• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

New developer plans to close on former mall on Dec. 15

Posted at 9:41 am November 3, 2015
By John Huotari 13 Comments

Neil Wilson of RealtyLink at Rise and Shine on Nov. 3, 2015

Neil Wilson, left, principal of RealtyLink, gives an update on the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall at an Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Rise and Shine at TNBank on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 a.m.

The new company leading the project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall plans to close on the property on December 15, an executive said Tuesday. It’s the first time a closing date has been announced by one of the developers associated with the project.

The new developer, RealtyLink, plans to have a minimum of seven stores open by Christmas 2016, Principal Neil Wilson said. That would include four stores adjacent to Belk and two adjacent to Walmart.

Wilson declined to name the stores but said the new mixed-use development, called Main Street Oak Ridge, could include a sporting goods store, a cosmetics retailer, one or two apparel merchants, and a 20,000-square-foot electronics shop that has signed a letter of intent. There could be a total of about 150,000 square feet of retail in those stores. There are roughly 130,000 square feet of retail at JCPenney and Belk, which will have a new facade and entrance.

Wilson said his company, which is based in Greenville, South Carolina, wants to start demolition on the enclosed spaces between the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney, the day after it closes on the purchase of the roughly 60-acre property in the center of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Belk, construction, Crosland Southeast, demolition, JCPenney, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Neil Wilson, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, RealtyLink, Rise and Shine, tax increment financing, TIF

Mall demolition could start end of Nov., eight new stores could open by Christmas 2016

Posted at 4:52 pm October 19, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Sears at Oak Ridge City Center

Demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall could start at the end of November at the former Sears store, and eight new stores could open at the redeveloped 60-acre site by Christmas 2016, officials said Monday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:55 p.m.

Demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall could start at the end of November at the former Sears store, and eight new stores could open at the redeveloped 60-acre site by Christmas 2016, officials said Monday.

RealtyLink, the new master developer announced in September, has been looking at the mostly vacant shopping center in the heart of Oak Ridge since 2009. They replace Crosland Southeast, which had been working on the $80 million redevelopment project for more than two years.

RealtyLink, which is based in Greenville, South Carolina, hopes to close on the property, which is now owned by Oak Ridge City Center LLC, at the end of November.

A demolition permit has already been issued, but it’s not in RealtyLink’s name. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Belk, Crosland Southeast, IDB, JCPenney, Main Street—Oak Ridge, mall redevelopment, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, RealtyLink, tax increment financing, TIF

Council to consider amending mall plan, inviting DOE to discuss travel practices

Posted at 8:56 am October 19, 2015
By John Huotari 9 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

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)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:35 p.m.

During a special meeting Tuesday, the Oak Ridge City Council will consider amending the economic impact plan for the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. The change is being considered primarily because the master developer has changed.

The amendment to the economic impact plan, which also includes a date change, will be considered a day earlier, on Monday, October 19, by the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board and Anderson County Commission.

The Industrial Development Board has a public hearing and special meeting on the $13 million tax increment financing, or TIF, for the redevelopment and an amendment to the economic impact plan at 3:45 p.m. Monday, October 19, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room. The County Commission is expected to consider the amendment in a meeting that starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Board of Education, Crosland Southeast, DOE, economic impact plan, Industrial Development Board, John Ragan, Ken Yager, Kent Calfee, Mark Watson, Municipal Building Training Room, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Preschool, per diem rates, Randy McNally, RealtyLink, special meeting, tax increment financing, TIF, travel, travel practices, U.S. Department of Energy, work session

Some minor changes, but Main Street project still expected to open for Christmas 2016

Posted at 1:54 pm October 14, 2015
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Main Street Oak Ridge Belk on March 2, 2015

Construction for the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall could start first near the Belk store, the city’s retail consultant said this month. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

There have been some minor changes to the plans, but the new developer at Main Street Oak Ridge still plans to open the retail-driven, mixed-use development by the Christmas 2016 holiday season, the city’s retail consultant said last week.

RealtyLink, the new South Carolina-based developer, took over as master developer in September, replacing Crosland Southeast, the firm that had led the redevelopment effort for more than two years.

Oak Ridge retail consultant Ray Evans said RealtyLink has a good relationship with Crosland, a North Carolina-based company.

“They have essentially picked up where Crosland left off,” Evans said.

RealtyLink has plans for about 60,000 more square feet of retail than Crosland did, giving the project a total of about 460,000 square feet of retail, including in the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Belk, Crosland Southeast, economic impact plan, JCPenney, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, Ray Evans, RealtyLink, tax increment financing, TIF

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

Oak Ridge Mall

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…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Business, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Courthouse, Anderson County Operations Committee, Crosland Southeast, economic impact plan, IDB, Industrial Development Board, Main Street—Oak Ridge, master developer, Neil Wilson, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge City Center LLC, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, RealtyLink, redevelopment, tax increment financing, TIF

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

Oak Ridge Mall

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)

 

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…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Belk, City of Oak Ridge, Crosland Southeast, JCPenney, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge City Center LLC, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Ray Evans, RealtyLink, redevelopment

Crosland Southeast ‘disappointed,’ invested more than $1 million in mall redevelopment

Posted at 9:12 am September 15, 2015
By John Huotari 11 Comments

Tim Sittema

Tim Sittema

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The North Carolina firm that has been replaced as master developer at Main Street Oak Ridge, the project to redevelop the former mall, said it has invested more than $1 million in the project and is “sorely disappointed” that it won’t be able to finish it.

Crosland Southeast, of Charlotte, North Carolina, said it has been engaged in more than “two years of tireless work,” and the project was in its final stages.

“This was one of the most difficult turnaround developments that we have encountered or seen, and we are sorely disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to finish what we started,” said Tim Sittema, managing partner of Crosland Southeast. “We had just negotiated the last piece of an incredibly complicated project with numerous moving parts, and had invested well over a million dollars into making this project a success. The situation is complicated. Nevertheless, we hope for the best outcome for the community of Oak Ridge. We have very much enjoyed working with city staff and community leaders.”

Oak Ridge City Center LLC, the current owners of the property, announced Monday that RealtyLink, a South Carolina real estate development firm, will replace Crosland Southeast as the master developer of the 60-acre Main Street Oak Ridge project. RealtyLink is based in Greenville, South Carolina. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Crosland Southeast, Main Street—Oak Ridge, mall redevelopment, Neil Wilson, Oak Ridge City Center LLC, Oak Ridge Mall, RealtyLink, Steve Arnsdorff, Tim Sittema

RealtyLink replaces Crosland Southeast as Main Street developer

Posted at 11:33 am September 14, 2015
By John Huotari 10 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

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)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:51 p.m.

RealtyLink, a South Carolina real estate development firm, will replace Crosland Southeast as the master developer of the 60-acre Main Street town center project in Oak Ridge, the property owners said Monday.

RealtyLink is based in Greenville, South Carolina.

“RealtyLink first showed interest in the project as early as 2012,” said Steve Arnsdorff, the chief manager for Oak Ridge City Center LLC, the current owners of the property. “We are delighted that they have had continuing interest and are now able to assume the position of the previous developer.”

RealtyLink currently has nearly two million square feet of space in various stages of development including The River Landing, a 16-acre retail project on Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. In addition to Greenville, South Carolina, RealtyLink has offices in Charleston, South Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Crosland Southeast, Main Street, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge Mall, Ray Evans, RealtyLink, Steve Arnsdorff, Warren Gooch

IDB to consider financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge on Monday

Posted at 11:37 pm August 19, 2015
By John Huotari 7 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will consider a financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge during a special meeting on Monday. Main Street Oak Ridge would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped structure pictured at center above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will consider a financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge during a special meeting on Monday.

The resolution would approve documentation related to the tax increment financing, or TIF, for Main Street Oak Ridge. The $13 million, 30-year TIF agreement would use new property tax revenues generated within the economic impact area to assist in the redevelopment.

The special IDB meeting starts at 4 p.m. Monday, August 24, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Crosland Southeast, IDB, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Municipal Building, tax increment financing, TIF, TIF agreement

Demolition permit applied for at Main Street Oak Ridge, site plan approved

Posted at 7:57 pm August 6, 2015
By John Huotari 7 Comments

Main Street Oak Ridge Site Plan Work Session

Barry James, Crosland Southeast senior vice president, standing, explains part of the Main Street Oak Ridge site plan to the Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday, August 6, 2015. Seated from left are planning commissioners Terry Domm, Jane Shelton, Claudia Lever, and Charlie Hensley. At left in the background is Steve Arnsdorff, chief manager of Oak Ridge City Center LLC, the current owner of the property, the former Oak Ridge Mall. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:10 p.m.

The demolition permit has been applied for and the site plan approved, two crucial steps in the proposal to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall as Main Street Oak Ridge, a 60-acre site that could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel.

Developers applied for the demolition permit last week, Oak Ridge Community Development Director Kathryn Baldwin said Thursday. It will now be reviewed by the city staff. The demolition could include the existing space between the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney, although those two stores would remain.

The site plan is for the construction of the first phase “building footprints” and the infrastructure to serve them, Baldwin said. Construction drawings for the buildings themselves will come later.

The site plan for the core retail area was approved unanimously by the 10-member Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday evening. It incorporated comments by the city staff. It does not require approval by the Oak Ridge City Council. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: asbestos abatement, Barry James, Charlie Hensley, Claudia Lever, Crosland Southeast, demolition permit, Jane Shelton, Kathryn Baldwin, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Center LLC, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, preliminary plat, Roger Flynn, site plan, Steve Arnsdorff, Terry Domm

Pre-demolition activities under way, environmental firm working at future Main Street Oak Ridge

Posted at 1:39 pm July 15, 2015
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Environmental Abatement Inc. Pickup Trucks

Pre-demolition work at the Oak Ridge City Center, the former Oak Ridge Mall, was scheduled to start late last week or early this week, and environmental remediation trucks were on the 60-acre site on Monday, July 13, 2015. The trucks above are from Environmental Abatement Inc., a structural, demolition, and environmental contractor. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Pre-demolition work at the Oak Ridge City Center, the former Oak Ridge Mall, was scheduled to start late last week or early this week, and environmental remediation trucks have been at the 60-acre site this week, starting Monday.

Plans call for redeveloping the former mall as Main Street Oak Ridge, a mixed-use project that would include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel. The existing space between the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney, would be demolished, although those two stores would remain.

The trucks that have been at the mall site this week are from Environmental Abatement Inc., a structural, demolition, and environmental contractor. There has also been an asbestos waste container at the site.

A project representative said that Crosland Southeast, the company that has proposed the $80 million project, is working on pre-demolition activities and reviewing bids. The pre-demolition work includes asbestos abatement, and earlier this month, the representative said that the company hopes that that work will take place within a month. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: asbestos abatement, Belk, Canterfield Hotel Group LLC, Consolidated Nuclear Security, Crosland Southeast, Environmental Abatement Inc., Goody's, Goody's Family Clothing, JCPenney, Main Street, Main Street—Oak Ridge, MDC, Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge Mall, pre-demolition, Restoration Services Inc., Sears, site plan, UCRO, UT-Battelle, Wilson Street

Today’s Planning Commission meeting on Main Street Oak Ridge to be rescheduled

Posted at 8:57 am July 9, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

There will not be an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission work session on Main Street Oak Ridge today (Thursday, July 9).

The city staff said the meeting will be rescheduled to a date to be determined later in July.

Main Street Oak Ridge is the $80 million, 60-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Crosland Southeast, Kathryn Baldwin, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Community Development, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Recent Comments

  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Mysti M Desilva on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Mel Schuster on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Cecil King on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Rick Morrow on Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow
  • Diana lively on Free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25
  • Anne Garcia on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student
  • Raymond Dickover on Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center now open 6 days per week
  • Mike Mahathy on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today