By BEX Staff for AZBEX
After years of more stops than starts in its efforts to redevelop and invigorate its Old Town area, the City of Peoria is trying a different approach.
Previous attempts have involved partnerships with various master developers, none of which have met with much success. The latest efforts involve doing what can be done when it can be done rather than waiting for every piece to be in line before moving forward.
In May, the City Council voted not to extend an economic development agreement with ZonaPart LLC (Arizona Partners in Real Estate) to create a development plan. City representatives said ZonaPart never formed an initial plan and never started an agreed-upon public outreach campaign. (AZBEX, May 18)
Media reports quoted Deputy City Manager Mike Faust as saying in a recent meeting, “The when is real simple. If it can be done now, we have already got it in flight. If it can’t be done now, we know what the barriers are to get it done, and then we’ll go from there.”
Peoria has spent several years assembling properties in the Old Town area for redevelopment and is enquiring about acquiring some remaining pieces. It also has created a set of downtown design requirements to ensure projects complement each other coherently.
Two pieces of the various plans that had previously been stumbling blocks have been readdressed to generate momentum. The historic schoolhouse in the area had long been planned for renovation and adaptive reuse for restaurants or similar purposes. It will now be redeveloped as an arts and cultural center under the direction of the City arts department.
The second piece involves the redevelopment of an old Napa auto parts location that was comprised of three buildings. Those were demolished in October, and the City is working on a development agreement to bring before City Council in two-to-three months so the site can be turned into a two-story mixed-use development featuring office, retail and, possibly, a barbecue restaurant. Groundbreaking is hoped to take place next year.
According to status notes in the DATABEX project database from the Sept. 14 community meeting, “The developer will purchase the land from the City and then develop the property. There are also plans for two additional restaurant buildings that will be built with City money and then they will be leased to own with a restaurant company.”
Peoria is currently pursuing two strategies, according to Faust. If it can acquire the Edwards Hotel property, it will look to develop properties along Washington Street. If not, it will build out north to south to develop a promenade.
With the design standards in place, Faust said whichever way the overall redevelopment goes, it will not create “a hip, trendy, new wave vibe. We want a classic and nostalgic look with modern day amenities.”
