The Falcon Marketplace has been a seemingly endless project in the making. Itís been more than a year since Evergreen Devco Inc. bought the 36-acre property from the previous owner and took over the continued development. Long before that, King Soopers secured their lot in December 2019, and have been waiting to build ever since.Russell Perkins, principal at Evergreen Devco, said progress of the Falcon Marketplace has been dependent on the resolution of the flood plain, which impacts the property. He said it has been several months since the physical improvements required to alter the flood plain have been completed and surveyed. The process also had to be certified that the work is in compliance with the paperwork filed in advance of construction to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.Perkins said they have been waiting for months to get the Letter of Map Revision; the next step in the process. They finally received it Oct. 11. ìI thought I would literally let you (NFH) be the first to know that we received approval of the Letter of Map Revision,î he said. The LOMR is a tool for effecting a change in the FEMA floodplain maps, which drive insurance decisions, he said. ìMany jurisdictions will no longer issue building permits if your property lies within certain flood plain zones,î Perkins said. The next step is to go through a public appeal period, which the LOMR specifies will end on Feb. 22, 2022.ìNow that we finally have some concrete dates, we are hoping the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department will issue permits (or at least partial permits) to enable any tenants who are interested to commence vertical construction ahead of the appeal period expiration,î he said. ìItís good to have a†ëknowní for once after so many†unknowns; however; we are managing our expectations.îThere are four parcels unaffected by the floodplain, therefore; there is no artificial hold on their permit; those businesses can start construction as soon as they have their permits, Perkins said. The four parcels are the fuel station owned by King Soopers (Lot 3), Discount Tire (Lot 4), Super Star Car Wash (Lot 10) and a coffee/beverage retailer (Lot 11).According to Perkins, this is the latest on all lots:
- Lot 1 (large lot to the west of King Soopers) ó not yet committed to a tenant, but there are a couple of interested parties
- Lot 2: King Soopers ó waiting on the LOMR
- Lot 3: King Soopers fuel ó pursuing permits
- Lot 4: Discount Tire ó They purchased their parcel a couple of months ago and are pursuing permits.
- Lot 5: In escrow with a hamburger retailer
- Lot 6: In discussions with a popular fast-casual dining retailer
- Lot 7: In escrow to sell this to a developer who will construct a multi-tenant building with plans to install three different service retailers (financial, dental, etc.)
- Lot 8: In escrow to sell to a popular fast-casual dining retailer; they are far along in their approvals process and are waiting on the LOMR
- Lot 9: In escrow to sell to a popular fast-casual dining retailer; also far along in their approvals process and waiting on the LOMR
- Lot 10: Super Star Car Wash ó aggressively pursuing their permits
- Lot 11: Coffee/Beverage ó pursuing their approvals
