SYRACUSE — CenterState CEO, the area’s major business and economic development group, will relocate to the Pike Block project in downtown Syracuse later this year.
The group is currently housed at the former Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce building at 572 S. Salina St. The chamber and the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York merged to form CenterState in 2010.
CenterState, which has more than 2,000 members, plans to relocate to Pike Block by late summer.
“This move allows CenterState CEO and its affiliates to better serve our members and the community,” CenterState President Robert Simpson said in a news release. “The Pike Block provides this organization with a central location in the heart of our business district. We are proud to be a part of this exciting project and to help advance the growth and development that is taking place here.”
The 130,000-square-foot Pike Block project involves four adjacent structures: the Chamberlin Building, Witherill Building, Wilson Building, and Bond Building. The $25 million development is located at the corner of South Salina and West Fayette streets.
CenterState will serve as an anchor tenant at Pike Block and occupy 12,000 square feet on the second floor of the Witherill Building and the first floor of the Chamberlin Building. CenterState affiliates including the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, and Benefit Specialists of New York will also relocate to Pike Block.
The merger left CenterState with 21,000 square feet of space at the former chamber building, more than it needs, the group said. CenterState’s current building is under contract for sale, but the group has not yet disclosed details on the buyer.
VIP Development Associates, the development arm of VIP Structures of Syracuse, is Pike Block’s developer. VIP is transforming the buildings into a combination of apartments and ground-floor retail space. Work began in 2011.
“CenterState CEO brings an exciting dynamic to arguably the most important ‘business’ corner in Central New York,” VIP Development Associates President Charlie Wallace said in the release. “Pike Block is transforming downtown Syracuse into a vibrant residential and commercial hub the likes of which the city has never experienced.”
VIP confirmed last week that Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop is in line to take some of the ground-floor space at the development as well.
Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com