The Walgreens Co. intends to partially demolish and then redevelop Red Raider Plaza, according to plans on file in Derby City Hall.
The plans — submitted on behalf of Walgreens by Ray Gradwell of the BL Companies in Meriden — calls for the construction of a Walgreens Pharmacy of about 14,500 square feet, plus the redevelopment of about 44,000 square feet of retail space.
Red Raider Plaza is at 60 Pershing Drive, at the corner of Pershing and Division Street.
The plaza is currently home to Town Squire Diner, Radio Shack, Xpect Discounts, Crown Fried Chicken, Suds Laundromat and N&S Smoke Junction.
The shopping center has 338 parking spaces on 4.6 acres. The number of parking spaces would increase to 372 spaces, according to the plans.
The architect also proposed making repairs to the site’s drainage system, which is undersized. As a result, the parking lot often floods during rain storms.
The Walgreens application is scheduled to be discussed by members of the Derby Inland Wetlands Commission Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in Derby City Hall.
The Walgreens Pharmacy would have a drive-through, according to the company. A CVS across Division Street in Ansonia also has a drive-through.
The Walgreens Co. did about $72.2 billion dollars in sales last year, a roughly $20 billion increase from 2007.
The company employs about 247,000 people nationally.
Red Raider Plaza saw a number of storefronts become vacant in 2009 and 2010, but the gaps started to close this year with new businesses.
Walgreens wants to start construction in 2013 and be finished by 2014.
Down The Road
The properties next to Raider Plaza on Pershing Drive are also going through a transition.
Pershing Partners, LLC owns the former Valley Bowl. The LLC’s principal partner is Jerry Nocerino, of Nocerino Construction in New Haven.
The company tore down an old movie theater within the last few months. Italian Pavilion, a popular restaurant, is moving down the road to the former Brickhouse Restaurant.
The company has not filed plans for what it plans to do with the old Valley Bowl portion of the property.
