DENVER, Colo. – An aging shopping center in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood is about to get a $10 million facelift that developers hope will turn the center in a neighborhood destination.
The Oneida Park shopping center, built in the 1950s, spans both sides of Oneida Street between 22nd and 23rd avenues.
The center’s owners are planning to redevelop the center with restaurants and retail surrounding a 7,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard and that will play host to farmer’s markets, musical performances and more.
Plans also call for a children’s play area that developers say will be within view and within earshot of the outdoor patios of the surrounding businesses.
“Our hope for Oneida Park is to create a neighborhood gathering place for the Park Hill community and surrounding areas by offering affordable local restaurants, services and community events – a place residents can walk or ride their bike to with their family and friends to enjoy a great meal, to run a quick errand or to spend a few hours at an outdoor event,” said Todd Snyder, one of the project’s developers.
Developers say new businesses coming to the shopping center include Ester’s Neighborhood Pub, which currently has a location in the Virginia Village neighborhood, and a yet-unnamed ice cream shop from the company behind Little Man Ice Cream. The owners also are looking to secure a coffee shop for the courtyard area.
The shopping center is currently home to a number of local businesses, including the Park Hill Veterinary Medical center, Desmond Bar & Grill, Allegra Pizza, Zen Dog Spa, Famous Philly Cheese Steak & Beer Garden, Spicy Thai and Oneida Liquors. The developers say most of the existing businesses will remain.
The redevelopment project is expected to be completed in the fall.