Business partners and husband/wife team Juliana Terra and Zhenya Fomin, co-owners of Urbano Construction and Properties Group, purchased a partially utilized building at 828 North Broadway in 2022, re-imagining both the interior and exterior. The building now lights up its spot on Broadway with its multi-colored facade. Apartments have been completed in the rear of the building and Partial Coffee and Wine (Heather’s Story Here) moved in last fall to half the store-front. The next phase of the project will be opening co-working spaces under the name Base Co-working. I met with the couple to learn more about Urbano, Base, and their plans going forward.
Julia, an architect by training and originally from Brazil, and Zhenya, originally from Russia and who has extensive business and construction experience, have the skills to take projects from derelict buildings to contributing pieces of the urban fabric. Zhenya completed graduate work at the Philadelphia University (now The New Jefferson University) studying sustainable design under the school of architecture. He was already a construction manager, so he was able to see how the two fit in the practical world. The focus of the company will be urban, looking for buildings that can be saved or infill spaces to strengthen the urban fabric.
The two formed Urbano in 2020 out of a passion for sustainable re-development and for helping small businesses. They see a connection between all of the various pieces of their endeavors: The redevelopment flows into property management. They like a bit of hospitality mixed in and they love seeing small businesses grow, even as they grow their own. They hope to help promote a supportive co-working environment in the city outside corporate office buildings.
They said their company will be guided by a set of principles, including a commitment to cultivating vibrancy, hoping that their developments foster vibrancy internally and add it to the surrounding area. They are also committed to sustainability, including helping to promote walkability. They focus on helping small businesses and fostering community to “strengthen the social fabric of urban neighborhoods.” They feel people want spaces where they can work, but also be connected to others.
Their first undertaking as a company involved what ultimately became Lilou and Hotel Cleo. Working first with one set of building owners and then another, first with an apartment design, then a hotel, the budget grew exponentially. The two managed the construction, providing the construction crew, and whereas they planned for it to be a side project for their new company, it became their focus. Once finished, they were able to move more toward their original vision for their new company. They also had a baby along the way.
The business includes all the components necessary to development. They can execute the real estate purchase, make a design for the building, and they have the construction crew to complete it. Rather than working for others going forward, their focus is on selecting and completing the projects themselves and then operating the buildings as a management company.
Juliana used Shay Gregory, owner of Partial Coffee and Wine as an example of what is most rewarding to them. Extremely knowledgeable about coffee (he worked for Honey Bee for years), he wanted to open his own business. They were able to step in and help him determine the pieces outside his skill set: How much space did he need? What renovations would be necessary? What are code requirements? How do I secure financing?
They could help with all that, from design and construction through securing loans and all the way to opening. They helped him and they can help others develop a space that allows them to do what they do and to do it well. As owners of the building and landlords they can also help contain costs. In return, the company is able to know they have good tenants.
The company started (outside the Cleo project) with home and duplex renovations. The current building, at about 20,000 square feet, is their largest project to date. Included are two short-term rentals, in which those who have co-working space have priority for out of town guests or clients. Five long-term lease apartments have also been completed in the rear of the building. And all of it is inside a walkable environment that they hope to see grow and become more walkable.
The co-working space is mostly upstairs and includes about 5,000 square feet which will include small offices, larger offices, a conference room, and common areas. The reception area and a conference room is located on the first floor. A mezzanine space will eventually become another common/recreation area, further fostering the community of creative people working in the building. They plan to host social events, furthering connections with surrounding businesses, makers and non-profits.
They offered “Cafe” memberships starting a few months ago for use of faster internet, printer access, and the first floor conference room. Those memberships will continue, but the thirty people who have signed up for that will get the first shot at the spaces upstairs. Preleasing should start July 15 and they hope to have offices opening in August. All booking will be done online.
If this sounds like a work environment that might fit your business, you can learn more about memberships.