the first floor of the Phillip Building. Roe said construction on the office build-out will begin in the next 45 days.

Roe said Fairway will begin with about eight employees, but plans to grow the business within the space.

Annapolis-based architecture firm CRGA was the first signed tenant. Its build-out is in process with contractor Wilhelm Commercial Buildings.

CRGA is leasing the entire third floor of the complex, which is a 10,032 sq. ft. space. It is hoping to move in around April 1st.

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.

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 during business hours 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.”

Union Bros. is hosting a networking event with L&S Networking on February 25th.

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