Transforming Barren Property into Recreational Vehicle Retreat: ACDA's Plans Unveiled
In a significant move for the city of Anchorage, the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA) is spearheading the transformation of a 15-acre property into the Denali View RV Resort. This project, located at the northern terminus of the Seward Highway, is set to contribute to a significant change in the heart of Downtown Anchorage.
The Denali View RV Resort will offer up to 135 full-service RV spots, along with amenities such as a playground, permanent restrooms, pickleball courts, and a clubhouse. The project, estimated to cost $6 million, will see the ACDA spending about $1 million, with federal grants making up almost $1 million more, and private partners investing about $4.2 million.
The site, previously a hospital that closed in 1997 and was demolished in 1999, had been vacant since then. It gained a reputation as "Party Hill" and housed one of the largest illegal campgrounds in Anchorage two years ago. However, under the leadership of Mike Robbins, the executive director of the ACDA, the area is set for a complete makeover.
The development will also include Anchorage's largest urban garden as part of a comprehensive community space. The project will create a positive corridor of activity for both residents and city visitors, with the RV resort expected to open to paying visitors by the start of the 2027 tourist season and be completed in 2028.
The monument to Alaska Native people, which was initially a point of resistance due to the area's master plan, will be placed in the center of the site and will serve as Anchorage's living land acknowledgement. The corners along Third Avenue are suitable for small buildings, which will become part of the development and may include community-serving commercial businesses with residential elements.
Constant, who expressed gratitude towards Mike Robbins for taking control of the site, compared the cleared site to spirit houses at the Orthodox cemetery in the Native Village of Eklutna, suggesting that the land is now ready for something new to happen.
The Anchorage Assembly has approved the project, allowing the city's Heritage Land Bank to lease the property to ACDA for twenty years. The identity of the private partners will not be revealed until the bidding process is complete. The development is set to bring a new lease of life to the area, revitalizing it and contributing to the overall growth and development of Downtown Anchorage.
In the second phase of the project, mixed commercial buildings will be added, featuring a restaurant, store, laundromat, coffee shop, and housing units on top. The Denali View RV Resort is poised to become a landmark in Anchorage, offering a unique blend of recreational facilities, urban gardening, and community spaces, all within the heart of the city.
