The Chandler City Council voted to assign the agreement for the old Econolodge property to a different developer on Mar. 12. They approved the contract assignment language between Chandler Shopping Center LLC and JSH Properties LLC as presented by the city attorney, Larry Lenora.
“The idea is we’re going to assign the agreement to a different developer that’s ready to move forward a little quicker,” said City Manager Jason Orr.
The property was originally assigned to T.J. Remy, who is currently developing the new hotel behind Randy Bowen for Choice Hotels Development.
Orr said the plans would roughly stay the same outside of some minor tweaks to the design. The strip mall is planned to have two restaurants and seven commercial spaces.
The previous developer wants to focus on the hotel while JSH Properties has the resources to move forward immediately, Orr said.
Mayor Kent McVey invited students from Park Road Elementary’s Gifted and Talent Program to present their plans for the Clean-Up Initiative to the City Council.
The initiative is a program to clean up Rt. 66 through Chandler in preparation for the Centennial Celebration in 2026. The students designed a clean-up contest, along with rules and guidelines. Mayor McVey said he will meet with the leaders of local civic groups next week to encourage them to participate.
The City Council also went over the draft site plan for Reed Park. Kimley- Horn has completed the topographical survey of the area and plotted out where the basketball court and family-size pavilion will go, along with parking near the basketball court, according to the city manager. They also drafted out walking trails.
The council discussed possible safety measures near the railroad tracks and along the creek. Orr said they would leave a vegetation barrier between the tracks and the park.
They will also put fencing around the creek area, lighting at the basketball court, and move a portion of the walking trail to the other side of the creek.
The City Council additionally held a public hearing on a property on South Iowa Avenue. They voted to give the owner 30 days to tear down a dilapidated building otherwise the city would. The owner was not present at the hearing.
Other topics included approving Resolution 2024-01 regarding Fair Housing, declaring April 2023 Fair Housing Month and accepting the FY 2023 Audit Report by Michael Green, CPA.
In the Chandler Municipal Authority Meeting before the council meeting, the council voted to approve Pay Application #1 for Bennett, Inc. in the amount of $59,079.55 for the sewer rehabilitation project, Pay Application #2 for Orr Construction, Inc. in the amount of $127,495.46 for the 12th Street drainage project, Pay Application #1 for Orr Construction, Inc. in the amount of $11,243.25 for the 9th Street drainage project, and the Contract Change Order #1 from Cowan Group Engineering for the sewer rehabilitation project.
They also approved the FY 2023 Audit Report and heard from a resident, asking the council to fix a drainage issue in an alley near his home between 7th and 8th Street.
Orr said the city would start designing or talking about fixing 8th Street, however the project would be expensive. That was why it wasn’t included in the first round of street renovations in September.
There is a natural spring under 8th Street, which has caused a lot of the damage there, according to the city manager.
“It’s going to be a lot more expensive than what people think it may be. You can’t just go in there and do an asphalt overlay,” he said. “They’re going to have to install drainage underneath there… divert the water away, and it really needs to be done in concrete.”