In March, the struggling Plumtree Shopping Center got some good news. It had been sold, and it was going to be redeveloped. Since then, the new owners and city have been working behind the scenes to get the project moving — and now it can.
On Tuesday, the Provo Municipal Council added residential to the allowed uses in the regional shopping zone. That’s the zone for the Plumtree Shopping Center, Riverwoods and Provo Towne Centre. Since Provo doesn’t have a specific mixed-use zone, without the change the old shopping center couldn’t mix uses.
Because of the change, large shopping centers can contain up to 20 percent residential, said Austin Corry, a Provo planner. The Mix plans to be 17 percent residential, or 293 units. It will have 104,900 square feet of retail space, 300,000 square feet of office space and 110,000 square feet of hotel space. The development also includes 2,820 parking stalls.
Plans for Plumtree — now The Mix at River’s Edge — call for retail, restaurants, Class A office space and hotels. The new bus rapid transit line will stop at the shopping center. And developers plan to make better use of the river views and nearby Provo River trail. Also, developers have plans for a flexible space that can be closed down to vehicles for a food truck gathering, farmers market or race finish line, according to a letter to the city. In addition, the development includes a new dedicated street for better traffic flow.
“The Mix will create its own unique identity and will have a range of appeal from high-tech class A office user to the ‘dinner and a movie crowd,” the developers wrote.
The new owners will demolish most of the existing Plumtree buildings for the redevelopment. Olive Garden, JCW’s and Zupa’s buildings are among those that will remain.
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