Jeff Spellman, former Kmart sits on 10.5 acres just off Interstate 17 on Northern Avenue in Phoenix. Phoenix is moving ahead with plans to convert a former Kmart store into a center offering education and staff training. The city council wants to convert acres of asphalt and an empty 118,000 square meter building into an innovation center. On Wednesday, the council voted to enter into agreements with the Maricopa County Community College District, Western Maricopa Education Center (Western MEC). and Arizona State University to evaluate the property. Councilor Betty Guardado, whose district includes Northern Avenue near Interstate 17, said, “What we’re going to bring into the corridor is going to be incredibly amazing, opportunities for people to be retrained, opportunities for ours Youth in “Gabe Saia aerial photo of Kmart at I-17 and Northern Avenue before the store closed in October 2018. Last week, Phoenix approved the use of $ 15 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to raise funding from other sources for the purchase and redevelopment of the former to use Kmart. The goal is for the Community College District, West-MEC and ASU to take over the operation and maintenance. Residents and neighborhood leaders have been working to fill the vacant space since 2018 First think of a center that focuses on food, where people share kitchens and storage rooms, house food trucks and catering companies, and so on nd can offer culinary experiences, but a consultant pointed out: Recurring theme in the community: The importance of education and vision have evolved. Potential uses now are: Culinary support service center, K-12 and community college education .Business Establishment. Workforce Development. Skills / Technical Training Center. Vote on Wednesday means Phoenix and its partners will each contribute $ 9,000. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc. to conduct a building assessment before beginning the adaptive reuse process. EDITOR’S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District. Other stories from KJZZ
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