Tim Landis
The State Journal-Register
THE ESQUIRE THEATRE site — once the building is gone — is ideal for a grocery store, two 36-unit condos, standalone retail centers and 137 parking spaces. At least that was the idea in the fall of 2010.
The Lakota Group urban planning and consulting firm offered its vision after several months of working up and down the MacArthur Boulevard, interviewing business owners and residents. Five years ago, the big challenge remained what to do with the former theater building at MacArthur and South Grand Avenue by either repairing it or knocking it down.
Asbestos-removal crews were at the site last week to prepare the building for demolition after AMC Theatres Inc. sold it to Eric Hoogland of the Family Video Inc. Hooglands. Speculation was flying well before workers began clearing out the building, including the possibility that Ruler Foods would build on the site. Ruler, a discount Kroger brand, opened a store last year on Sangamon Avenue.
The possibility already has been raised of assistance from the MacArthur Boulevard tax increment financing district. The TIF district was created in 2012 to assist Hy-Vee with redevelopment of the former Kmart site at 2115 S. MacArthur Blvd. Aldermen approved $3.5 million from the TIF fund, or about one-third of the supermarket construction cost.
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said he and Mayor-elect Jim Langfelder toured the ward last week and discussed redevelopment efforts along the MacArthur Boulevard corridor.
McMenamin said he hopes to meet with Hoogland on plans for the Esquire site, adding that it’s too soon to speculate on the use of TIF funds.
“The TIF could and should play a role in any development on MacArthur,” McMenamin said. “It depends on their plans for the (Esquire) property, and we haven’t seen those.”
***
See more at: http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150425/NEWS/150429618/0/SEARCH/?Start=1
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 