By Monica D. Spencer | InMaricopa
Maybe cities shouldn’t be in the development business, but they certainly should have a hand in leading the way.
At least that’s the perspective of one member of the Maricopa Planning & Zoning Commission.
Commissioner Robert Klob, who also owns local architectural firm Robert Klob Designs, wrote on social media yesterday morning that the lack of small-business storefronts in Maricopa is “a big enough issue to warrant” city involvement.
His reasoning: Nearby cities have the advantage of age. Older buildings in Casa Grande, Chandler and other communities can be repurposed for small businesses at lower rents, giving entrepreneurs a more affordable entry point.
Compared to those cities, argued Klob, “We can’t catch up or compete.”
A concept called Roan Plaza
In response, Klob shared a conceptual design he sketched earlier this year.
The proposal, called Roan Plaza, envisions two 5,000-square-foot buildings in the Heritage District, at the northwest corner of Mercado and Main streets — near the Amtrak station and Stagestop Marketplace.
Each building would be subdivided into five 1,000-square-foot suites for local small business owners to “invest in their own space and build equity for resale as they outgrow it,” Klob explained. Possible tenants might include print shops, real estate offices, insurance agencies or architecture firms.
The land, currently three city-owned parcels, has been listed for sale since June 2024.
