Whether excited or concerned about the My Mainstreet developments, residents got to ask questions and get an up close look at the development design as members of Confluence Companies hosted an open house to introduce two site development plans. 

In 2018, P3 (Partnering for Parker’s Progress) began engaging with the community to gain feedback about how to best develop the Schoolhouse Lot, PACE Center 2A/2B Lots, East Main Lot and Pine Curve Lot and 19801 E. Mainstreet. 

The open house provided information on the East Main lot, next to Discovery Park and the Town Parking Garage, to be constructed east of the PACE Center. 

“We are trying a very deliberate phase development and really hit phases of housing types and commercial types, both for sale and for rent,” said Tony De Simone, CEO of Confluence Companies. 

East Main Lot

As the lot is zoned for a 75-foot building, the East Main lot will include a five story building, with plans to be 63 feet, 12 feet below what is currently zoned. 

The building will have four residential levels over one level of commercial and the parking is planned to be at ground level and underground, providing up to approximately 500 spaces. 

These residential levels include 284 for-rent-multi-family units. There will also be a pool that looks out to Mainstreet on top of the commercial portion of the building for residential use. 

Currently, there is about 17,000 square feet of ground floor retail and commercial space with the goal of attracting two new restaurants on Mainstreet, said De Simone. 

Confluence Companies decided to develop a mixed-use environment. With both residential and commercial, the residential is used to subsidize the cost of the commercial space. 

“That’s what makes it affordable for the mom and pop businesses,” said De Simone. “Mixed-use is more affordable and can also help the business by providing tenant dollars.”

De Simone also said it’s difficult to deliver restaurant space by itself because it’s typically the large national brands that have the money to build something. With a goal to keep the authenticity of Parker, De Simone said they want to work with local businesses to keep them in Parker. 

Project Manager for Confluence Companies Dan Tovado speaks to residents about the rendering of the East Main Lot. The lot includes a five-story …

PACE Garage 

The proposed garage is a 297-space parking structure planned to be located on the current surface parking lot east of the PACE Center, providing more parking spaces than there is currently. 

Multiple residents expressed their concern for traffic that will come with the new developments. 

The parking garage is meant to alleviate the future parking need and keep traffic away from the front of the PACE Center, said Development Associate Tucker Bennet. 

“The parking garage is to try and get parking off Mainstreet and into a more centralized area where people can walk to separate places,” said Bennet. 

The entry to the garage is off PACE Center Drive and as of right now, the parking is free to the public and it will be owned and maintained by the town. 

Also, the company is working with the town for an art structure or mural for the side of the building. 

“[It] gives a reason for people to stay downtown for a longer period of time,” said De Simone. “So they park one time and they walk from end to end or they go to an event at the PACE Center, they are there for a show but they stay there for dinner, stay afterwards for drinks, or they go shopping.”

Where they are now and looking forward 

Confluence Companies wants to create a vibrant and walkable downtown area that brings people together, but there are still some things they have to factor as they are not fully designed yet. 

On Nov. 7, 2022, the town council and P3 (Partnering for Parker’s Progress) Board of Directors approved the Development and Financing Agreement between the town, the Parker Authority for Reinvestment and CD Parker, LLC. 

“This site specifically has a Plan Use Development on it that has certain requirements,” said De Simone. “As long as we meet those requirements and the STP is approved, we are good to go.” 

De Simone said changes would be in conjunction with any feedback from the public and town. They would try to figure out how to incorporate the potential change and then resubmit the plan to the town. 

The company recently submitted a site development plan to the planning commission, where they will be looking at the elevations, land uses and how the company is going to satisfy the fire department, traffic and parking.

If approved, the company currently plans to start construction on the East Main lot in summer 2024. 

The project is estimated to be a nearly $3 million public-private investment. 

Ongoing My Mainstreet updates can be accessed at www.letstalkparker.org/mymainstreet-implementation.