South Downtown’s Hotel Row revival scores first office tenant: Ohio River South

Another lease signed at former Sylvan Hotel in Newport’s adaptive-reuse district

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 | JOSH GREEN | Urbanize.city

“We’re looking forward to relocating our headquarters to a historic area of the city and [appreciate] the competitive advantages of being located near best-in-class, walkable amenities.” – Howard Franklin, President and CEO, Ohio River South

The revival of historic buildings along downtown’s Mitchell Street into Hotel Row has gained momentum with the signing of its first office tenant, leasing officials said today.

Atlanta-based strategy firm Ohio River South plans to move its headquarters into a 4,726-square-foot space in Newport’s adaptive-reuse district in coming months, following the lead of restaurants and a gaming concept inked earlier this year, according to JLL.

The lobbyist group, which specializes in business, government, and politics, plans to open its new headquarters in the first quarter of 2022 at the Sylvan building, the renovated former Sylvan Hotel.

Ohio River South’s offices were formerly at the M. Rich Building on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, near Underground Atlanta.

Newport began work earlier this year to remake the Sylvan Hotel into 38,921 square feet of modern offices. Developers say original brickwork, tile floors, and heavy timber columns and beams are being retained.

The building will also introduce 7,034 square feet of retail with areas for outdoor seating. Part of that space has been leased by counter-service chicken sandwich restaurant How Crispy.

That concept, along with Pizza Clementine, expects to open on Hotel Row next spring. The latter is a pizzeria and bar by Atlanta-based Slater Hospitality, the company behind Nine Mile Station and Skyline Park atop Ponce City Market, and the forthcoming Leave of Absence being built over Howell Mill Road at the Interlock.

Beyond the Sylvan, Hotel Row will include the former Scoville and Gordon hotels and the larger, long-vacant 222 Mitchell building across the street. Ohio-based arcade and game bar Pins Mechanical expects to open in the 222 Mitchell building in summer 2023.

All told, Hotel Row will bring more than 90,000 square feet of retail to streets in the district branded “South Dwntn,” while also occupying basement and rooftop spaces. Nearly 300,000 square feet of Class A and creative office space is also planned.

Since 2017, Newport has spent more than $100 million acquiring 48 buildings and lots along Peachtree, Mitchell, and Broad streets, and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The developer hopes to create a vibrant mixed-use district with historic bones that capitalizes on proximity to MARTA, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, and the State Capital.

Being within walking distance of the Gold Dome appears to have paid off with the initial office tenant.

Howard Franklin, Ohio River South’s managing director, said in a prepared statement the company is “looking forward to relocating our headquarters to a historic area of the city and [appreciates] the competitive advantages of being located near best-in-class, walkable amenities.”

JLL managing director Brooke Dewey said the deal is another sign that Atlanta’s office market “continues to show strong signs of recovery.”