Search Results for: oak ridge mall

Photo: Aerial view of Oak Ridge Mall demolition

Posted at 12:07 am August 23, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Aerial-View-of-Oak-Ridge-Mall-Demolition-Aug-22-2016

The demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall is pictured in this aerial view provided by Environmental Abatement Inc., or EAI, of Hendersonville, Tenn., on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016. The concrete slab in the center foreground is the area of the former Sears store, and the area behind it is the enclosed space between Belk, at left, and the former Proffitt’s men and housewares store, right center. Walmart is the white-roofed building partially pictured at right center. The former Sears auto shop was near Walmart. JCPenney is at center background at the far end of the L-shaped mall. (Photo courtesy EAI)

Note: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 23.

The demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall is pictured above in the aerial view provided Monday by Environmental Abatement Inc., or EAI, of Hendersonville, Tennessee.

On Thursday, EAI, the demolition and environmental contractor, said demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall was about 50 percent complete. The work appears to have proceeded quickly even since then, based on this aerial view. Most notably, piles of scrap metal that were in the area of the former Sears store, in the center foreground in the picture above, appear to have been hauled away.

Last week, EAI said it expected to start removing concrete slabs beginning this week. On Tuesday, August 23, it appeared that workers had, in fact, started tearing up the concrete slab near the former pick-up and drop-off door at the former Sears store, near Belk.

Demolition started at the former Sears store on Tuesday, July 26. It’s proceeded quickly from there to include the enclosed space next to Belk, which will remain in the redeveloped site, east toward Rutgers Avenue and the former Proffitt’s men’s and housewares store. The demolished space also included the area in the mall that was most recently used as a conference center. [Read more…]

Aerial photos: Oak Ridge Mall demolition

Posted at 1:16 am August 11, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Mall-Demolition-Aug-10-2016-1-High

The site of the former Sears store is pictured above at the former Oak Ridge Mall, most of which is being demolished to prepare for Main Street Oak Ridge, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. The side of Walmart is just visible at upper right. (Photo courtesy Brad Jones/BBB-TV, Channel 12)

Here are aerial photos from Wednesday of the demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The photos were shared by Brad Jones of BBB-TV, Channel 12, and they are used here with his permission.

See more information about the 58-acre redevelopment, called Main Street Oak Ridge, along with a video, in this story. Main Street Oak Ridge is expected to include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel. Belk and JCPenney will be part of the project. Eight other new stores have been announced.

RealtyLink, the Greenville, South Carolina, developer, has said demolition of the enclosed mall spaces between Belk and JCPenney could take three months, and new stores could open at the mixed-use, open-air development in the spring of 2017.

[Read more…]

See aerial video of the demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall

Posted at 11:19 pm August 10, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

An aerial view on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, of the demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall starting at the former Sears store at bottom center and extending into the interior enclosed spaces at the mall. Belk is to the left of this picture, and JCPenney and the former Goody’s store are at upper right. (Photo courtesy Brad Jones/BBB-TV, Channel 12)

Here is an aerial video from Wednesday of the demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The video was produced by Brad Jones of BBB-TV, Channel 12, and it is used here with his permission.

The three-minute video starts at the area of the former Sears store, which is now demolished and is pictured above at bottom center. Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx will be built in that area, possibly starting in October.

The parking lot at the top of the photo above is the parking lot between JCPenney, at top right, and the Cinemark Tinseltown theater, which is to the left of this picture. The road curving across the top right of the picture is Rutgers Avenue, and the road angling across the top left is Wilson Street. Walmart is off to the bottom right.

The mall is being redeveloped as Main Street Oak Ridge, a 58-acre mixed-use project that could cost about $75 million total and include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel. [Read more…]

Photos: Oak Ridge Mall demolition

Posted at 9:03 pm July 28, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

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…]

Photos: Removing Oak Ridge Mall sign, installing Main Street Oak Ridge sign

Posted at 3:53 pm December 21, 2015
By John Huotari 26 Comments

Main-Street-Oak-Ridge-Sign-Install-Complete-Dec-21-2015

Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, announcing Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

They tore down the old Oak Ridge Mall sign on Wednesday and erected a new shopping center pylon sign on Monday. It announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.

It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated and long-awaited projects in Oak Ridge. Here are photos from the removal of the former mall monument sign on Wednesday and the installation of the new pylon sign on Monday. See the story here.

Workers from Masstar Signs remove the old Oak Ridge Mall sign on South Illinois Avenue on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. The mall redeveloper, RealtyLink, could close on the 60-acre property in January. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Signs of progress: Workers remove old Oak Ridge Mall sign

Posted at 1:41 pm December 16, 2015
By John Huotari 6 Comments

Note: This story was updated at 10:47 p.m.

In one sign of progress, workers removed the old Oak Ridge Mall sign on South Illinois Avenue on Wednesday as the company that wants to redevelop the property prepares to close in January.

The redeveloped 60-acre site would be a mixed-use development featuring retailers, restaurants, residential units, and possibly a hotel. It would be called Main Street Oak Ridge.

RealtyLink, the company leading the proposed $80 million redevelopment, had hoped to close on Tuesday, December 15, but the expected closing date has been pushed into January. RealtyLink only became involved about three months ago, taking over from the previous developer, Crosland Southeast, in mid-September. [Read more…]

With new developer at work, AC to consider amendment to Oak Ridge mall economic plan

Posted at 10:22 am October 12, 2015
By John Huotari 2 Comments

The Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as a multi-use town center known as Main Street, is pictured above. Also known as the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped building is at center. The white building at center left is Walmart, and it is not part of the proposed redevelopment. Neither is the white building at center top, the Tinseltown Theater. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Anderson County Operations Committee on Monday night will consider an amendment to the economic impact plan for the Oak Ridge Mall economic development area. Officials have said some minor changes would be required after a new master developer become involved in the redevelopment of the former mall.

The Oak Ridge City Council and Industrial Development Board are also expected to consider some minor changes to the mall-related documents. The IDB has a special-called meeting on October 19.

The Anderson County Operations Committee meets at 6 p.m. Monday, October 12, in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. The Committee is expected to forward a recommendation on the amended economic impact plan to the Anderson County Commission for its October 19 meeting. [Read more…]

Evans to give update on Oak Ridge mall redevelopment Tuesday

Posted at 12:48 am October 5, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 14 Comments

Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge, will give an update on the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall during a lunchtime meeting on Tuesday.

Main Street Oak Ridge could redevelop the mall, now officially known as the Oak Ridge City Center, as a 60-acre mixed-use project that would include retailers, restaurants, a hotel, and residential units. The vacant enclosed space between the two remaining anchors, JCPenney and Belk, would be demolished, although those two stores would remain.

The goal has been to complete the first phase of the redevelopment in time for the Christmas season in 2016. [Read more…]

IDB has special meeting on Oak Ridge mall on Monday

Posted at 11:37 am September 24, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Mark Watson

A city board on Monday will consider extending the tax agreement for the redevelopment of the Oak Ridge mall from 20 years to 30.

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will consider the change to the tax increment financing, or TIF, agreement during a special meeting Monday afternoon.

It’s one of a series of resolutions expected to be considered by the IDB and Oak Ridge City Council during special-called meetings on Monday, September 29. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge mall to have new name, banks considering financing

Posted at 5:06 pm September 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Tim Sittema

The redeveloped Oak Ridge mall will have a new name, and local banks and credit unions are considering helping with project financing, executives said Tuesday.

The redeveloped mixed-use property will be known as Main Street—Oak Ridge, said Crosland Southeast, the North Carolina development firm that has been working with the city of Oak Ridge to redevelop the site, including through significant demolition and new construction. The name was chosen after long consideration of a new brand identity for the development, including involvement by Oak Ridge High School students.

“Most everyone we talked to in Oak Ridge was positive about creating a downtown destination for the community—something that says this place is the heart of the city,” said Crosland Southeast partner Tim Sittema. “The site already has Main Street running through it; so Main Street—Oak Ridge is the obvious choice.”

David Bradshaw

Construction is expected to begin in early 2015, with an opening anticipated in the third quarter of 2016, based upon completion of the financial arrangements.

In a press release, Crosland Southeast said a consortium of local financial institutions, led by CapitalMark Bank and Trust of Oak Ridge, is considering substantial involvement in the financing of the redevelopment “due to the transformative nature of this project in the city core.”

“In addition to our bank, ORNL Federal Credit Union and others have held discussions together about providing lending support to the mall project,” said David Bradshaw, executive vice president of CapitalMark. “Although details have not been finalized and commitments have not yet been made, there is very strong interest among our local banks and credit unions to be engaged in this important long-term investment in the Oak Ridge community.” [Read more…]

Second and final state approval granted for Oak Ridge Mall redevelopment

Posted at 12:16 am February 11, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The site plan for the redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall shows a multi-use, town center development with retail, office, hotel, and residential properties. (Submitted image)

The two state approvals required for the $13 million tax financing agreement for the proposed redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall have now been granted.

Tennessee Comptroller Justin P. Wilson notified mall redevelopment representatives of his approval in a Feb. 5 letter.

Earlier, in January, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development notified project representatives that it had approved the proposed tax increment financing, or TIF, but would not issue a separate letter.

Under Tennessee law, the comptroller and ECD both had to approve the TIF after considering whether its use is in the state’s best interest. The comptroller said it was in the Feb. 5 letter.

ECD approval was granted in a different manner. In a January e-mail, ECD General Counsel Sharon Kolb said the department had received the request for a “best interest” determination for the Oak Ridge Mall on Dec. 19. Since the department did not approve or deny the request within 30 days, it was deemed approved under the Tax Increment Financing Act, Kolb said. [Read more…]

State comptroller approves $13 million agreement for Oak Ridge Mall

Posted at 4:43 pm February 8, 2014
By John Huotari 2 Comments

The Tennessee Comptroller has approved the use of a $13 million tax financing agreement that could be used for the $85 million redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall. The L-shaped mall is pictured at center above.

The Tennessee Comptroller has approved a $13 million tax financing agreement that could be used for the $85 million redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall.

The approval was announced in a Wednesday letter from Tennessee Comptroller Justin P. Wilson to Nashville law firm Bradley, Arant, Boult, and Cummings, which is working with Crosland Southeast, the North Carolina company that wants to redevelop the mostly empty mall.

The 20-year tax increment financing, or TIF, agreement, would use new property tax revenues generated at the 59-acre site to help pay for development costs, possibly including tearing down the existing space between the two remaining anchor stores, JCPenney and Belk, as well as for replacing aging infrastructure and building new roads. [Read more…]