Alterra Cafe Wins Final Approval; Burleigh Triangle Project Wins Delay

Alterra Coffee Roasters’ plan for a cafe on West Wells Street at North 68^th Street received final approval Tuesday from the Common Council, which also granted a six-month extension on preliminary redevelopment plans for the Burleigh Triangle.

Alterra is buying the Wells Street property and will demolish a 4,600-square-foot medical clinic building, built in 1958, that has been vacant and idle for nearly a decade. intended to create 15 full-time-equivalent positions.

Developer William Ibach bought the site in 2003 for $375,000. His plans to develop a $2.5 million, eight-unit townhouse condominium project fell through due to the recession. The property currently is valued at $325,000, according to city assessment records.

Alterra has said construction could begin in spring 2012, with completion possible by late October 2012.

Mayfair Collection gets more time

Meanwhile, progress has slowed for a $45 million retail complex proposed for the , to be known as The Mayfair Collection.

Chicago-based HSA Commercial Real Estate won preliminary approval for the project in May, but because of the complexities of working with the city to create a tax-incremental financing district to help move the plan forward, requested and was granted up to six more months to submit a final plan.

As early as August, HSA had indicated it wouldn't be able to move ahead on its intended timetable. The company had planned to begin construction this fall but had already pushed construction into spring 2012.

Timothy Blum, HSA's executive vice president and retail division managing director, said at the time that the city approval process, including was "taking on more of a glacial pace. Still, we're more optimistic each day."