Oak Ridge Today

Countryside Tire and Auto opening on Rutgers; Secret City Pies closed

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A sign announces that Countryside Tire and Auto will be opening soon at the site of the former Keeping Room on Rutgers Avenue in central Oak Ridge. The sign above is pictured on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Countryside Tire and Auto Service plans to open soon at the site of the former Keeping Room on Rutgers Avenue.

Countryside Tire and Auto hopes to open the new shop in late October.

“We will know better as it gets closer,” the company said Monday.

Countryside Tire and Auto will be moving to Rutgers Avenue from its current location at 220 Brisbane Road in east Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Photos: Oak Ridge Mall demolition

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Oak Ridge Mall Sears Demolition July 26 2016 10

Demolition of the enclosed unused spaces at the former Oak Ridge Mall started at the former Sears store on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, as developer Realty Link of Greenville, South Carolina, starts construction on Main Street Oak Ridge, a 58-acre open-air mixed-use development that will include eight new stores in addition to Belk and JCPenney. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Demolition of the enclosed unused spaces at the former Oak Ridge Mall started at the former Sears store on Tuesday. Here are photos of the work.

The demolition is expected to include the enclosed space between Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchors at the former mall.

Demolition could last three months, and the construction of two new stores, T.J. Maxx and Dick’s Sporting Goods, could start where the former Sears building is in October, said Neil Wilson, principal of RealtyLink, the Greenville, South Carolina, company that is redeveloping the property.

Plans call for replacing the former mall with Main Street Oak Ridge, an open-air, 58-acre, $75 million mixed-use development that could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel. Belk and JCPenney are part of Main Street Oak Ridge, and they remain open during demolition of the mall’s enclosed spaces and construction of new stores. [Read more…]

Mall demolition begins

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Oak Ridge Mall Demolition Sears July 26 2016

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Tuesday. Crews demolished a significant part of the former Sears store Tuesday morning, July 26, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:15 p.m.

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Tuesday. Crews demolished a significant part of the former Sears store Tuesday morning.

The demolition is expected to include the enclosed space between Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchors at the former mall.

Plans call for replacing the former mall with Main Street Oak Ridge, a 58-acre, $75 million mixed-use development that could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel. Belk and JCPenney are part of Main Street Oak Ridge, and they remain open during demolition of the mall’s enclosed spaces and construction of new stores. [Read more…]

Navarro Research, Engineering buys Tech 2020 building

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Technology-2020-Jan-27-2016

Navarro Research and Engineering Inc. acquired the Tech 2020 building late last week, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce said Monday, July 25, 2016. The purchase of the building will allow the company’s corporate headquarters to remain in Oak Ridge, retaining more than 100 jobs in the community. The board of directors for Technology 2020 voted Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, to wind down operations after more than two decades of operations. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Navarro Research and Engineering Inc. acquired the Tech 2020 building in Oak Ridge late last week. The purchase of the building will allow the company’s corporate headquarters to remain in Oak Ridge, retaining more than 100 jobs in the community, a press release said.

The Tech 2020 building was placed on the market following the January 2016 announcement that the organization would be winding down operations. Tech 2020 was a nonprofit organization that had focused on technology-based entrepreneurial support and access to capital. The organization contributed to the success of several area start-ups.

“We are pleased that Navarro has found a new home in the Tech 2020 building,” said Phil Andrews, chief financial officer of Oak Ridge Associated Universities and chair of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. “It’s a win for the community to be able to keep the company and employees in Oak Ridge. The fact that the company has purchased a building, rather than leasing or renting one, shows the kind of commitment Navarro has to the city.” [Read more…]

Mall demolition begins with ceremonial groundbreaking, knocking down of wall

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Main Street Oak Ridge Groundbreaking July 20 2016

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Wednesday, July 20, 2016, with a ceremonial groundbreaking and the knocking down of a wall near the former Goody’s store, starting construction on a 58-acre mixed-use retail development known as Main Street Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7 p.m.

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Wednesday with a ceremonial groundbreaking and the knocking down of a wall near the former Goody’s store, starting construction on a 58-acre mixed-use retail development known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

Demolition could last three months, and the construction of two new stores, T.J. Maxx and Dick’s Sporting Goods, could start where the former Sears building is in October. New stores could open in the spring of 2017.

Officials, business representatives, and the community celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. About 300 or more people attended. After the groundbreaking on a hot, sunny summer afternoon, those celebrating, including children and adults, had a chance to spray graffiti on part of the old mall as a fundraiser for the renovation of Blankenship Field.

Main Street Oak Ridge is now the largest multi-tenant commercial retail project in the city, said Parker Hardy, president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. [Read more…]

Donate $10, spray paint on part of old mall—money goes to Blankenship Field

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As part of the Main Street Oak Ridge groundbreaking on Wednesday, you will have a chance to spray paint on part of the old mall in exchange for a $10 donation, and the money raised will be used for the Blankenship Field Renovation Project.

It’s part of the Main Street Oak Ridge celebration at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 20. The City of Oak Ridge is helping to raise the money for Blankenship Field.

“The fundraising opportunity will be one of the last items in the program, after the groundbreaking and ceremonial demolition we have planned,” a city statement said. “Participants will be asked to donate $10 to the field renovation project. In return, they’ll get to spray paint a designated area on the outside of the old mall building. People can write whatever they’d like (as long as it’s tasteful), but we see this as a special opportunity for the community to bid the ‘mall’ farewell.” [Read more…]

Main Street: Workers setting up parking lot lighting for Belk, JCPenney during mall demolition

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Main Street Oak Ridge Electrical Work Goody's Close-up July 18 2016

Workers from Danny Davis Electrical Contractors Inc. of Maryville set up parking lot lighting that will be used at Belk and JCPenney during demolition of the enclosed space between the two anchor stores at the former Oak Ridge Mall as part of the 58-acre redevelopment known as Main Street Oak Ridge. A worker is pictured above near the former Goody’s store on Monday, July 18, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

On Monday, workers from Danny Davis Electrical Contractors Inc. of Maryville were setting up parking lot lighting that will be used at Belk and JCPenney during demolition of the enclosed space between those two stores as part of the 58-acre redevelopment known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

Wiring to the existing parking lot lights is expected to be disconnected as part of the redevelopment, which is at the former Oak Ridge Mall.

Danny Davis Electrical has been at the Main Street Oak Ridge site since the beginning of last week. They’ve had to find existing electrical lines and determine how they were controlled, foreman Greg Miller said. [Read more…]

Dover Development wins national preservation award for Alexander Inn

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Alexander Guest House Front Entrance Sept. 23, 2015

The front entrance is pictured above at the Alexander Guest House, which converted the historic but long-vacant Alexander Inn hotel into a beautifully restored assisted living center. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Rick Dover and Dover Development of Knoxville have won a national preservation award for their work to convert the historic Alexander Inn, a dilapidated, vacant two-story hotel in Oak Ridge, into the Alexander Guest House, a beautifully restored assisted living center.

Knox Heritage, which played a key role in the project, announced the award on Friday. Also playing a key role was the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance.

Dover Development won the Chairman’s Award for Achievement in Historic Preservation from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, or ACHP, a press release said. Members of the ACHP are appointed by the president of the United States.

It’s one of the highest awards given for historic preservation, the press release said. [Read more…]

Preparing for demolition, construction: Fence installed at Main Street Oak Ridge

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Main Street Oak Ridge Fencing July 12 2016 Slider 2

Loudon County Fence LLC started putting up 4,000 feet of construction fencing around the former Oak Ridge Mall on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, preparing the site for partial demolition and construction of Main Street Oak Ridge, a 58-acre mixed-use development. These workers are near the former Sears store. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3 p.m. July 13.

Workers started installing construction fencing around the former Oak Ridge Mall on Tuesday morning, as the new owner prepares for demolition of much of that building and construction of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the site.

Loudon County Fence LLC, which is based in Lenoir City, expects to install 4,000 feet of fence around some parts of the former mall, which is now mostly empty. Some parts near Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchor stores, will remain open.

The work could be complete Wednesday afternoon. [Read more…]

Main Street Oak Ridge groundbreaking on July 20, city manager says

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RealtyLink-at-Main-Street-JCPenney-July-5-2016

The sale of the Oak Ridge Mall closed Thursday, June 30, 2016, and executives from RealtyLink, the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge, were at the 58-acre site on Tuesday, July 5, planning for the demolition of enclosed spaces between Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchors. From left are Matt Usry, RealtyLink project manager; Brett Rogers, RealtyLink construction director; and Brad Gunn, RealtyLink property manager. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The groundbreaking for Main Street Oak Ridge has been scheduled for 2 p.m. July 20, City Manager Mark Watson said Monday.

Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

Executives from RealtyLink, the Greenville, South Carolina, company redeveloping the mall, have said demolition machinery could be at the site the week of July 18.

Watson said the July 20 groundbreaking has been confirmed with RealtyLink Principal Neil Wilson.

Watson announced the groundbreaking, which will be open to the public, during the Monday night Oak Ridge City Council meeting as a “save the date” event. [Read more…]

RealtyLink at Main Street preparing for mall demolition

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The sale of the former Oak Ridge Mall closed Thursday, and executives from RealtyLink, the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge, were at the 58-acre site on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, preparing for the demolition of enclosed spaces between Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchors. From left are Matt Usry, RealtyLink project manager; Brett Rogers, RealtyLink construction director; and Brad Gunn, RealtyLink property manager. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The sale of the former Oak Ridge Mall closed Thursday, and executives from RealtyLink, the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge, were at the 58-acre site on Tuesday, preparing for demolition.

Three executives at the site on Tuesday morning were Matt Usry, RealtyLink project manager; Brett Rogers, RealtyLink construction director; and Brad Gunn, RealtyLink property manager.

The company is scheduled to meet with city staff, contractors, and subcontractors this afternoon (Tuesday, July 5) to review demolition and construction plans. Among the topics expected to be discussed are utility disconnections at the mostly empty mall.

Plans call for demolishing the enclosed spaces between Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchor stores. Utility disconnects near Belk could start Monday, July 11, and demolition machinery could be at Main Street Oak Ridge the week of July 18, officials said. [Read more…]

Mall sale has closed, executives say

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JCPenney Oak Ridge June 30 2016

The JCPenney store at the former Oak Ridge Mall, which has more recently been known as Oak Ridge City Center, is pictured above. The sale of the roughly 58-acre site has closed, Steve Arnsdorff, chief manager of Oak Ridge City Center LLC, said Friday, July 1, 2016. RealtyLink of Greenville, South Carolina, plans to redevelop the site, which also includes a Belk store, as Main Street Oak Ridge, a mixed-use development that could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and possibly a hotel. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 p.m.

The sale of the former Oak Ridge Mall has closed, executives said Friday morning.

The sale was confirmed by Steve Arnsdorff, chief manager of Oak Ridge City Center LLC, which had owned the property, and Neil Wilson, principal of RealtyLink, the new developer.

The new owner is TN Oak Ridge Rutgers LLC, a company set up by RealtyLink, which is based in Greenville, South Carolina. The purchase price was $6.3 million, and the sale closed late Thursday evening, Wilson said.

RealtyLink plans to redevelop the roughly 58-acre site, which includes a Belk and JCPenney, as a mixed-use development known as Main Street Oak Ridge. It could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and possibly a hotel.

“We’re excited for what this project will do for Oak Ridge,” Arnsdorff said. “This community deserves this. We’re excited this is happening.”

“I think what I would like to point out is that it’s a great day for Oak Ridge and for the city to sort of embrace this new mall,” Wilson said. [Read more…]