Northeast residents could soon see more development, new bus terminal

Northeast residents may finally start seeing some changes in the Northgate area.

On Tuesday, city council will vote on awarding a $10.6 million bid to a firm to build a new Sun Metro bus terminal and parking garage.

The city took ownership of the property on Wren and Dyer streets in 2010.

Northpark mall used to occupy the lot, but it was vacant for years and an eye sore to the community, so the city tore it down. City Representative Carl Robinson tells ABC-7 plans to build a bus terminal, parking garage, and to widen lanes on Wren and Dyer streets got delayed because FEMA declared the property a flood zone. He says FEMA later determined that was a miscalculation on their part. Robinson says the city also had to wait on receiving federal grant money. He says more delays stemmed from settling a private public partnership with a developer.

Residents say revitalization of the area is a long time coming.

“You know what, I’ll believe it when I see it. It’s been so many things they said was going to be there. I’ll be glad when something is there I’m tired of the dirt,” a northeast resident said.

Robinson says depending on Tuesday’s vote, construction could possibly start in the next 30 days.