New Tallahassee District Emerging: “SoMo” – with new development SoMo Walls leading the charge.

At Owen Title Company, we believe it is of the utmost importance to love where you live and support your local community. As such, we make it a point to frequently highlight local places in Tallahassee that deserve your attention, along with new developments in our community.

 

The foundation is poured, framing is starting, and community redevelopment is in progress on South Monroe, just past the overpass and Cascades Park. A new, creative development called SoMo Walls (SOuth MOnroe), is coming to life. 

 

According to their website, SOMoWallsTLH.com

“SoMo Walls, located between Oakland Avenue and Harrison Street along South Monroe Street, and directly across from Proof Brewing Company, will be the next exciting addition to the Tallahassee public art scene. It will serve as an extension of growing art walk culture peppered throughout Gaines Street and Downtown Tallahassee. The project aims to create a major arts and entertainment destination for people to explore just beyond the pedestrian-friendly Cascades Park. By blending artistic expression with modern retail spaces, SoMo Walls will create a hub of daily activities easily accessible throughout the day and night for residents and visitors alike. Initially, SoMo Walls will host 15 rotating wall canvases nestled among 33,000 square feet of commercial activity including multiple lunch & dining options, retail, service and office space. There will truly be something for everyone.” 

 

Developed by Demirel International, SoMo Walls was “inspired by Miami’s Wynwood Walls. It consists of two buildings lined with patios and a large green space featuring walls that will be covered in changing murals. The development will be populated with a mix of businesses designed to draw people in 18 hours a day and also hopes to pull foot traffic in from nearby Cascades Park. In the construction phase, nearly half of Demirel’s contractors are minority businesses, far outstripping the city Community Redevelopment Authority’s requirement of at least 10%.” reported by Flamingo Magazine, 2022.

 

From the beginning, the developers have sought collaboration with local artists, students, residents, and governmental & civic organizations to bring this project to fruition. 

 

Even before demo of the previous site occurred, Demirel International connected with Florida A & M University’s Small Business Development Center for a Brand Logo Contest that would come to identify the SoMo Walls project. They convened a 6-member panel of FAMU MBA students to award a $3,000 prize. After more than 25 submissions from 12 local designers, a logo created by Leacock Design Co. was chosen to represent the project: 

 

Also, early on in the project, the developers established a “Walls Art Collaborative”, wherein local artists and creatives with interest in collaborating on mural ideas for the spaces will establish plans for the walls and gathering areas in the development. 

 

In addition, the project collaborated locally with FSU School of Interior Architecture & Design (IAD) to test-fit different interior design ideas for a class project. They took to social media to ask what types of business the community wanted to see at SoMo Walls. Ideas included vegan, brunch, sushi, confectionery, soul food, and latin options. IAD students were tasked with creating food and beverage concepts inspired by the ideas given in the survey, and the class will follow the project to completion. 

 

In August of 2022, SoMo Walls announced 3 concepts made deposits to be tenants at SoMo Walls – a pizza bar, a restaurant with a fusion cuisine and a hospitality centric distillery. 

 

Notably, the developers take inclusion very seriously, and have included a 35% goal within the construction budget for Minority-Owned businesses. To make sure they reach their goals, they established a Construction Inclusion Team (CIT) for the purposes of implementing, tracking, and reporting their Minority Inclusion goal. The CIT is made up of local governmental, civic and academic leaders.  

• Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce Construction Council Chair
• Project General Contractor
• Business Development Specialist(s) from the Small Business Development Center at Florida A&M University
• Director of Minority, Women Small Business Enterprises-Tallahassee-Leon Office of Economic Vitality

 

Construction continues at the site of this new concept for Tallahassee, and interested parties can sign up for project updates on their website. What do you think of the concept? What kinds of businesses would you like to see there? For more articles about local favorites and new developments in the Tallahassee community, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media at @OwenTitleCompany.