Revitalization plans for Avenue B, 8th Street

Some big changes are coming to the area of Avenue B and 8th Street. The major one seen so far is the abandonment of Sheltering Palms RV Park that had been located for about 47 years at 2545 W. 8th St.
 
Property owner Steve Schroeder intends to redevelop the property into a small office and retail complex. To that end, he was granted a general plan amendment last week by the city of Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission to change the land use designation to mixed use for the 8-acre parcel. The amendment is subject to city council approval. The owner plans to pursue annexation of his property.
 
Around the corner, there also are plans for two other parcels that front Avenue B.
 
At 999 S. Avenue B, Carefree Senior Living intends to build a long-term assisted living facility for Alzheimer's patients. That property is on the boundary of city and county land. It is too small an area to be annexed alone but was granted a preannexation agreement by the city council March 19 so it could receive city water services and future sewer connections. The developer hopes to have the home, with space for more than 40 beds, up and running within a year.
 
Property at 863 and 909 S. Avenue B has been granted a mixed use land designation to allow for development of a retail store on the 863 parcel. That area too will need to be annexed.
 
As for Ehrlich's Date Garden, two parcels are posted for sale. Land and trees on the third parcel, where the store is located, also are for sale but aren't being actively marketed by the family.

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In other city building activity, plans have been received for Kneader's Bakery at 1651 E. Castle Dome Ave. at Yuma Palms Regional Center, said Alan Kircher, city assistant building official. The restaurant, the second for Yuma, will be 3,000 square feet with an outdoor dining area and two drive-through service windows. Future plans include a Kneader's Bakery office and retail shop.
 
Kircher also reported:
 
-Plans have been received for a 2,500-square-foot medical building at Tuscany Plaza, Lot No. 26, at the corner of 28th Street and Avenue B. The new office will be for Dr. Ghebru Woldemichael.
 
-Plans have been approved for a new building for Truly Nolan at Yuma Commerce Center. It will be 3,344 square feet.
 
-Permits have been issued for a new home for Sundance Insurance Co. at 2680 E. 24th St. It will be a 4,500-square-foot building.

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Donovan Law, PLLC, 212 S. 2nd Ave., will have a grand opening Friday, hosting food and music at 5 p.m. The full-service firm looks forward to serving Yuma in such legal fields as criminal, bankruptcy, tax, estate planning, patent and trademark law. The office can be reached at 329-8707.
 
Attorneys at Donovan Law include long-time Yuma practitioner Michael J. Donovan, Laura Lopour and Mike's son, Brad, who recently returned to Yuma to open the new law office with his father. The firm also includes secretarial staff Rosa Carbajal and Bonnie Chandler.
 
A Yuma native, Brad, attended Kofa High School and earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at Arizona State University.
 
He received his law degree from Arizona State University College of Law in 2004 with an emphasis in intellectual property law.
 
He is a registered patent attorney and focuses his practice on acquiring patents and trademarks for inventors and small businesses.
 
Brad worked as an engineer for DOW Chemical for a while and has practiced for the last two years at Snell and Wilmer, L.L.P., one of the Southwest's premier law firms. On a personal note, he is a certified SCUBA diving instructor.

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With baseball season once again just around the corner, Bison Express Shuttle is scheduling special trips to take people "out to the ballgame." Along with daily trips the shuttle regularly provides to Phoenix, it will be offering trips to see the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase field during the summer, beginning with the home opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 7.
 
The cost is $65 per person for round trip transportation and the ticket for ground level seating.
 
Currently, seven games are scheduled, but groups of 30 can be accommodated to attend a game of their choice.
 
For more information or reserve a seat, call 345-4615.

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A new plan room is expected to open late this week to provide blueprint copying services to contractors, engineers and architects.
 
Yuma Contractors/Engineers/Architects Custom Plan Room Services, 1185 S. 4th Ave., Suite E, is owned by Sylvia Gradias, who also owns Gradias Construction. The plan room will be managed by Judy Gren, who has nine years' experience in blueprint copying and custom plan room services.
 
The service will scan blueprints and be able to make copies for the different construction jobs. Other services will include retaining files in a database so more copies can be made as needed, e-mail them to suppliers, and even pick-up and delivery services for those who are too busy to come by the office, Gren said.
 
The office will also have a color printer and be open to the public to provide document copying services.
 
For more information, call Gren at 246-8652 or Gradias at 388-9122.

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Homes are now available for sale for Octotillo Desert Phase 5 at Avenue 6E one mile south of 32nd Street, announced Michael Hall, broker for ERA Matt Fischer Realtor, which handles sales for the development.
 
The phase has 72 lots with five new floor plans never built before in the city of Yuma, ranging in price from 1,070 square feet for $139,900 to 1,717 square feet for $180,900. These base prices include a block wall and front yard landscaping. Buyers can upgrade to tile roofs, vaulted ceilings, paneled doors and other options.
 
Prospective buyers can call Tamara Swecker at 329-8159 or Linda Gaydusek at 317-5064 for more information. Incentives are available with the use of Territorial Mortgage, the builder's preferred lender.

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A second name has been added to the firm of Barry Patterson Architects, PC, 675 W. 16th St. It is now called Patterson Thompson Architects to reflect that Christopher Thompson recently made principal architect and partner.
 
The firm was founded by Barry Patterson more than 27 years ago. Thompson has been an associate architect for the past three years.
 
Thompson, who grew up in Yuma, is a 2002 cum laude graduate of the University of Arizona College of Architecture. After an internship in Tucson, he received his license to practice architecture in 2007.
 
The firm provides complete, innovative architectural services for commercial and institutional projects. Most recently, the firm designed the new Pueblo Elementary School, new libraries in the Foothills and Wellton, several buildings for Arizona Western College and the Bowman and Smith Law Office.
 
The office can be reached at 343-1694.

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A jewelry store has opened its doors at Yuma Mesa Shopping Center. Owned by Sergio and Monica Castro, Joyeria Aracely offers gold jewelry and repairs - including one-hour repair service. The store is located at 406 W. 16th St. where American General Financial Services previously was located (it's now at Las Palmillas).
 
Hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 782-6706.

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The newest business at Coyote Wash is the Chevron Convenience Market, which opened in time for the Easter weekend and "did very well," said Don Shooter, leasing agent for developer Glenn Curtis Inc. The Chevron station was designed to accommodate traffic headed to and from the sand dunes with an RV dump, racing fuel, ATV supplies and easy access off the freeway for toy boxes and 40-foot travel trailers.
 
Two eateries also are now open: Mr. Lu's Chinese Kitchen (785-4990) and Quizno's Subs (785-9303). You can enjoy a meal there. Or order takeout to eat at the nearby Shooter's Saloon, where you can have a beer over dinner. (By the way, the bar will send a limousine to transport parties of six or more from surrounding communities for $10 a person round-trip. To arrange, call 785-3000).

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Chef Dennis Bracken e-mailed the other day to explain why his business, Old Town Crepes, has been missing in action in Yuma. He developed painful osteoarthritis in his hip and underwent hip replacement surgery in Colorado.
 
He's doing well and looking forward to getting back to crepe making. The Brackens have no definite plans for next winter in Yuma but are looking for a good fit for their business here.
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