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“We have made our deal with the city and we are actually going to do the expansion – that’s the balance of Henderson (Boulevard) up the middle of our project, up to Yelm Highway,” said Joe Amoroso, whose company, ADC Real Estate of Southern California, is developing the project.
Tom Hill, the city’s building official, said the city just green-lighted another section that allows interior roads and improvements.
“This is pretty positive,” he said.
Crews are grading the soil in preparation for six apartment buildings with 72 units, Amoroso said. Those buildings are planned to be built starting this year, he said.
Next year, workers will begin building a new location of Ralph’s Thriftway and a Starbucks. The company is also talking with a bank about locating there. He said another developer ADC is working with could begin work on senior housing next year in the development. By the end of 2012, all those could be reality.
Henderson Boulevard is scheduled to be closed starting Monday between Briggs Drive and Yelm Highway so crews can widen Henderson to handle the traffic into the development. The developer is paying for the widening, which will be done by Johnson and Maddox Construction, according to the city of Olympia.
“The Henderson expansion allows us to do the grocery store,” Amoroso said.
It’s another small step for a long-simmering project. The concept was unveiled in 1997, and the subdivision didn’t really begin to take shape until 2006. But construction slowed significantly as the economy entered the recent recession.
The master plan for the development, which totals more than 100 acres, includes single-family homes, lofts, apartments, town homes, the senior community, plus a commercial center with the grocery store and places for banks, restaurants and coffee shops. A new neighborhood park, which just opened, is also part of the plan, along with trails.
Amoroso said he thinks it’s a sign the economy is improving, though the developer is being cautious and “not going that crazy” with the amount of units.
“We’re very excited about continuing getting development,” he said.
Matt Batcheldor: 360-704-6869
mbatcheldor@theolympian.com
