With the unveiling of the Butz Corporate Center Phase 2, downtown Allentown's Hamilton Street is looking more and more like a proud main street in a revitalized city well on the way to bouncing back from the tattered look of just a few years ago.

Business people and citizens gathered June 3 on the mezzanine at 824 and 830 Hamilton St. in front of a ribbon stretched across a hallway. A huge pair of scissors leaned against the wall ready for action.

Greg L. Butz, President and CEO of Alvin H. Butz, Inc., and Sara Hailstone, Economic Director for the City of Allentown, performed the honors as Butz's father Lee A. Butz proudly looked on. Meghan Hill from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce joined the group for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

"We are excited to get new tenants and to help revitalize Allentown," said Greg Butz. "This expansion demonstrates our company's and my family's deep commitment to the success of the downtown Allentown."

"It's projects like this that have allowed the NIZ to take off so quickly," said Hailstone.

Butz Corporate Center Phase 2 is the first building among several ongoing office projects to be completed in the Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ).

Obtaining LEED Certification (Leadership in energy and Environmental Design Certification) for the building is planned.

Roberson Butz Architects designed the building. It was built by Alvin H. Butz, Inc.

The six-floor, 50,000-square-foot office and retail building connects to a nearly identical 75,000 square foot-building where the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and Alvin H. Butz, Inc. has its offices. The new building is of the same exterior design.

Mike Eleshaky and Mohamed Mansour, owners of The Deli Plaza 2, were there and happy to talk about their plans for 1,000-square-feet of the space on the street-level floor. They expect to open Veeny Pizza in August.

After the ribbon-cutting, officials led tours of the new office spaces of the first tenants in the new building, StoudtPoole PLLC and United Fiber & Data, both on the second floor.

Approximately 40,000-square-feet of office space is available. John Crampsie, a principal with NAI Summit, is handling leasing.

Butz Corporate Center Phase 3 at the site is to include a 10-story, 60,000-square-foot building with three levels designed for parking. It will have four floors dedicated to office space and three upper floors that will have apartments and condominiums.

The third expansion will house Think Loud Development and United Fiber & Data's new regional Sales Headquarters. UFD will occupy 10,000-square-feet.

The ribbon-cutting was on First Monday, a monthly event held monthly at different companies in Allentown and coordinated by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Following the tour, the attendees went to the first floor where the group was treated to wine, other drinks and light snacks.