Published: October 15, 2008 02:46 am            

TOWN OF LOCKPORT: 'Extreme Makeover' - Corporate Plaza Edition

TOWN OF LOCKPORT — It’s called a “class A” office building, but according to its real estate broker, it might receive an A-plus if it were graded.

An official real estate designation, an office that is a “class A” is a top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art building. And that’s the kind of quality real estate broker Bou Jaoude says his firm is bringing to 8625 Transit Road in Amherst and to the Robinson Road Plaza in the Town of Lockport.

“A lot of people don’t understand what class A is,” Jaoude said. “This is class A. When you use quality materials, you do the designs in a nice, proper way. That is a class A.”

On Transit Road, B. Jaoude and Associates, Total Consulting Solutions has a new office building that will also rent out space to businesses. The building — formerly the South of the Border Bowling Alley — will also be used as an office for Jaoude. There’s already a collections agency showing interest in the building.

“It could employ possibly close to 100 people,” Jaoude said. “It could draw jobs for Lockport.”

That’s not the only interest, as Jaoude said people have asked to take a look around the office because they used to bowl at South of the Border.

“They stop by and ask,” Jaoude said.

The office building on Transit Road has separate zones for heating and cooling, as well as Internet connections hooked up and ready to go. To help the businesses, the costs of maintenance and utilities are kept low by sharing between the tenants.

Jaoude said the building was built with an emphasis on being “green,” using materials that aren’t harmful to the environment or people. Even the building’s insulation is state-of-the art, as evidenced by a hot summer day in a similar building. Jaoude said inside the building, the temperature was 68 degrees without air conditioning.

Businesses that use buildings this efficient save a lot in energy use, Jaoude said.

The same attention to detail and quality is coming to the Robinson Road Plaza. Jaoude said the parking lot will be increased, and the exterior will get a facelift. The renovations are something the businesses have earned, Jaoude said.

“They’re dedicated, they deserve something,” he said.

Currently, the tenants in the plaza include The Gift Box, Stevie V’s Pizzeria, Jackie’s Family Restaurant, Marie’s Sewing Center and Sherl’s Laundry Shop. The project will be about $700,000, Jaoude said. Some of the business owners who have seen plans for the plaza are looking forward to the changes.

“It looks nice,” Gift Box owner Karen Young said. “It’s definitely nice to have someone come in and redo things.”

Marie Oakes, owner of Marie’s Sewing Center, has been in the plaza for more than 10 years. She said the improvements are going to make the plaza more energy-efficient.

“I’m very excited about the work,” Oakes said.

The first phase of the project is under way already — a 5,000-square-foot addition to the plaza. It is expected to be complete by next week and will cost about $271,000 of the project’s total. The architect is DRF Design, and the workers are also from Lockport, Jaoude said.

Jaoude’s firm is a part of COSAL Development USA, a company that is putting money into Western New York. Why? It’s because of COSAL president Haikal C. Saliba.

“He fell in love with the area,” Jaoude, also a vice president with COSAL, said. “He wants to help to make it better.”

Saliba, the major investor with COSAL, came to the United States from Lebanon a few years ago after learning his father was an American, Jaoude said. Saliba’s mother, who is Lebanese, wanted to keep the father’s American citizenship a secret from him, but Saliba’s father would drop hints, such as telling Saliba to respect America.

“One day you’ll understand,” he said to Saliba.

The knowledge of his father’s citizenship brought Saliba to America, Jaoude said. Two years later, in July 2007, Saliba became a U.S. citizen, and has settled in Getzville.

Jaoude said Saliba is using his own money, and that bringing money from overseas will help the local economy grow by adding capital to it. And even with the economic problems the country is facing, Jaoude said real estate is a safe place in which to put money. You still have a tangible asset, he said.

Jaoude said he hopes the Robinson Road Plaza will be successful.

“We’re hoping to attract stores,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll work out.”

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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