Photo credit: SHAMES Construction, City of Arvada, & AURA.
Phase 1 – Super Walmart
Before: This once thriving shopping center built in the 1960s had become neglected and run down accumulating millions of dollars in deferred maintenance attributing to its high vacancy.
Vision: A retail-anchored Arvada Plaza shopping center. The Arvada Plaza site was redeveloped in partnership with IRG and the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority. The area has been targeted for redevelopment for more than 13 years.
Community Benefit: Abatement and demolition of old buildings, site clean-up, burying the power lines, new sewer and water, widening of Ralston Road, a bike lane along Independence Street, wide and detached sidewalks, and trees.
In addition to the physical site improvements, all the sales tax entities – including the Arvada Police Department, State of Colorado, RTD, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, and Jefferson County Open Space – will receive their portion of the sales tax revenue beginning day one of the opening of the Walmart. They will not have to wait at all for sales tax revenue.
The only exception is the City of Arvada. With the City’s approval, AURA is using that annual sales tax revenue for the next 11 years to pay for public improvements, including widening Independence Street to include a dedicated bike lane, widening Ralston Road, and constructing detached sidewalks that are safer and more inviting to pedestrians. The overhead power lines were buried and environmental contamination from the old buildings and prior uses were cleaned up. With this revenue, we are also able to help redevelop the north side of Ralston Road where the former Safeway and Arvada Square strip center are located.
After that 11-year period, the City of Arvada will then receive its portion of the sales tax, which will most likely grow each year. And in return, AURA will have made many important public safety and community improvements.
Today: The 138,000 square-foot Super Walmart, located at 9400 Ralston Road is completed and now opened to the community. The new store includes a full grocery, pharmacy, automotive, garden center and merchandise section, creating about 250 jobs. In addition, Ralston Creek streetscape includes wide sidewalks, brick pavers, tree-lined streets, and pedestrian lighting.
On August 9, 2017, the Arvada community celebrated the grand opening of the new Super Walmart.
Click here to view the grand opening video: Super Walmart
