What's Hot

    Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul

    August 1, 2025

    State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan

    August 1, 2025

    Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development

    August 1, 2025
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    AZBEX
    NEWS TICKER
    • [August 1, 2025] - Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul
    • [August 1, 2025] - State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan
    • [August 1, 2025] - Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development
    • [August 1, 2025] - Hundred-Unit Skyline Towns Townhome Development Moves Forward in Apache Junction
    • [August 1, 2025] - Arizona Projects 08-01-25
    • [July 29, 2025] - Scottsdale Hospitals War May Heat Up with New Banner Request
    • [July 29, 2025] - Dominium Planning 304-Unit BTR in Surprise
    • [July 29, 2025] - Next Steps Coming for Bartlett Dam Expansion
    Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
    • Home
    • News
      1. View Latest
      2. Planning & Development
      3. Local News
      4. Classifieds
      5. Editorial Analysis
      6. Budgets & Funding
      7. Commercial Real Estate
      8. People on the Move
      9. Arizona Projects
      10. Legislation & Regulations
      11. Trends

      Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul

      August 1, 2025

      State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan

      August 1, 2025

      Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development

      August 1, 2025

      Hundred-Unit Skyline Towns Townhome Development Moves Forward in Apache Junction

      August 1, 2025

      Mohave County May Remove Data Centers as Economic Development Goal

      July 23, 2025

      Ariz. Construction Gained 600 Jobs in June

      July 22, 2025

      Scottsdale Report Shows Multifamily Pipeline Half of Common Estimate

      July 22, 2025

      Alleging Breaches, ZenniHome Closes NGS Operations

      July 21, 2025

      Scottsdale Hospitals War May Heat Up with New Banner Request

      July 29, 2025

      Glendale Voters to Determine VAI Resort’s Fate

      May 16, 2025

      Legislation Would Effectively Strip NIMBYs of Referendum Tool

      February 11, 2025

      2025 Forecast Tries to Clarify an Uncertain Market

      February 7, 2025

      Ariz. LIHTC to Sunset Under New Budget

      July 8, 2025

      State Government Shutdown Averted as Hobbs Signs Budget

      July 1, 2025

      Arterial Life Cycle Program Covers 20 Years of Street Development

      June 27, 2025

      $56M+ MAG Program will Enable $90M in Arterial Street Widening Projects

      June 24, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 07-29-25

      July 29, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 07-22-25

      July 22, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 07-15-25

      July 15, 2025

      Commercial Real Estate 07-08-25

      July 8, 2025

      Industry Professionals 07-29-25

      July 29, 2025

      Industry Professionals 07-22-25

      July 22, 2025

      Industry Professionals 07-15-25

      July 15, 2025

      Industry Professionals 07-08-25

      July 8, 2025

      Arizona Projects 08-01-25

      August 1, 2025

      Arizona Projects 07-25-25

      July 25, 2025

      Arizona Projects 07-18-25

      July 18, 2025

      Arizona Projects 07-11-25

      July 11, 2025

      Mohave County May Remove Data Centers as Economic Development Goal

      July 23, 2025

      Alleging Breaches, ZenniHome Closes NGS Operations

      July 21, 2025

      Ariz. LIHTC to Sunset Under New Budget

      July 8, 2025

      Tax Bill Would Make LIHTC Permanent

      July 2, 2025

      Ariz. Construction Gained 600 Jobs in June

      July 22, 2025

      BEX Updates Construction Sector Projections in Annual Mid-Year Update

      July 18, 2025

      Phoenix Industrial Sees First Vacancy Drop in Years; YoY Completions Drop 75%

      July 18, 2025

      Phoenix Construction Costs See 4.42% Q2 Annual Change

      July 15, 2025

      Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul

      August 1, 2025

      State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan

      August 1, 2025

      Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development

      August 1, 2025

      Hundred-Unit Skyline Towns Townhome Development Moves Forward in Apache Junction

      August 1, 2025
    • AZBEX
      • Subscribe
      • Classifieds
      • Advertising
    • DATABEX
      • Webinars
      • Monthly Snapshot
    • Events
      • 2025 Mid-Year Update
      • 2025 Industrial LMS
    • About Us
      • Meet the Company
      • Meet the Sales Team
      • Meet the Editorial Team
      • Meet the BEXperts
    • CIP Special Report
    AZBEX
    Home » Planning & Development » Peoria Struggling With Grand Ave and Old Town Redev.
    Planning & Development

    Peoria Struggling With Grand Ave and Old Town Redev.

    BEX StaffBy BEX StaffNovember 19, 2021No Comments4 Mins Read
    Credit: AZCentral.com
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Roland Murphy for AZBEX

    Revitalizing the Old Town area has been a persistent challenge for the City of Peoria for years, with plans advancing and retreating in an oddly haphazard fashion and defeat being snatched from the jaws of seemingly impending victory more than once.

    The City battled for years to demolish a vacant and blighted Smitty’s grocery store location at Grand Avenue near 85th Avenue. Once that was complete, developer SJ Acquisitions obtained the site and proposed a mixed-use development of commercial and multifamily that was hoped to serve as a gateway into Old Town.

    The company was unable to secure a single letter of intent for the commercial space, however, and scrapped the proposal for Grand Commons, resubmitting it as a multifamily-only plan. Despite being recommended by the Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission, Peoria City Council denied the request, with members expressing concern about the lack of a commercial presence at such a prominent intersection as well worries about the proposed 72-foot maximum height.

    The Problem(s) with Grand

    The entirety of Grand Avenue in Peoria has proven problematic for redevelopment efforts. Vacant lots, dilapidated structures, lack of landscaping and poor streetscapes pose development constraints, according to a recent presentation to the Planning and Zoning Commission by Real Estate Development Officer Scott Whyte. Arizona Department of Transportation access restrictions also present challenges, as does the lack of freeway proximity.

    These all combine to create a perception of decline and blight, Whyte says.

    Another concern is the heavy presence of big-box retail, which makes the area less attractive to smaller commercial operations. Whyte says the estimated retail demand for the area is 842KSF, but the existing market is 1.1MSF and another 372KSF is proposed, making the area significantly over-served for all but small, neighborhood-focused retail providers.

    Adding to the problem with Grand Avenue is a lack of restaurant and retail amenities that would serve as a supporting structure for office uses.

    Given the demand for housing in the area, and the benefits new residents bring to commercial and retail outlets, Whyte said multifamily investment would be a good initial step. He recommended the $50M Grand Commons proposal, saying, “I think we have to build to it. I don’t think we’re going to get there with the first nibble.”

    Old Town Revitalization Attempts

    As noted above, Grand Commons was envisioned as gateway into Peoria’s Old Town district, which has struggled mightily with its own revitalization issues.

    A master plan was formed, and the City entered into an agreement with Vintage Partners to revitalize Old Town. Vintage Partners had a history of successful redevelopment projects, including the Uptown Plaza project at Camelback Road and Central Avenue in Phoenix.

    The plan would have created a redeveloped area around 84th Avenue and Washington Street to create a revitalized and rejuvenated walkable district. Planned uses would have included apartments, office, retail and restaurants.

    In June of this year, however, Vintage Partners withdrew from the partnership. The developer cited its ongoing wait for a draft development agreement from the City and the removal of the city’s former economic director as reasons for walking away. Vintage was also frustrated by Peoria’s revisions to the original memorandum of understanding. Peoria was left without a partner and forced to pause the plan it had been promoting heavily in its economic development messaging.

    To accompany the hoped-for redevelopment, Peoria had also issued an RFP to revitalize and renovate the Old Town Streetscape into a modern, walkable and accessible area that would support the improvements to come. Last month, Peoria entered into an agreement with Wood Environmental & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. to complete a design concept report for the $6M project.

    Hoping to get the overall Old Town redevelopment going with a successful reboot, the City opened a new RFP just this week to find a new development partner. According to the project description, “Primary objectives for submitted projects include creating a high quality dining and entertainment environment that promotes walkability and a pedestrian experience, preserves and enhances the historic character of the Old Town Area and engages the already existing public spaces, historical landmarks, arts and special events. Key emphasis would be for top tier or specialty restaurants. Secondary use would be specialty retail and multifamily.”

    Peoria watchers should not expect a quick resolution, however. The close date for the request is not until November 14th of 2022.

    apartments/condos Arizona Department of Transportation City of Peoria commercial economic development gentrification Grand Commons Mixed-Use multifamily Old Town Streetscape Peoria City Council Peoria Planning and Zoning public-private partnership redevelopment Renovation retail SJ Acquisitions Smitty’s urban planning urban renewal Vintage Partners Wood Environmental & Infrastructure Solutions
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul

    August 1, 2025

    State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan

    August 1, 2025

    Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development

    August 1, 2025

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Our Picks

    Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul

    August 1, 2025

    State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan

    August 1, 2025

    Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development

    August 1, 2025

    Hundred-Unit Skyline Towns Townhome Development Moves Forward in Apache Junction

    August 1, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    Don't Miss
    Planning & Development

    Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul

    August 1, 20250

    By Roland Murphy for AZBEX In its July 16 meeting, the Eloy Planning and Zoning…

    State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan

    August 1, 2025

    Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development

    August 1, 2025

    Hundred-Unit Skyline Towns Townhome Development Moves Forward in Apache Junction

    August 1, 2025

    BEX serves architecture, engineering and construction firms as well as all the ancillary product and service categories that market to them. These include manufacturing representatives, public agencies and private real estate organizations, specialty subcontractors and services providers related to our industry.

    Our Picks

    Eloy P&Z Hears Dual Requests for Major Land Use Overhaul

    August 1, 2025

    State’s Largest Data Center Project Part of Vermaland Pinal Plan

    August 1, 2025

    Pinal Considering 215-Acre Data Center Development

    August 1, 2025
    Contact Us

    Phone: 480-709-4190
    Address: P.O. Box 12196 Tempe, AZ 85284
    Email: sales@azbex.com

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.