AURORA | Invasive weeds and flora all-too-familiar to the vacant lot at 333 Havana St. have started to worm their way through the cracks in the pavement this summer as the city works to woo potential developers for the notorious Fan Fare site.
The Aurora Urban Renewal Authority sent out approximately 200 postcards to possible site developers last week, the latest step in a recruitment process that has been slowly unfolding since the city razed the monolith that used to occupy the space earlier this year. The card stated that a request for a statement of qualifications will be issued sometime this fall, which will be followed by the request for proposals, both of which will be the first steps any developer will need to take in order to claim the area.
The city purchased the 10.3-acre site last year for $4 million, and has been ramping up efforts in the search for a buyer in recent months. City officials have been having daily one-on-one conversations with brokers and developers and also attended the International Council of Shopping Center’s annual conference held in Las Vegas in May, according to Julie Patterson, spokeswoman for the city.
Patterson said that the city has not yet received any responses to the postcards, citing that the process is still in its infancy.
“We’re still in the very, very early stages of this whole process,” she said.
In the city council’s list of 13 priorities for 2014-2015 released this week, the city outlined $100,000 from the general fund for the site, to address drainage issues, appraisals and developer fees for responses to the eventual request for proposal.
The site has been zoned as a mixed-use development area, intended to accommodate any combination of residential, retail or office space.
Ideas for what would best suit the area have varied from a large grocer, to a cultural center, to entirely residential, the latter of which being given top priority.
“If there was a first-in-the-city kind of retailer, we certainly would take a look at that, but now we’re looking at residential as the key component there,” Tim Gonerka, retail specialist for the city said.
Scott Goldhammer, board president of the Havana Business Improvement District and property manager of the Gardens on Havana, agreed that retail could be a good investment in the current economic environment.
“Historically, we’ve all known that that area has its challenges, for a variety of reasons,” he said. “It could be great for residential as residential is a really hot market at this time. It could also be great space for a grocer, however I think the demographics in the area are challenging for that right now.”
All property and bidding information, and updates on when the statement of qualifications will be issued, is posted online on the Rocky Mountain e-purchasing system.
It’s great that old eyesore is gone at long last! However, what about all the little seedy looking buildings still around that area? Would anyone care to live in a beautiful new condo or apartment surrounded by crummy little dumps?
I agree with sue. However, demographics rule against just about all land uses, be it retail, residential or office. Indeed, shoplifting is rampant in the area and the only residential that would sell are condos under $150K packed together like sardines … 10-14 units per acre.
Few years ago a developer wanted to buy that land, remove Fan Fair, and to make it viable, build apartment condos. Folks on East side of Havana opposed because it would block their view of the mountains. Driving past, they have high wooden fences, and thick trees. If Fan Fair had just disappeared one night, they still could not have seen the mountains unless they walked out to north side or so of Havana. What do any of you believe they will agree to now????? Long time owner in Aurora, 1963 and wife born in Denver 1935. When we bought, Aurora was about 3,000 residents, with train track on 6th Avenue and Potomac (now). Just a dusty field in 1963, where my children played.