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A proposal to bury a manmade drainage at Oro Valley Marketplace, and to create a full entertainment and recreation district above and along it, would have cost “at least $9.5 million,” according to a statement by the Oro Valley Town Council at its Nov. 1 meeting.
The town and marketplace owner Town West Companies had been engaged in private conversations about the entertainment/recreation district, and who would pay for it. Negotiation of an economic development agreement, focused on that district, ended without an accord in July.
Subsequent reporting prompted the Oro Valley Town Council to share information previously discussed in executive session. It issued a statement Nov. 1 that reads: “Due to public statements which have been made which have caused confusion about the proposal for a public private partnership between the town and the developer of the Oro Valley Marketplace, the Council would like to share the following items from the July 19, 2023, item 2 Council session, that discussed this issue.
“The town granted zoning entitlements for 532 apartment units and hotels. Recreational open space for the apartments was partially to be satisfied by a central common area. The total cost of the project was estimated at least $9.5 million. The developer wanted their contribution capped at $3 million. The Town would also be responsible for taking over and maintaining an acre of grass, and some infrastructure.
“The town council did not believe the common area improvements justified the cost to the town, and declined to enter into this agreement.”
The full entertainment/recreation district was envisioned with two turf areas, a splash pad, a wading pool, a playground, overflow parking and event space, a courtyard anchoring three restaurants, a gazebo and a sandbar. “That hinged upon a public/private partnership,” town principal planner Michael Spaeth said at the Nov. 15 council meeting. “Discussions about that partnership have not moved forward.”
Town West and town staff have worked toward modifications of the recreation district proposal that would allow apartment construction to proceed.
Creation of a courtyard, now suggested for the east side of the open drainage close to Water Harvest Way, would be required if the first of three proposed restaurant spaces is developed. A second restaurant would sit on the wash’s east side, with a third on the west side. That improvement would be “market driven,” town staff said, acknowledging the market may not demand more restaurant space at the center.
“Without the additional price tag of undergrounding the drainage,” Town West is “comfortable” building a courtyard next to the drainage if and when a restaurant space is created,” attorney Keri Silvyn told the town council.
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