Downtown Canton's newest building is now complete.

Leasing has begun for office suites at the building, known as 151 Main, with occupancy anticipated to begin this summer.

"We are excited. We have received lots of good feedback," said Charles Ware of Highridge Partners, the general contractor for the project. "We are giving tours daily, sometimes twice a day."

Ware said Highridge has just begun its marketing push for tenants.

"We expect to have good luck with it," he said. "We have some people we have been talking with."

The $5.5 million building features class A offices. It was designed by Mark Robillard Architects of Canton. The facility has 24,000 square feet of space with professional office suites ranging from 1,700 square feet to 7,100 square feet and ground level retail space that could also be used for a restaurant.

The building features a traditional brick exterior with classic details to complement the existing historic downtown architecture. The building is filling a hole in the downtown district that had existed for more than 50 years.

"We felt it was environmentally sensitive to rehabilitate an existing site and also help revitalize the downtown area," Stan Rogers of Highridge Partners said. "We feel the proximity of 151 Main to the Cherokee County Justice Center, historic courthouse and Canton City Hall and other downtown facilities will appeal to professionals wanting to elevate their business to the next level."

The site has been vacant since the 1955 Cantex fire destroyed the building.

"You never want to see a vacant space. You want to see it vibrant with lots of shoppers," Ginger Garrard, coordinator of the Main Street Program for the city, said about the downtown district, adding that she is hopeful a similar project will rise from the damage of last year's downtown fire. "A building like that will attract a lot of tenants."

Mayor Gene Hobgood said 151 Main is the city's first all new private building constructed in downtown Canton in many years.

"We have high hopes that it will be leased up in the near future," Hobgood said. "One of our goals is to see downtown become more viable and active. A community is judged by its downtown."

Details for a ribbon cutting ceremony are being finalized. For leasing information about the building, call (770) 479-0916 ext. 4 or go to www.151MainCanton.com.