Redeveloping both ends of Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs
North and South Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs have similar needs for improvements, and city officials continue with plans for both.
Each area is known for having many old motels and crumbling infrastructure, among other concerns.
On the north end, the city is asking the public, through an online survey, to submit feedback in advance of an Aug. 3 public meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Expo Center.
The survey can be viewed here: http://coloradosprings.gov/renewNNAve.
“We want the public to decide the future of the North Nevada corridor between Fillmore Street and Austin Bluffs Parkway, a distance of around two miles,” said Nina Vetter, project manager. “We won’t use eminent domain to acquire property, and we want to turn over all public feedback to city officials by next March.”
The North Nevada corridor includes the Birdsall power plant, the former Rocky Mountain Greyhound Park race track, a variety of industrial businesses and a private corrections program.
On the south end of Nevada, a trio of developers recently announced that four businesses will locate at the corner of South Nevada and Navajo Street: Natural Grocers, Chick-fil-A, Zoes Kitchen and Mad Greens.
The development is part of the future Broadmoor Shoppes on South Nevada and is part of an overall urban renewal project.
The businesses likely will open next spring and ultimately will be followed by residential development and more commercial development.
“I think it’s a good deal,” said Phyllis Millican, a neighbor. “I think we need to develop this end of town. It’s a wonderful place to live, but it needs some improvement.”
But another neighbor, Joe Sandoval, said he’s concerned about homeless and low-income people being displaced by the project.
“Making things look better doesn’t mean they are better,” he said. “They need to find more affordable places for people to live.”
The developers said they’ll use sales and property taxes from the development to pay for needed infrastructure improvements.
