Oak Ridge Today

Main Street Oak Ridge: New main entrance being built at Belk

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A new main entrance is being built at the Belk department store in Oak Ridge as part of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project the redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, which has now been demolished. The Belk entrance work is pictured above on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A new main entrance is being built at the Belk department store as part of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, which has now been demolished.

The new main entrance will face Rutgers Avenue, toward where the mall’s enclosed space used to be.

Belk is also getting a facelift and other work. It includes roof work; exterior painting; and work on the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system.

Four stores will be built on the south side of Belk as part of Main Street Oak Ridge. The four stores are Maurice’s, Rack Room Shoes, Rue 21, and Ulta. [Read more…]

Photo: Aerial view of Oak Ridge Mall demolition

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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…]

Mall demolition about 50 percent complete; see more photos here

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Demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall is about 50 percent complete, a contractor said Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. The view pictured above is from near Belk, in front of the former pick-up and drop-off door at Sears, looking east toward the former Proffitt’s men’s store and Rutgers Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall is about 50 percent complete, a contractor said Thursday.

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 store. Close to one half of the enclosed L-shaped mall space had been demolished as of Thursday, August 18. The demolished space also included the area in the mall that was most recently used as a conference center.

Workers are moving counterclockwise toward JCPenney, which will also remain and be part of the redeveloped site, known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

Demolition could be complete within 60 days, or about mid-October, said Environmental Abatement Inc., or EAI, the demolition and environmental contractor. [Read more…]

Mall demolition about 50 percent complete; see photos here

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Demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall is about 50 percent complete, a contractor said Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Pictured above is the entrance to the former mall on the north side of Walmart. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Demolition work at the former Oak Ridge Mall is about 50 percent complete, a contractor said Thursday.

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 store. Close to one half of the enclosed L-shaped mall space had been demolished as of Thursday, August 18. The demolished space also included the area in the mall that was most recently used as a conference center.

Workers are moving counterclockwise toward JCPenney, which will also remain and be part of the redeveloped site, known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

Demolition could be complete within 60 days, or about mid-October, said Environmental Abatement Inc., or EAI, the demolition and environmental contractor. [Read more…]

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

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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…]

See RealtyLink’s published version of Main Street Oak Ridge site plan here

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The site plan for Main Street Oak Ridge is pictured above as posted on the website of RealtyLink, the South Carolina-based developer, as of early August 2016. (Original image can be found here.)

 

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. [Read more…]

Readers ask about Main Street Oak Ridge site plan—see it here

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Main Street Oak Ridge Site Plan July 28 2016

This is the revised site plan approved by the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday, July 28, 2016.

 

Oak Ridge Today readers have asked about the site plan for Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. You can see it here.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission approved a revised site plan for Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, July 28. It is pictured above.

Rutgers Avenue is the curved roadway partially visible at the bottom of the map above. The intersection of South Illinois and South Illinois avenues is at top left, with South Tulane Avenue curving across the top of the map. Wilson Street, which is now a private road but could become public after improvements are made, runs from top to bottom at right.

Belk is the building labeled C, and JCPenney is the building labeled G. [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…]

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…]

More details on Wednesday groundbreaking at Main Street Oak Ridge

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Main Street Oak Ridge Demolition Equipment July 18 2016 Slider

RealtyLink, the Greenville, South Carolina, company developing Main Street Oak Ridge at the former Oak Ridge Mall, has said demolition machinery would be at the site the week of July 18. Above, some machinery is pictured at the site on Monday, July 18, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The city has released a few more details on the groundbreaking at Main Street Oak Ridge on Wednesday. The main details are the location and the names of some of the participants.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, inside the fence on the JCPenney, Belk, and Cinemark Tinseltown side of the 300 block of East Main Street.

Those scheduled to participate are Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, members of Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce President Parker Hardy, and others who have played a significant role in project development.

The public is invited. [Read more…]