ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- It's the first of many revitalization projects in Downtown Elmira: the former Richard's Werdenberg building is now complete, designed to be mixed use, with apartments and commercial space available. 

"We've been at this since November 2014 and closed on the sale of the building in July of '15. About a year in the entitlements process, and just a year in construction," says Seth Adams, Owner & Manager of Envision Elmira LLC 

Adams says two of the four apartments are already leased out and the commercial space on the first floor will be turned into a coffee house called 'The Downtown Grind.'

From high ceilings and plenty of natural light, to original hardwood floors, the former men and boys clothing store is once again a fully functioning space. It's also the start of something new for the City of Elmira, ideally offering inspiration for other developers to follow suit.

"To me it is absolutely an anchor project being on a major corner of Main and Water Street. It more or less has kind of captured the imagination, my imagination most certainly. And hopefully so the community as well. And the hope is to bring along some other folks who will do the same thing," Adams says. 

If you would like to check out the apartments for yourself, Envision Elmira is hosting an Open House Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m. 

Lease and other information about the apartments can be found here: https://warnersway.com/residential-listings.html