Gateway Coming Soon Signage Jeffersonville

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore says the city is experiencing unprecedented growth and development.

The mayor and other officials broke ground Thursday on the new Gateway Commerical Development at the corner of 10th and Spring Streets.

The $30 million project will consist of two phases.

The first includes bringing in the city's first standalone Starbucks, and at least three other restaurants; the second phase will include two hotels and possibly an office complex.

Starbucks "is probably the most requested tenant I've had people ask for," Jeffersonville Mayor, Mike Moore said.

The other tenants have not yet been announced. 

"For years and years, this site has not developed or created any revenue for the city of Jeff, and that's a shame because something this valuable can not only be something beautiful to look at, but something that generates revenue for the city of Jeff."

City leaders tried unsuccessfully for more than five years to develop the land at the intersection 10th and Spring Streets. Hogan Real Estate, responsible for developments on Veteran's Parkway, is the third developer to take on the project. 

"One of them, I got frustrated with and said 'enough is enough,' we're done," Moore said. "Another one said 'hey, I can't make it work financially. I'm sorry, I'm out.'"

Hogan Real Estate was in the running for the project in 2015, but was turned down for the project, according to the president of the company, Justin Phelps. 

"We went through the process, and we just unfortunately didn't get it," Phelps said. "2017, we started talking to the city again, after the previous two failed attempts to develop the site, and we hit it off."

Construction will begin at the site next week, according to Mayor Moore. Phelps hopes the Starbucks will open before early next year. 

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