The Wisconsin mix-use project, which encompassed 88,000 sf of retail and 216,000 sf of condo developments, also included a historic retail building that Roadside Development incorporated into the retail landspace.

Armond Spikell, a partner with the firm, tells GlobeSt.com he hopes to accomplish a similar design with the O Street Market project, a 500,000-sf development whose plans call for replacing an existing grocery store (64,000 sf) with the development of a historic building as part of the retail mix, as well as housing. It will be Roadside Development's largest project thus far.

Besides working with the Historic Preservation Review Board, Spikell says the firm is also in negotiations with the existing grocery store. "There have also been other discussions with community leaders and neighborhood associations about our plans. Fortunately for us the city was conducting a strategic planning process for that area and we were able to participate. It gave us an opportunity to hear what people wanted."