AURORA, Colo. -- Regatta Plaza off Peoria Street and Parker Road was an eyesore for years. The blighted strip mall sat vacant with only a few businesses still thriving, including a King Soopers and a Key Bank.
Residents were excited when they first heard of the big plans for the site in 2015.
Koelbel & Company and Mile High Development teamed up as the master developer going with the name Mile High Koelbel. Buildings that made up the old Regatta Plaza were demolished in 2016. Since then, not much has happened in the eyes of anxious neighbors.
"I think, really, my frustration is lack of communication," said Kyle McNeal.
McNeal thinks M.H.K. could do a better job of updating the public on what is next with new development.
The President of Mile High Development, George Thorn, told Denver7 dirt will start moving this spring when construction begins on a bigger King Soopers. The one that is open now sits on the southeast corner of the close to 22-acre site. The new building will be on the north side of the site along with a brand new Key Bank.
According to the city of Aurora, a lot of infrastructure work will also begin soon. That includes: sidewalk work, utilities and road work around the site.
Thorn says projects this big can take up to ten years.
"We ask that you keep the faith," said Thorn, who explained the complexities of the site. "Issues that have to do with demolition, environmental, corporate ownership and urban renewal. With all that rolled into one you have just about every moving part that you can have in a development project."
After the new King Soopers and Key Bank are built, Mile High Koelbel will move forward with the rest of the massive project.
The mixed-use development, which will be called The Point At Nine Mile, will include shopping, dining, housing and a pedestrian bridge that will connect the site to the Nine Mile RTD and light rail station across the street.
Thorn says the goal is to complete the project by 2023.
Mcneal is happy to hear that progress is coming but he still wants more transparency.
"Just give us regular updates," he said.
