Major retail, residential and office development underway in Provo

By John Rogers

The Plumtree Plaza on University Parkway in Provo has had its ups and downs — mostly downs — over the past several years. But now the suffering strip mall will make way for a brand-new development called The Mix at River’s Edge.

The development, announced last March, will transform the plaza into a mixed-use development featuring retail shopping, office space, multi-unit family dwellings and a high-rise hotel. When completed, the project will contain 1.1 million square feet and cost an estimated $161 million.

Westport Capital Partners LLC, the real estate investment firm behind The Mix, announced last week the project is on track to begin construction this month following the project’s final approval vote at the Dec. 6 Provo City Council meeting.

“We’re excited to be moving forward,” said Greg Geiger, principal and portfolio manager for Westport Capital. “The Mix at River’s Edge is designed to be a meeting place for residents and visitors in the Provo/Orem area. Once complete, we will have exciting new retail and restaurant offerings, new residential space, and three five-story office towers — you can literally live, play and work at The Mix. Additionally, the development will incorporate a new hotel, a welcome amenity to the growing visitor and business traveler markets.”

Construction for The Mix will begin with the demolition of the current shopping center. Many of the center’s businesses have already relocated, while those remaining will stay open through construction — including Olive Garden, Café Rio, Cafe Zupas, Wilson’s Diamonds, Jimmy John’s and JCW’s. The center’s Cinemark Theater will close later this month.

The development will be built in two phases. Phase 1 includes the majority of the retail space, also known as the retail village, as well as the hotel and one of the three planned office towers. Westport’s goal is to have the retail village open by fall. Phase 2 will include residential buildings and the two additional office towers.

“The Mix will be home to expanding businesses, tech powerhouses and specialty retailers. It’ll be a significant contributor to the ongoing vibrancy of Utah County,” said Mark Isaacs, project manager of Pinyon 8 Consulting.

Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors has been selected to handle leasing for the three five-story office towers to be located in The Mix. Available office space totals 300,000 square feet.

“The Mix at River’s Edge is strategically located between two major universities with over 62,000 students,” said Brandon Fugal, chairman of CBC Advisors. “This development offers tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to leverage a talented and diverse workforce while providing employees access to amenities needed to live, work and play in proximity to their offices.”

“The proposed Plumtree development is great for the city on many levels,” Provo Mayor John Curtis said. “I’m looking forward to watching their plans unfold.”

The Mix covers about 27 acres from the northwest by the current Cinemark Movies 8 to the south by the Taco Time building. The development is adjacent to the BYU Film Studios property.

“The Plumtree Shopping Center was originally approved and built in the heyday of single-use zoning so the site was zoned and built as your typical regional shopping facility of the 1970s,” said Bill Peperone, assistant director of community development for Provo City.

Peperone added that a mixed-use development that includes professional office, retail and residential elements is much more sustainable and logical considering its location between two major universities and along the bus rapid transit system.

“In recent years, the property has been underutilized as many of the commercial spaces have been vacant,” Peperone said. “The mix of uses and the addition of apartment units on the site will create a vibrancy that development has never had before. The Community Development Department is excited to have a developer who sees the true potential of this prime location within our city.”