Here is a slightly different version of the site plan for Main Street Oak Ridge that we published last week. This color version is posted on the website of RealtyLink, the South Carolina-based developer. (See a PDF version that you can enlarge here.)
This site plan shows the locations of seven of the eight new stores that have been announced so far. The only store not included on this map is Electronic Express, which is expected to be built next to PetSmart.
Main Street Oak Ridge, a 58-acre project that could cost about $75 million total, is being built by RealtyLink, a developer based in Greenville, South Carolina.
The retailers shown above include the two remaining anchors in the former Oak Ridge Mall, Belk and JCPenney. The enclosed space between those two stores is being demolished. Demolition work started at the former Sears store in July.
Besides Electronic Express and PetSmart, there are six other new stores: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Maurice’s, Rack Room, Rue 21, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta.
T.J. Maxx and Dick’s Sporting Goods could be the first two stores to be built, possibly starting in October, close to where the former Sears department store used to be.
RealtyLink lists Walmart and Cinemark Tinseltown Theater as anchor tenants, but they are not part of the redevelopment.
The Home2 Suites by Hilton pictured at the bottom right of the map, near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, will actually be TownePlace Suites by Marriott and the hotel will be parallel to Wilson Street, as opposed to perpendicular to it. There will no longer be an outparcel at the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue. That property will instead be part of the hotel site.
There is an outparcel near Walgreen’s and West Main Street.
The detention pond near the busy intersection of South Illinois and South Tulane avenues will be moved, and a possible restaurant is shown located where the detention pond is now.
The plan shows multi-family residential units over retail and commercial space near Rutgers Avenue, roughly in the area between PetSmart and JCPenney. The plan also shows other potential stores and retail space, and small shops and restaurants, including one retail spot next to Tinseltown theater.
LOI in the map above stands for letter of intent.
Wilson Street, at the right of the map above, is now a private road but could become public after improvements are made.
The main access will be on Rutgers Avenue, at the bottom of the map, where a traffic signal will be installed. There is a roundabout pictured near PetSmart.
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission approved the revised site plan, which has a line of demarcation almost in the middle, with Phase I on the left side of that line, on a unanimous voice vote on Thursday, July 28, with the inclusion of city staff comments. The first phase of the project is expected to cost about $46 million, with new stores expected to open in the spring of 2017.
The Planning Commission also approved an amended site plan for the TownePlace Suites hotel on July 28.
The second phase of Main Street Oak Ridge could include the restaurants and residential units and maybe service companies like insurance agencies and dry cleaners.
See the site plan as a PDF that you can enlarge on the Realty Link website here.
See the RealtyLink page on Main Street Oak Ridge here.
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Joseph Lee says
It is important to shop in Oak Ridge at our existing businesses and at these new stores once they are open. West Town will be fine without us.
Dave Smith says
It appears that the developers have in mind to replace the detention basin at the corner of Tulane and Illinois with a restaurant and relocate the basin [“detention poad”] at the far corner of the TJ Maxx parking lot.
Although I hate to think that we will lose the well-tended landscaping 😉 around and in the existing basin, I’m comforted that there will be a nice fenced-in area in which to start all over. Unless they emulate the landscape design adopted by the folks at our Home Depot and opt for a steeply sloped hole lined with black plastic.
johnhuotari says
I can see how, from a development perspective, it doesn’t seem like a great idea to have a detention pond on one of the prime parcels, at the intersection of South Illinois and South Tulane avenues.
As you may know, there has also been development interest in the property across South Tulane Avenue, fronting South Illinois Avenue in front of AMSE and next to DoubleTree hotel.
It does look like this detention pond would be fairly visible from around T.J. Maxx and the proposed restaurant, so I would assume they’d want to keep it looking good. It seems like the one at Kroger, on your right as you drive in from Robertsville Road, is kept up well. At least, I haven’t noticed any issues.