The City of Grand Junction has issued a Statement of Qualifications specific to a project that could see the redevelopment of a former sawmill site, across the way from the Las Colonias Business Park.
For decades the Doug Jones Sawmill at 1441 Winters Avenue served as one of the last operating sawmills and lumber yards in the region. The business closed down around four years ago after the City purchased the site.
Since then, city officials have been contemplating ways of developing and repurposing a three-parcel site long populated by stacks of fresh-cut lumber.
According to city documents, the site could see the building of a project that may include “mixed-income residential, commercial, office, or mixed-use projects.”
One of the ideas behind the project is to “help foster activation of the City’s River District area.” And that, in turn, will contribute to an ongoing revitalization of a lower downtown area.
The sawmill site, particularly alluring to city officials because of its proximity to the banks of the Colorado River, was earlier considered as a possible location for a minor league soccer team.
The official Statement of Qualifications request for the sawmill site project has a submission deadline of September 4.
By Garry Boulard