First signs of private redevelopment
By John Yantis
The Arizona Republic
A Buckeye native is turning an 80-year-old vacant downtown building into a sleek cafe, giving Monroe Avenue its first significant private redevelopment since the Great Recession took hold several years ago.
Cafe 25:35 takes the place of a once-seedy bar known as The Palms. The building has been vacant for nearly 20 years.
“There wasn’t six inches of wire in this place when we bought,” said Tony Youngker, owner of the building and cafe. “There wasn’t any plumbing. There was not even water run to the building, or a gas line.”
Buckeye officials hope the renovation will lead a renaissance in an area pockmarked with vacant and decaying buildings. Downtown has struggled to stay viable. Most of the town’s recent commercial development was built miles away from the district along Interstate 10, close to newer homes.
Private investment has not occurred downtown in at least six years, officials said. The largest recent development is Town Hall, which was built three years ago.
Also:
Chandler gets federal boost to help low-income housing effort/The Arizona Republic
Oracle builder contributes to Phoenix Zoo ‘entry oasis’/San Tan Valley Today http://santanvalleytoday.com/pages/?p=227651
