Finally, a grocery store in west Pasco? Broadmoor retail plans firming up
After years of waiting, residents in west Pasco could finally see a grocery store built in their neighborhood.
Visconsi Companies LTD, an Ohio-based shopping center developer, hopes to begin site work on its grocery-anchored Riverbend Marketplace at Broadmoor in early January, with physical construction starting a year from now.
The 16-acre Riverbend project will be built at Broadmoor Boulevard and Sandifur Parkway and signals the potential start of retail development in an area targeted for growth.
Brad Goldberg, executive vice president of development for Visconsi, said the company was drawn by the rapid growth of homes and apartments in the area, as well as income levels and other demographics.
Visconsi expects to spend more than $100 million at Broadmoor. The initial phase covers 16 acres, but the company has a deal to buy 100 acres from Kathy and Dale Adams, who own much of the land in the Broadmoor area.
Vicsconsi is one of two retail developers targeting Broadmoor. Elevated Property Co. is the other.
Took the lead
Visconsi took the lead this spring when it initiated the review process for Riverbend.
State environmental records show Visconsi intends to build a 63,000-square-foot grocery store, 124-room hotel, convenience store and gas station, car wash, restaurant buildings and other retail storefronts.
The spaces are sold out.
Goldberg said he can’t publicly identify the future occupants but said all cater to the growing number of people living in and around the Broadmoor area. Some will lease space while some may buy their sites.
While he couldn’t identify what businesses will operate at the shopping center, he said Ten Trails, a 2,200-acre mixed-use development in Black Diamond, east of Tacoma, is an example of its work.
Safeway will anchor the shopping center at Ten Trails.
Albertsons Companies Inc., parent to Safeway, could not be reached to comment on widely-discussed plans to site a store there.
If it does, it will be the fifth Safeway in the Tri-Cities and will bring welcome relief to area residents.
The nearest grocery stores in that area are Grocery Outlet, Walmart and Yoke’s Fresh Markets on Road 68 in Pasco and WinCo across the river at Columbia Point in Richland.
Land deal not closed
Goldberg confirmed Visconsi has not completed its land deal with the Adamses. It said it is eager to take that step and will complete the purchase immediately after it finalizes work on entitlements and utilities.
He stressed that his company is committed to the Pasco project.
“We have significant dollars already invested,” he said.
Broadmoor is the area west of Broadmoor Boulevard, aka Road 100, extending to the Columbia River. Originally a sprawling collection of vacant land and sand dunes, it is the outlet for Pasco’s rapid growth.
Plans call for a mix of residential development, including houses, town homes and apartments, as well as commercial, retail and recreational destinations.
Home builders have embraced Broadmoor, and the Pasco Aquatic Center makes its much-anticipated debut June 27 at 5204 Road 108, just west of the future Riverbend shopping center.
Retail taking off
Retail is critical, but has been slow to take off.
Tim Ufkes, a commercial real estate broker with Marcu and Millichap, is the marketing agent for the Adams family and is ready to see retail catch up with residential.
“It’s taken a lot longer than we ever thought it would,” he said. “The retailers want houses. They want rooftops. But rooftops need retail.”
He’s optimistic the aquatic center will focus attention on Broadmoor by attracting school groups, families and more.
It’s going to bring traffic in, that’s for sure,” he said.
Elevated update
Elevated Property Co., a prolific Northwest shopping center, signed a letter of intent to purchase a 100+ acre site in 2024. It currently faces a December deadline to close the deal.
Fred Bruning, principal, recently told the Tri-City Herald the deal is still pending, and he’s committed to building in Pasco.
Elevated specializes in outdoor malls with businesses such as Whole Foods, Crate & Barrel and more.
It calls its future project The Shops at Broadmoor.