Sunflower grocer interested in South Nevada store, developer says
A Colorado Springs developer who had shelved his proposed makeover of a portion of South Nevada Avenue is gearing up again because natural foods grocer Sunflower Farmers Market has shown interest in the project.
Jim Rhue said he’s updating demographic, traffic and other information for Colorado-based Sunflower, which opened its first Springs store at Academy and Dublin boulevards in May and whose top executive said at the time the Springs would be ripe for three of the chain’s stores. Based on strong sales at the northside Springs location, Sunflower officials are looking for another site, Rhue said he’s been told by the company.
Sunflower officials declined to comment.
Rhue has proposed turning 8 acres southeast of Nevada and Navajo Street — now occupied by motels and other businesses — into the upscale Broadmoor Gateway Pavilions. The project would include sit-down restaurants, apparel stores and other retailers. Rhue said he’s targeting higher-end, southwest side neighborhoods, but put the project on hold this year because of the poor economy.
A 4-acre, 45,000-square-foot first phase would be developed on the project’s north end, including a 25,000-square-foot anchor and three smaller buildings. Sunflower would be the anchor, although Rhue said he’s also talked with Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market, which is similar to Sunflower. A second, 4-acre phase would include another 30,000 square feet of retail space.
Developers typically are tight-lipped about prospective tenants. But to make the project a go, Rhue said he needs the area declared a redevelopment site by the Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority. Authority board members have told Rhue they want more details before they make a decision.
An urban renewal designation would allow tax revenue from the redeveloped site to be used to fund utility, sidewalk and other improvements — a major financial incentive for Rhue. Two other development groups have purchased property in the area on Nevada’s west side, also with an eye toward redevelopment.
Rhue’s project isn’t a done deal, however. He’s completed a study that shows South Nevada qualifies as a blighted area under state law, but still must submit an urban renewal plan to the Urban Renewal Authority. If the authority targets the area for redevelopment, the Colorado Springs City Council would have to give final approval.
Also, Rhue doesn’t own the land he’s seeking to redevelop, but says he has it under contract and hopes to complete its purchase by fall. The first stores could open a year later, he said.
South Nevada, between Interstate 25 and Southgate Road, has been targeted by city officials and area merchants in recent years for redevelopment. The area has been plagued by crime and is home to dozens of small motels, fast-food restaurants and mom-and-pop businesses, among others.
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