FARGO-A man known for bringing an eclectic mix of concerts and performers to the Fargo-Moorhead area and beyond wants to open a new arts venue on the outskirts of downtown, hoping it helps revitalize the neighborhood.

Jade Nielsen, owner of Jade Presents, is behind a push to remodel an old sunflower processing plant into a new home for a local theater company and brewery. He and Ian Johnson, partners in a development company called 701 Collective, will ask that the property and a two block area surrounding it be included in the city's Renaissance Zone, which would pave the way for the project to receive special tax incentives.

They bought the former CHS Sunflower Processing Plant, located at 18 13½ St. N., and have purchased, or have purchase agreements for, three other properties in the area.

Lee Schwartz, director of business development for Jade Companies, said they want to make it a community focal point.

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"We want to do with that neighborhood what's been done with the heart of downtown," Schwartz said.

The area in question is bordered by First Avenue North, University Drive, NP Avenue and 14th Street North. The developers have sent letters to other home and business owners in the two-block area to potentially purchase those properties as well.

They'll make their request to the Renaissance Zone Authority on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The proposal would also need approval from the City Commission. If passed, the developers could qualify for property tax and income tax exemptions in exchange for their investment.

With a working name of "Sunflower Center for the Arts," the 13,000 square foot building would feature a "quonset look" with modern features and windows and a row of sunflowers growing on the east side of the building, according to plans submitted to the city.

A box office lobby would open into a brewery and bar, while a stage and theater seating 210 people would be off to the right of the lobby.

Schwartz said though a small venue, it could potentially hold events booked by Jade Presents.

"We're going to do what it takes to make the theater company happy to be there, if that means us having to fill the building on some of the nights," Schwartz said.

He did not want to name the theater company or brewery because of the preliminary stage of the project.

According to its application with the city, the cost of developing the warehouse into a workable space for an arts tenant and restaurant tenant is more than $500,000.

Fargo Planning Director Jim Gilmour said he and others will look more closely at the proposal before saying it would be a good fit for the Renaissance Zone.

He said during the previous North Dakota legislative session, cities were allowed to expand those zones to 49 blocks. Right now, Fargo has only three RZ block designations available for future development.

"These are very good projects, but I'm a little cautious of using up two of three blocks we have in reserve," Gilmour said.