"The offices will increase the number of daytime tenants alongthe commercial strip," says Carlos J. Silva, chairman and CEO ofthe Elizabeth-based Silcon. "The ground floor leased for retailspace will add more shopping opportunities. The key to arevitalized downtown is to bring in more bustle during the daytimehours."

While it's labeled Linden Promenade I, it's actually the secondnew building on the site. Silcon recently completed a 4,600-sfrestaurant building, labeled Linden Promenade II. According toSilva, his company is currently negotiating with a number ofnational and local restaurateurs for the site, and is in finalnegotiations with professional tenants for the larger building.

Both buildings are adjacent to the Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade,a $4.1-million public park that features a 350-seat amphitheater.The promenade, which opened this past summer and is named after alocal banker, was built by Silcon as part of its redevelopmentagreement with the City of Linden and the Union County ImprovementAuthority.