Work could soon begin on a Flagstaff project that has been long in the planning phase and involves many partners.
More than five years ago, the Harkins Theater, Arizona’s Department of Transportation, and Phoenix-based developer Vintage Partners proposed a unique public-private partnership partially designed to find a new home for ADOT’s motor vehicle division.
It was decided between the partners that the more than 20 year-old building housing the Harkins Theater at 1959 S. Woodlands Boulevard would be renovated as the new Flagstaff office for the ADOT.
But before work could begin, an additional Harkins 16-screen theater was built behind the Flagstaff Mall at 4751 E. Marketplace Drive to take the place of the Woodlands Boulevard theater.
The next step required the ADOT to move out of its longtime campus at 1851 S. Milton Road, in order to make way for Mill Town, a 1,200-bed student housing and retail project to be developed by Vintage.
Now, the latest stage of the partnership project is set to begin: the renovation of the old Harkins Theater.
With LEA Architects of Phoenix serving as the designer, the project will see the renovation and upgrading of a 72,000 square foot structure whose theater seating space will be divided into a series of smaller offices.
The work will additionally include building conference space and a mezzanine level, creating in the process the most modern and newest ADOT regional office in the state.
Work on the theater renovation is expected to be completed by the fall of this year.
By Garry Boulard
