Project combines housing, shops on Riverdale Road

RIVERDALE -- Construction crews are building a new retail and office building that will serve as the centerpiece of a development that will also include two restaurants and eight town homes.

The project, dubbed "The Crossing," is located on about six acres bordered by Riverdale Road, 700 West and 4400 South. It will include 25,000 square feet of retail space, 10,000 square feet of office space on a second floor, and an 85-foot clock tower.

The town homes will be in two separate buildings north of the retail and office building. They will have four units each, ranging from 2,970 to 3,629 square feet. The starting price is nearly $240,000.

There are also two pads in the project area designated for free-standing restaurants.
A wrought iron archway over the 700 West entrance will greet visitors with the words "The Crossing" in neon lights.
H&P Investments, run by local businessmen and brothers Homer and Phidia Cutrubus, is behind the project. Big-D Construction is the general contractor.

The clock tower "will make a big statement as you come over the viaduct," said Jim Rumpsa, an associate of the Cutrubuses who has worked on the project with them since its conception.

While there have been discussions with potential tenants, Rumpsa said it's too early to say who might move into the building.

Big-D President Rob Moore said the office-retail building is slated for completion by the end of the year.

Mixed-use developments that integrate housing, retail and office space are becoming the norm in cities around the country, and it makes sense to have one in Riverdale, Moore said.

"This is the last available corner on Riverdale Road," he said. "We wanted to do something different."

Homer Cutrubus said H&P has owned the property for some time, but the brothers wanted to take plenty of time to make sure their project wouldn't duplicate others in the retail-heavy city.

"With our faith in Riverdale, it was a natural progression for us to get involved in this development," he said. "This is unique here because it's not just a retail center."