Route 66 Plaza developers ready to build

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record November 17, 2016

YUKON – About eight years ago, Aria Development purchased land at Sara Road and Route 66. Co-developer Sassan Moghadam said the company wanted to build a retail center at that time.

Then the economy went south, so Moghadam and his partner Joey Wishnuck waited.

While the developers were watching the market, the area around Sara Road and Route 66 filled in with houses.

“There are thousands of underserved houses in this area,” Wishnuck said. “This area is starving for retail.”

Moghadam said the nearby storage business, one of the largest in the area, is an example of the area’s large consumer demand.

Aria wants to bring neighborhood retailers, including restaurants, to those residents with its Route 66 Plaza shopping center. The company partnered with Mitscher and Associates Architecture to create the center’s layout and design. The center sits on 10 acres.

The center can be built in separate phases, or as one 32,827-square-foot building. Another 10,061-square-foot building sits to the west, which could house a restaurant. The main building has space for a drive-thru as well. In addition, the center has two out parcels spaces.

The free-standing building could be another out parcel, Wishnuck said.

The main building has a potential patio space in the center, which could also be used as green space, said Mike Mitscher, president.

The first phase, about 15,000 square feet, will break ground in early 2017.

Wishnuck said if interest grows, then the entire 32,000-square-foot building will be constructed at one time. The 10-acre site’s infrastructure will be developed at that time, so out-parcel construction could start by mid-2017. Price Edwards & Co. broker Rosha Woods is handling the leasing. Precision Builders is constructing the center and SMC Consulting Engineers was the civil engineer.

Wishnuck said Woods has some letters of intent already.

Mitscher said he designed the center to last, using durable materials such as stone, brick, and steel.

“With this big of an investment, it needed durability,” he said. “It should last a long time.”

Mitscher said Moghadam recommended incorporating the iconic Route 66 sign.

Wishnuck said the materials also help make the center appealing while keeping to a budget for tenants that would be interested in the surrounding residential area.

“We have to make this as sexy as we can, but keep it within a rentable market,” Wishnuck said. “That’s always the challenge as a developer – not only knowing where to build but to get tenants that can afford what you brought to market.”