For the week of March 5 - 11, 2003

Hailey P&Z approves downtown retail center

Paul’s supermarket to become
Bullion Square

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

In a major decision that could help revive Hailey’s downtown business core, Hailey Planning and Zoning commissioners Monday unanimously approved a project to convert Paul’s supermarket into an entirely remodeled shopping center.

After a lengthy presentation and public hearing on the proposal, panel members voted 3-0 to conditionally approve plans to redevelop the approximately 21,000-square-foot commercial structure at 117 Main St. into eight retail units.

Represented by Ketchum real-estate broker John Sofro, the project is planned to be called Bullion Square.

Sofro and a group of associates have entered into a contract to purchase the building, and expect the deal to close in several weeks.

"We think it will be a huge benefit to the community and the city of Hailey," he said.

Commissioners on Monday showed firm support for the project, noting several times that it would be a significant improvement to the late-1960’s-era supermarket building.

Commissioner Eddy Svidgal did not participate in review of the design-review application because he is an architect and representative of the project.

Svidgal on Monday proposed a "substantial remodel" to the high-profile downtown building. "We are intending to keep the existing shell," he said.

As planned, the redeveloped building will offer seven commercial units that have frontage on Main Street, plus a smaller unit with frontage only on Carbonate Street. The development would include retail and restaurant spaces that range in size from 700 to 7,000 square feet.

Svidgal proposed to remodel the entire interior and construct a new set of varied "turn-of-the-century" facades along the 300-foot frontage on Main Street. The north and south sides of the building would also be improved, he noted.

Svidgal said the building materials, which include brick, stone and stucco in various earth tones, would be "top notch."

The design plan also calls for new on-site landscaping and an outdoor patio that would adjoin a proposed restaurant.

The only significant issue of concern to commissioners was the building’s south-end loading dock, which is situated in a manner that routinely causes large delivery trucks to block vehicle traffic on Bullion Street.

Police Chief Brian McNary said he wanted to see the problem rectified. "Truly, it’s been a pain for us," he said.

Sofro said the proposed tenant of the 7,000-square-foot south-end unit—L. L. Green’s hardware, which is currently in Hailey’s Alturas Plaza—wants to see the loading dock remain in its current location.

Larry Green, owner of L. L. Green’s, said the new store would regularly receive only one delivery per week, and he would require trucks to park parallel to the building so Bullion Street would remain unobstructed.

Commissioners in the end agreed to approve the project with a condition that an agreement to use the loading dock be worked out with city officials, or else the dock be moved to the back side of the building.

Once the real-estate purchase for Paul’s is closed, market operators will have approximately 60 days to move out. Market owners have not announced whether they plan to relocate in Hailey or elsewhere in the Wood River Valley.

 

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