Derby seeks to boost redevelopment of old west end

The city of Derby wants to develop — or redevelop — its old industrial west side, situated between K-15 and the Arkansas River, and from south city limits north to Songbird Street.

The city council on Tuesday night will consider hiring Professional Engineering Consultants for $47,500 to write a development plan for the area.

The consultants will study the area and ask property owners about hurdles to development in the area, said Derby city planner Cody Bird.

Overall, Bird said, the area has developed slowly and haphazardly, with many open lots mixed with homes and old and new industrial and commercial buildings. He said the city expects a number of drainage, utility and street projects to come out of the study.

In a related project, the city recently renamed and improved access to its West End Business Park, the ground for which was acquired in 1998.

Of the park’s 30 acres, 8.75 acres remain empty, and it got its last new tenant in 2009. Officials hope a $1.3 million railroad crossing on Madison, completed in July, and a new branding effort will help fill the remaining five lots.

The city will also start looking at how to turn an old city storage yard at East 83rd Street South and the Arkansas River into Warren River View Park.

Bird said he expects the plan to be adopted by June.

This story was originally published December 9, 2014 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Derby seeks to boost redevelopment of old west end."