A $12 million apartment and retail complex will soon replace the small stores on the northeast corner of the University Boulevard and East Evans Avenue intersection.

Denver developer Pat Barron, head of Barron Investments, is developing the busy corner after he bought the property in February. The 9,600-square-foot building is meant to benefit the DU community by providing housing opportunities for juniors, seniors, graduate and law students.

The building will have 35 apartments and 1-5 businesses on the ground floor, including a rumored sports bar. An underground two-story garage will also be included in the development. Barron’s plan is to demolish the building currently on the corner and begin construction in April 2006. Completion is scheduled for June 2007.

Currently, the building is home to Mercer Place, Star Market Deli and Moonstone clothing and jewelry store, which will be forced to relocate before the building is torn down.

Although beneficial, some argue that the development is damaging the community, especially for businesses that have already established themselves at that central location. Star Market Catering and Delicatessen has been at the same location since the 1930s.

Star Market had a lease until 2008, but negotiated with Barron and will move out in the next year. The store will be the last shop to leave the area.

“It’s wrong that they are forcing them out,” said Greg Zuckerman, a DU student. “It’s unfair because they’ve been there so long. There aren’t many family-owned restaurants here, so it’s kind of a shame.”

Mercer Place has been at the East Evans Avenue location for 10 years, and will be moving to a new location at South Broadway and Arkansas Avenue at the end of the month.

“It’s sad for the neighborhood,” said Lana Mercer, the owner of the store. “They will price independent people out of business.”

Mercer had the option to stay until April 2006, when her lease would expire.

“I wouldn’t want him to be my landlord,” Mercer said of Barron’s dealings with businesses such as Star Market, which had to be bought out due to an extended lease. “He wanted us to take his little check and go. He wasn’t being respectful.”

Moonstone, which specializes in clothing and jewelry retail, will also be closing at the end of the month. The store has been at the corner location for one year. Marcia Ward, the store owner, has considered opening another store in the future.

A Look Optical relocated to 2010 S. University Blvd. when the lease was up at the beginning of this year.

“The whole thing sucks,” said Moe, an employee of A Look Optical. He declined to give his last name. “They didn’t tell us that we would need to relocate until a few months before the lease was up, and they would not renew it.”

The store was located at the East Evans Avenue location for 25 years before moving. “We’re lucky to have found this place or else we would have been out of business,” he said of being forced to leave.

Even though he was skeptical, he thought the businesses needed to bring the news and potential problems he saw to members of the community. He said that no one would listen to them, citing money as a reason why the redevelopment is occurring.

“Money talks. You better wake up and take care of yourself,” Moe said.

According to Moe, several businesses brought the problems of construction and traffic that they predict will affect the community to the city’s attention. “We already knew we were going to lose,” he said.

“The construction is going to be a mess,” said Kelley Baskins, a sophomore. “It’s like T-REX all over again.”

Even though the involved business owners say they don’t approve of the redevelopment and are angered by being forced to relocate, Barron thinks differently. “I have had a good relationship with the store owners,” said Barron. “I’ve treated them fairly.”

“There are short-term and long-term effects,” said Neil Krauss, the vice chancellor for business and finance. “The loss of Star Market will change the culture of the community. However, the development will create upscale living and dining for students. It will only enhance the campus neighborhood.”

Krauss also explained that the current building is not in very good shape compared to the standard and quality of other buildings in the area.

The city has been working closely with the developers, especially in regards to parking requirements, according to Krauss.

The city also supports Barron’s project. “There has been a great deal of discussion with the University Park Community Council, and this neighborhood organization and I support the project,” said Charlie Brown, the city councilman for the district.

Although it is not known which businesses will move in once the project is completed, Barron said that he will know in six to nine months. As few as one and as many as five businesses may move in. A coffee shop, music shop and deli have been considered, according to Barron.

“It brings students potentially out of the campus,” Barron said.

“It would be nice to have another restaurant, bar or coffee shop,” said Rich Gould, DU sophomore.

Barron bought the property from Samuel Schuster, who owned the corner since World War II.

Barron has previously worked on development projects in downtown Denver, such as the Denver Chop House and Brewery, Ice House Lofts and Wynkoop Plaza.

He predicts that an advantage to the development would be a possible reduction of traffic due to fewer commuters once the apartments are completed.

Barron said that with new apartments and retail shops on the busy corner, students will have more opportunity to walk, therefore, creating less traffic around the area.

The recent relocation of Walgreen’s and closing of Coos Bay have also changed the dynamics of the nearby business community.

Walgreen’s moved April 28 to a location further west on East Evans Avenue and South Downing Street. The store had been established at the South University Boulevard location for 20 years. The move had nothing to do with the new development, but instead with a need for a bigger store and parking availability, according to John Ward, executive assistant of the store. The store’s empty space will be replaced by a bank.

Still, students have mixed feeling on the construction.

“I wouldn’t want to live on those busy streets,” said Kelley Baskins. “That’s the worst stoplight.”