Developer receives green light in Louisville

LOUISVILLE – Boulder developer Jim Loftus received final approval Tuesday night from the Louisville city council for the redevelopment of the vacant Safeway grocery store at 707 E. South Boulder Road.

The $31-million Center Court Village project will include a 28,000-square-foot Alfalfa’s Market with a 1,000-square-foot community room. That’s in addition to an 8,000-square-foot retail building and a 111-unit apartment complex. The 5.1-acre site will also include above-ground and underground parking.

The unanimous council vote brought to a close a two-year planning process during which Loftus’ original plan for the site – one that included nearly twice as many apartment units and less commercial space – was denied.

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“It took a while to get it done,” Loftus said Wednesday. “We’re anxious to get it going.”

A permit has been granted for demolition of the 54,000-square-foot Safeway, which closed in early 2010. Loftus said he expects demolition to begin by the end of July or early August. He expects to break ground on Alfalfa’s and the retail building by the end of September, with a targeted opening by the end of April. Construction on the three apartment buildings should begin by January, with the first opening by Thanksgiving of 2014.

The redevelopment will account for about half of the commercial space at the site, which also includes a Walgreens, bank and shopping center that will all remain.

“We’re hoping that this redevelopment will revitalize the other half of the shopping center,” Louisville director of planning and building safety Troy Russ said.

Loftus said he’s already got letters of intent from tenants, including one restaurant, to lease all four spaces in his new retail building.

“I would think that would all be signed in the next 30 days,” Loftus said.