The second phase of the massive mixed-used development known as 1221 Broadway got under way Monday. It’s the monolithic concrete lattice facing Broadway at U.S. 281, for years the almost iconic symbol of Broadway’s blight.

But that’s changing. Just north, residential projects The Mosaic and 1800 Broadway are going up. And when completed, this latest aspect to 1221 Broadway will add 39 residential units and 10,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space. The first buildings of 1221 Broadway, which face the River Walk, account for 268 units and are 100 percent leased, developer David Adelman said.

The owners are in discussions with coffee shop and sushi restaurant for the ground floor spaces, said Adelman, who also is moving in his own company, Area Real Estate.

Adelman and his team hope to deliver units in October.

The rates have not been set, but the size of the units will range from 800 to 1,300 square feet. According to Adelman, the prize pads will be the two-bedroom corner units with their 250-square-foot balconies.

“Whoever has those units will have the best parade-watching parties downtown,” Adelman said, referring to the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades.

Adelman declined to give the cost of the project.

 Benjamin Olivo

Have any downtown news, event info, hearsay, tips, celebrations, complaints, boastings, updates, breaking news, memories, old photos, etc.? Want to write a guest blog? E-mail me.

Follow the Downtown Blog on Twitter: twitter.com/mySA_downtown. And on Facebook