Harris Teeter plans and design to be unveiled

January 25, 2012

Chris Perry, on behalf of Suburban Land Management, will be attending civic league meetings in Wards Corner, Talbot Park, and Suburban Acres in February to unveil his plans and design for a brand new Harris Teeter anchored shopping center at the southeast corner of Wards Corner.

The following meetings are open to the public to view the plans:

Suburban Acres Civic League meeting:
February 13, 2012 @ 6:30
Location: Suburban Park Elementary School, 310 Thole St.

Talbot Park Civic League meeting:
February 21, 2012 @ 7:00
Location: Royster Memorial Church, 6901 Newport Ave.

Wards Corner Civic League meeting:
February 27, 2012 @ 6:45
Location: Fitness and Wellness Center, 7300 Newport Ave.

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Posted by Martin Thomas Jr.

VP Editorial on Wards Corner

January 20, 2012

Michelle Washington, a reporter and editorial writer for the Virginian-Pilot and apparently a resident of Wards Corner, wrote an editorial in today’s edition of the paper about Wards Corner.  The article can be read here.

Selected portions:

Once again, we are all, old residents and new, eyeing the future of Wards Corner with hope.

The city’s confirmation last week that developer Chris Perry would bring a new $18 million Harris Teeter to the southeast corner of the intersection brought me wild imaginings of what else the development might draw. Perhaps excitement about a grocery store is merely a strong indicator of how much time I spend at the grocery store. It could also be an indication that folks nearby will support not only an upscale grocery store like HT, but a number of other restaurants, bars and retailers that would benefit from the foot traffic generated by a supermarket.

Instead of a string of disappointments, Wards Corner residents have recently witnessed a series of victories. Last summer the city bought seven apartment buildings in Denby Park, an area that has long struggled with blight and crime. Norfolk Collegiate School is constructing an $8.5 million arts center on Granby Street just blocks from Little Creek Road.

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Posted by Martin Thomas Jr.

Chris Perry revealed his timeline for Harris Teeter

January 12, 2012
The new shopping center will replace the entire block, marked in red.

The new shopping center will replace the entire block, marked in red.

Chris Perry, on behalf of Suburban Land Management, attended the  Wards Corner Taskforce meeting this morning.  Suburban Land Management now owns the entire block bounded by Granby St on the West, E. Little Creek Road on the North, Virginian Drive on the East, and Louisiana Drive on the South.

Mr. Perry and his partners, who attended the meeting, provided an  approximate timeline for the demolition and construction of the new shopping center.  Harris Teeter is expected to be the new anchor.  According to the Virginian-Pilot, Harris Teeter has agreed in principle to build a 53,000-square foot outlet and the entire investment on behalf of Harris Teeter and Suburban Land Management will be $18 million.

The plan is for Mr. Perry to attend civic and community meetings in February and go before the Planning Commission and City Council and March and April, respectively.  The project must go before the Planning Commission and Council because a number of properties that will be included in the new development need to be rezoned.

Demolition is expected to begin in the summer of 2012 and Mr. Perry is hopeful that the new shopping center will open in 2014.

Wards Corner Now will be posting a schedule of civic and community meetings in the near future where Mr. Perry and Suburban Land Management are expected to reveal initial designs of the new development.

 

1 Comment | economic development | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Martin Thomas Jr.

Harris Teeter to Wards Corner?

September 15, 2011

The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that Chris Perry has plans to begin demolishing a dilapidated shopping area in Wards Corner within six months. He would replace it with a shopping center anchored by Harris Teeter.

Read the article here.

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Posted by Wards Corner

ForKids proposes Thrift Store for Wards Corner

November 21, 2010
ForKids, Inc. has proposed a Thrift Store in Wards Corner

ForKids, Inc. has proposed a Thrift Store in Wards Corner

Thaler McCormick, CEO of local charity ForKids, presented her organization’s Wards Corner based Thrift Store proposal on Saturday at the monthly Wards Corner Now meeting.

The store, which is slated to occupy space in the shopping center at the southeast corner of Wards Corner (commonly referred to as the Perry Property), would include 7500 square feet of retail space and 3500 square feet of warehouse space in the former Sports Zone location.  That space has been vacant for 18 months according to the landlord, Chris Perry, who also attended the Saturday meeting.

Major concerns with the proposal included a thrift store not being the direction that the business district needs to move in and the appearance of donations being left in front of the store.

Ms. McCormick indicated that she understood that the eventual plan is to redevelop the shopping center and a clause will be included in her lease that will require her to move out upon six months notice.

Mayor Fraim, who was also present at the meeting, offered support for Ms. McCormick and her organization but indicated he understood why some people have concerns.  The Mayor suggested that Ms. McCormick meet with the civic leagues individually before any decisions by Council are made.

To open a thrift store a special exception to the zoning must be approved by City Council.  Another concern was that the zoning change would allow other thrift stores to open up in the same shopping center or that ForKids could sell the store to a different operator.  Mayor Fraim indicated he would have the city attorney research whether the special exception can be tied to the particular owner.

Other details of the proposed project:

  • The Thrift Store will be owner operated
  • Two full time paid staff, 5 part time paid staff, plus volunteers
  • Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 12PM-5PM
  • Investors: Hampton Roads Community Foundation, The Parsons Foundation, Suburban Asset Management
  • Project Director:  Bill Young, former owner of Taste Unlimited

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Posted by Wards Corner

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