A four-story building that would house apartments and commercial space has been proposed for South Allen Street, zoning officer Herman Slaybaugh confirmed Friday.

Deemed Jeramar Plaza, the complex would be built at 232 S. Allen St., across from the State College Municipal Building. It is the brainchild of landowners Marcia and Ralph Heimer, of State College, Slaybaugh said.

"Given the emphasis on the mix of people downtown, it's really good to see a project geared toward the State College population, whether it be permanent or rental," borough planning commissioner Carl Hess said.

Eighteen rental apartments, geared toward young professionals and graduate students, will be located on the upper floors, Slaybaugh said.

With a total square footage approaching 20,000 square feet, the building will house six efficiency apartments, six one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments, Hess said.

Slaybaugh said the contemporary design for the building should make it a focal point on Allen Street.

"The lower level has a plaza that would wrap around the corner, and we plan on having black veneer with store-window fronts," Slaybaugh said. "There will also be a neat pyramid roof element with a metal standing seam."

The project is being formatted to meet zoning regulations within the borough, Hess said. The proposed building would replace a house and a one-story office complex currently situated there, Slaybaugh said.

Plans have not yet been presented to the State College Planning Commission. A preliminary concept plan, proposed by Bellefonte architect Ed Olsen, received a warm response from the borough's design review board, Slaybaugh said.

Olsen could not be reached for comment by press time yesterday.