Yet another major development on Mobile’s fast-growing St. Louis Street corridor will include a grocery market tailor-made to serve an anticipated downtown residential boom, courtesy of Greer’s.

According to information provided by Lafayette Land Co., the project named St. Louis Street Place will redevelop property on three corners of the intersection of St. Louis and Jackson streets. That's three blocks north of Cathedral Square and two blocks west of the massive new federal courthouse on St. Joseph Street.

Plans call for St. Louis Street Place to include "29 upscale apartments with balconies overlooking St. Louis and Jackson Streets, 8,000 square feet of retail including an upscale restaurant site, and 5,400 square feet of upscale office space in a fully restored 1860 office building." It'll also be anchored by a new Greer's grocery "specifically designed for the downtown market and [which] will feature a wonderful experience with organic foods, open area design, upgraded technology, fresh produce, [and] a deli and bakery with glassed in and outdoor seating."

Bob Isakson Sr. of Lafayette Land Co. described the project as “a fine development and a huge impetus to the development of downtown.” He said ServisFirst Bank is providing financing for the $15 million project and that Maurin Architects will design it.

"We are seeking retail and office users that will be compatible with the neighborhood atmosphere, cater to the neighbors and residents of Downtown, and be in keeping with the architectural design of the Historic St. Louis Automobile Alley Historic District," Isakson said.

Lafayette Land Co. will restore the building that will house the market, the former Davis Motor Supply building at 260 St. Louis St. The grocery will have a full parking lot adjacent to the building, constructed circa 1936.

As advocates have pushed for residential development in recent decades, a grocery has often been seen as a key missing piece of the puzzle. Greer's already operates a Greer's Downtown Market at Government and Broad streets. But that location on the southwest corner of downtown puts it relatively far from a cluster of major developments in the works on the northeastern side of central downtown.

An inquiry with Greer's for more details of its plans was pending as this story was published.

The biggest of the new residential projects, the 267-unit Meridian at the Port apartment complex on Water Street, opens this summer. Other major projects in progress or now leasing include the Merchants Plaza complex off Bienville Square, the renovated Staples-Pake building on Royal Street and the Wheeler Lofts on St. Louis St.

In the last two years, several projects have transformed major properties along the formerly dormant St. Louis Street corridor. These include the former Buick Building, renovated as office space, and the former home of Threaded Fasteners, transformed into the new home of Precision Engineering. Innovation PortAL, a business incubator developed by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, recently broke ground at 358 St. Louis St., and other projects in the works include two craft breweries, Old Majestic and Braided River.

Other relevant developments include the Mobile Police Department's recent move to upgrade its downtown mini-precinct to a full precinct. Mayor Sandy Stimpson said the city wanted to have ample public safety resources in place ahead of the anticipated downtown population growth.

Locally based Greer's describes itself as a "5th generation, family-owned [company] with 30 grocery stores, 3 Ace Hardware Stores, and 5 Full Service Liquor Stores serving communities in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

Potential tenants for the multi-family, retail and office space in St. Louis St. Place can inquire with Heather I. Huffman of Huffman Realty, 251-423-1182, heather@huffmanrealestateservices.com, or Robert J. Isakson II of Lafayette Land, 251-423-1165, risakson@lafayetteland.com.