Crews are demolishing a strip mall in Aurora that has been an eyesore for years and they held a watch party on Tuesday afternoon.
Demolition of Regatta Plaza began Tuesday. It is located at Parker Road and Interstate 225, right across from Nine Mile Station. The only businesses left in the 22-acre plaza are King Soopers and Key Bank.
The City of Aurora and the demolition companies set up a special area for a watch party.
The demolition and watch event began at 1:30 p.m. and was scheduled to last one hour, officials stated.
Regatta Plaza will be history, crews are ready to tear down the old buildings, Dale Mallette welcomes the change. pic.twitter.com/dzRYASLTwQ
— Alan Stedman (@AlanStedman7) May 31, 2016
The demolition is part of an urban renewal plan.
When it's complete, Regatta Plaza will feature more than 500 residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail space and up to 250,000 square feet of commercial space, according to officials.
Many in the area believe re-development across the street from the Nine Mile light rail station isn't just development, but smart development.
"I think the transit orientation and the whole development based around the transit is good for Denver, it’s going to be good for the whole community, we’re getting some apartments that are affordable and market rate," said Rich Dibianca.
Those living in the area said they showed up to the demolition because they're excited about new life being brought to the corner.
"I think it has the potential to be huge, I think just obviously the housing and just sprucing everything up when we first moved in it was definitely an eye sore and a concern of ours so to have it changed finally it’s awesome,” said Jessie Minassian, who lives nearby.
"The redevelopment concept includes a new King Soopers with a fueling station, a 'main street' with shops and restaurants, multi-family residential, an urban park, and an office building," the City of Aurora website states. "Some elements of this concept will likely be modified as the concept is refined."
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