Upscale Surprise Development On Track For Fall Opening

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

-The Wester- Tim Gallen

Bell Mar, a mixed-use development at Bell Road and Avenue of the Arts in Surprise, is moving at a brisk pace towards it scheduled opening this fall.

At an open house highlighting the 72,500-square-foot project Feb.12, developers unveiled renderings of Bell Mar's plaza and discussed potential tenants for what will serve as an entry development for Surprise.

Bell Mar will offer a mix of retail, restaurants and professional offices at a section of Surprise that has a dearth of such services, which made the site attractive to Esterra Development, the firm building Bell Mar, said its president, Gary Arnold.

Residentail development surrounds the area, which is near West Valley Art Museum, and the nearest major developments are either east on Bell Road near Loop 101 or west toward Grand Avenue.

Bell Mar will have neighborhood services such as a barber shop and nail salon, as well as boutique shops, national chains and casual dining restaurants, Arnold said.

Arnold dubbed the project "upscale casual" and a "statement" development for Surprise.

"We saw this as a golden opportunity to provide retail in an area that didn't already have it," he said during a presentationa at the Feb. 12 open house.

No specific tenants have been named, but they should be as the site's October opening draws nearer, Esterra representatives said.

Some potential types of shops at Bell Mar could be jewelry stores and wineries.

The project will serve as the entry point for Surprise as motorist drive west down Bell Road.

A specialty fountain will be the centerpiece of the Bell Mar plaza, which will light up at night and have the ability to play music, Esterra representatives said.

Bell Mar broke ground last spring, and construction is more than halfway complete, according to developers.

Surprise planner Adam Copeland, who attended last week's open house, said Bell Mar complemented Surprise's plan for its eastern edge as a section that provides walkability for residents "to live, work and play."

"We see this area as accomplishing all of that," he said.

(PDF)