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More development possible on South Illinois Avenue

Posted at 10:43 am June 23, 2014
By John Huotari 4 Comments

South Purdue Land Use Plan

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday will consider amending the Land Use Plan to change the designation on parcels 39 and 40 above from residential to business. The parcels are next to Aldi grocery (Parcel 43 at right) and between South Purdue Avenue (white road center right) and South Illinois Avenue (yellow road at bottom). The Planning Commission could consider rezoning the property in July. The new Weigels gas station and convenience store is off the map to the left on Parcel 41. Potomac Circle is at top left. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

 

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday will consider amending the city’s Land Use Plan to change the designation of more than two acres on busy South Illinois Avenue from residential to business, possibly to allow a small multi-tenant building to be constructed.

The two parcels being considered are sandwiched between two other recent developments—Weigels gas station and convenience store on one side and Aldi grocery on the other—and also near the new Aubrey’s restaurant, Panera Bread, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, and Bojangles’ restaurant.

A Nashville development group has a contract on the property, Oak Ridge Community Development Director Kathryn Baldwin said Monday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Aubrey's, Bojangle's, Clifford Ernest R. Trust and (wife) Dolores M. Trust, Kathryn Baldwin, Land Use Plan, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, Panera Bread, South Illinois Avenue, South Purdue Avenue, Walter Wise, Weigel's

Ole Ben Franklin Motors opens Thursday, sixth new business in south Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:50 pm January 1, 2014
By John Huotari 9 Comments

Ole Ben Franklin Motors Building and Sign

Eric Martin of Sign Co. Inc. in Knoxville installs lettering at Ole Ben Franklin Motors on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

Ole Ben Franklin Motors, the largest independent used car lot in Tennessee, is expanding into Oak Ridge, and the company’s new location on South Illinois Avenue will open Thursday, the owner said Tuesday.

It will be the sixth business to open in a little more than one year in a one-third mile stretch of the busy roadway at the southern entrance to central Oak Ridge.

“We want to be part of (the growth),” said Mike Mencer, owner of the Knoxville-based company.

Mencer said the Ole Ben Franklin Motors lot at the former Dean Stallings Ford could have more than 100 cars when it opens at 9 a.m. Thursday. He said the company has a great selection of used cars, can offer financing through its own bank, and has been in business for 30 years. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Aldi, Aubrey's, Bojangle's, car lot, Dean Stallings Ford, Mark Watson, Mike Mencer, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, Panera Bread, South Illinois Avenue, tax increment financing, TIF, used cars, Weigel's, Woodland Town Center

Weigel’s has ribbon-cutting Tuesday

Posted at 2:55 pm November 14, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Weigel's on South Illinois Avenue

The Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge has a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

The new Weigel’s store on South Illinois Avenue will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday.

The new Weigel’s convenience store and gas station is at 417 S. Illinois Ave. in Oak Ridge.

It’s one in a series of relatively new businesses recently completed or under construction in or near the Woodland neighborhood along South Illinois Avenue. Others include an Aldi grocery, Panera Bread and Aubrey’s restaurant, and a Bojangle’s restaurant.

Filed Under: Business, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Aldi, Aubrey's, Bojangle's, gas station, Panera Bread, ribbon-cutting, South Illinois Avenue, Weigel's

Construction work starts on Aldi grocery

Posted at 10:56 am July 24, 2013
By John Huotari 15 Comments

Aldi Construction

Construction has started on an Aldi grocery store on South Illinois Avenue. Above, construction subcontractors from Bellamy Excavating of Knoxville install a storm sewer on the 1.4-acre site near the relocated, expanded Panera Bread and new Aubrey’s restaurant.

Construction work has started on an Aldi grocery store on South Illinois Avenue.

Under way for about a month, work on the 16,000-square-foot store on 1.4 acres could be finished in November, said Tony Stacy, job superintendent for the project’s general contractor, Creative Structures of Knoxville.

The project at the Woodland Town Center, where the new Aubrey’s and relocated Panera Bread opened in October, was announced in January. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Aldi, Aubrey's, Creative Structures, grocery, Panera Bread, South Illinois Avenue, Tony Stacy, Woodland Terrace East, Woodland Town Center

New traffic signal at Woodland Town Center, South Illinois

Posted at 12:44 pm November 6, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

A new traffic signal is expected to start operating Wednesday, Nov. 14, in front of the Woodland Town Center on South Illinois Avenue.

The new shopping center includes a Aubrey’s restaurant and a larger, relocated Panera Bread.

The traffic light is at the intersection of South Illinois and a new road called Woodland Terrace East. It replaces a short section of Quincy Avenue that was removed to make way for Woodland Town Center.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Aubrey's, Panera Bread, Quincy Avenue, South Illinois Avenue, traffic signal, Woodland Terrace East, Woodland Town Center

New Panera opens Sunday, Aubrey’s opens Monday

Posted at 5:14 pm October 27, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Panera and Aubreys Opening in Oak Ridge

A new, larger Panera Bread will open Sunday morning on South Illinois Avenue, and a new Aubrey’s restaurant will open Monday.

Panera Bread will open its new store Sunday morning, and Aubrey’s restaurant will open Monday, staff members said.

Panera, which already has an Oak Ridge store, is moving into a new, larger restaurant on South Illinois Avenue. The old store is now closed, a staff member said Saturday evening, and the new diner will open at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Aubrey’s is next to the new Panera store and will open at 10:30 a.m. Monday, a staff member said.

The two restaurants are located in a new four-acre shopping center called Woodland Town Center. It’s across from the former Dean Stallings Ford.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Top Stories Tagged With: Aubrey's, Panera Bread, restaurant, South Illinois Avenue, Woodland Terrace East, Woodland Town Center

Construction work starts at Panera, Aubrey’s site

Posted at 1:41 pm May 21, 2012
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Woodland Town Center Construction

Construction work has started on Woodland Town Center, a commercial development that will feature an Aubrey's restaurant on South Illinois Avenue and a larger, relocated Panera Bread.

Construction work has started at a four-acre tract on South Illinois Avenue that will feature an Aubrey’s restaurant and Panera Bread.

The restaurants could be complete by September or October.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Tagged With: Aubrey's, Panera Bread, Terry Wheeler, Walter Wise, Woodland Town Center

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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...]

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