Maybe cities shouldn’t be in the development business, but they certainly should have a hand in leading the way.

At least that’s the perspective of one member of the Maricopa Planning & Zoning Commission.

Commissioner Robert Klob, who also owns local architectural firm Robert Klob Designs, wrote on social media yesterday morning that the lack of small-business storefronts in Maricopa is “a big enough issue to warrant” city involvement.

His reasoning: Nearby cities have the advantage of age. Older buildings in Casa Grande, Chandler and other communities can be repurposed for small businesses at lower rents, giving entrepreneurs a more affordable entry point.

Compared to those cities, argued Klob, “We can’t catch up or compete.”

A concept called Roan Plaza

In response, Klob shared a conceptual design he sketched earlier this year.

The proposal, called Roan Plaza, envisions two 5,000-square-foot buildings in the Heritage District, at the northwest corner of Mercado and Main streets — near the Amtrak station and Stagestop Marketplace.

Each building would be subdivided into five 1,000-square-foot suites for local small business owners to “invest in their own space and build equity for resale as they outgrow it,” Klob explained. Possible tenants might include print shops, real estate offices, insurance agencies or architecture firms.

The land, currently three city-owned parcels, has been listed for sale since June 2024.

Not a project — yet

Klob stressed that Roan Plaza isn’t a real project. It’s a concept sparked by a small-business forum city leaders hosted last year.

Sometime afterward, he learned the city had acquired property in the Heritage District but had left it undeveloped.

“One day, as a creative on the architecture side, it just kind of hit me. I thought, ‘Let’s go play with an idea,’” Klob told InMaricopa today.

His pitch: If the city took the lead on such a project, developers might follow.

“It’s roughly a $2 million project and that’s just not … exciting enough for a developer,” Klob said. “If we could have the city develop the first one and … it sold out before it was built, that gets investors thinking there might be an opportunity here.”

Klob’s track record

This isn’t Klob’s first attempt to design affordable commercial spaces.

Just months ago, his firm unveiled a mixed-use project at Estrella Gin Business Park on Edison Road and Estrella Parkway. The plan, not yet reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission, promoted itself as “a more accessible and cost-effective option for local small businesses.”

The proposed 10-building complex would include about 82 units, with space for 22 retail shops and 60 office or storage suites. Potential tenants might include boutique retailers, artisans with showrooms, contractors or light industrial operators.