LAKEWOOD — A long-neglected and dilapidated Lakewood strip mall has been emptying out for more than a year, with tenants shuttering their stores in anticipation of the entire 4-acre property being razed to make way for apartments.
Many of the almost two dozen businesses at 85 S. Union Blvd. have moved into new locations, while others have been forced to shut down.
Plans call for national developer Construction is expected to be completed the first half of 2017.
The last tenants lamented the pothole-filled parking lot, faded signage, poor visibility from Union Boulevard, lack of marketing and issues like broken heaters and burst water pipes.
Over the years, the site has been under contract with three different developers, with each declining to move forward.
“It’s been a property that has suffered for a very long time,” said Sharon Kamen, who years ago acted as a listing agent for the property.
Morris Ginsburg, a partner in H&M Mortgage, the current owner, said his company foreclosed on the site five years ago. With light rail, St. Anthony Hospital and the Federal Center nearby, multifamily is the best use in a corridor on the rise, he said.
When Lakewood did an overhaul of its zoning codes two years ago, it expanded opportunities for high-density development along Union Boulevard.
“I think that’s probably the most underserved area in (metro) Denver and has so much potential,” Ginsburg said. “The Union Boulevard corridor can be the next 16th Street Mall.”
Since then, leases haven’t been renewed or have been canceled through a demolition clause. The last business standing, the French Press, will close at the end of December and reopen in Belmar.
“They have great food at really reasonable prices, so I’ll definitely keep going there,” said Ginger Doyle, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years.
Her friend, Linda Buffalow, echoed that sentiment and said she would still continue visiting the Nail and Club Spa, which moved down the street to 820 Simms St.
Many tenants began looking for new locations well over a year ago.
Some, like Envision Martial Arts, found a place relatively quickly. Envision moved to 11078 W. Jewell Ave. last year in a location better suited for their business, owner Jody Horn said.
“As soon as we moved here, within three months we doubled in size with membership,” Horn said.
For others, it came down to the wire.
The two longest-standing tenants — Japanese restaurant Kobe An and Mexican restaurant Las Fuentes — had been there for 33 and 15 years, respectively.
“We started looking over a year ago and couldn’t find anything,” said Las Fuentes owner Lucino Sandoval. “We were very nervous about having to shut down and didn’t find anything until October.” Las Fuentes moved into a larger location at 13161 W. Alameda Parkway.
Lakewood economic development specialist Neil Marciniak said the city had reached out to to each owner, offering help in relocating.
“A lot of those businesses are truly mainstays and assets to the city with a great following,” Marciniak said. “It’s unfortunate to lose the ones that had to close or move out of the city. We certainly wanted to keep them.”
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
