For the week of December 18 - 23, 2002

The proposed Bellevue Square development includes three buildings on an approximately 2.9-acre site south of Valley Market on Highway 75 north of Bellevue. Two buildings on the east and south sides of the project are planned to offer retail store spaces, while a third building on the west side (partially obstructed in rear) would offer warehouse spaces. Courtesy of REA Architecture

Large shopping center proposed in Bellevue

Developer sees gap in retail market

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

A Utah-based developer with longtime ties to the Wood River Valley has proposed to build an approximately 30,000-square-foot shopping center and warehouse facility on the west side of Highway 75 north of Bellevue.

Ronald Sharp, through his company Ronald J. Sharp and Associates, on Dec. 5 submitted to the city an application to construct a three-building complex on an approximately 2.9-acre site near Chantrelle subdivision.

The project site—which is composed of six separate vacant lots—is directly south of an existing commercial building at 743 North Main St.

The proposed development has been named Bellevue Square.

Sharp—who owns the business-zoned property—said last week that he decided to propose the project after seeing a need for small retail-business sites in the southern end of the Wood River Valley.

"We’ve owned the property for a long time," Sharp said. "While we were deciding what we wanted to do with it, we started to see that there were not adequate opportunities for small, local businesses to get started in the valley."

The proposed project includes:

· A 6,531-square-foot building that will offer for lease six separate retail units.

· A 9,802-square-foot building that will offer nine retail units.

· A 14,252-square-foot building that will offer 14 warehousing units. The units could be leased by on-site retailers or additional tenants seeking storage for commercial products or recreational vehicles.

· Landscaped, on-site parking for 64 vehicles.

The structures will feature brick and wood-panel siding. To comply with the city’s design requirements, the building designs include various elements of Frontier-era architecture.

Sharp said he intends to target "small, individual businesses" to occupy each of the approximately 1,000-square-foot retail sites, but will consider combining two or more of the spaces to accommodate a larger store if necessary.

Sharp has been a developer in the Wood River Valley for more than 30 years. He has developed numerous properties in Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum, including the Giacobbi Square shopping center in downtown Ketchum.

He maintains an office in the Salt Lake City area, and lives part-time in Sun Valley.

Sharp said he believes the business environment of the Wood River Valley is changing to meet the needs of an increasing number of residents living in Hailey, Bellevue and other southern communities.

"We see the residential retail market moving south," he said.

He noted that he intends to make the development affordable to small-business owners who cater to local residents and do not need to be located in the tourist hubs of Ketchum and Sun Valley.

"Obviously, we have to be competitive in the market," he said. "That was the challenge of this property: How do you keep it small-scale and still be affordable?"

Steve Almquist, Bellevue Planning and Zoning administrator, said the project upon initial review appears to comply with city zoning and design requirements.

He noted that many applications for projects in Bellevue have been filed in recent months, but few are proposed for vacant buildings or lots in the city’s downtown business district.

Indeed, the city has been looking for ways to bring business to downtown Bellevue, but an overall deficit of parking areas and large developable lots has hindered the process.

"It’s an excellent application," Almquist said. "It’s just unfortunate that a development like this can’t be fit into the downtown core."

The Bellevue Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the design of the project at a regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 16, Almquist said.

Sharp noted that if the project is approved by the city, he will likely develop the site in phases. "It will depend on the demand," he said. "It might take three to five years to complete."

Sharp said he is planning to start the first phase of construction in the spring.

 

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