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Work on new Wal-Mart may begin soon
By Jason Miller, The News-Dispatch
Construction on the long-awaited Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed for the city's south side could begin as soon as this spring, according to Mayor Chuck Oberlie, who said Wednesday that developers are currently seeking construction bids.
“There will be a lot of construction activity in the area soon,” Oberlie said Wednesday. “I think the plan is to have construction (on the Wal-Mart) begin in the spring.”
The Wal-Mart Supercenter is the centerpiece of a construction boom that city and county officials hope will spur economic development on the city's south side.
The store is planned to be built near the corner of U.S. 421 and Keiffer Road, behind the Holiday Inn and near Menards. Developers first approached the city in 2004 about building the new Supercenter to replace the current Wal-Mart, which officials said has become too small.
There are also plans to widen County Road 400 North (Keiffer Road), between Cleveland Avenue east of the Wal-Mart site and Ohio Street, west of U.S. 421.
Oberlie said work on the road hasn't begun yet because the city is still trying to acquire four parcels to be used as temporary easements during construction.
Money for the road construction is coming from a Tax Increment Financing district set up on the south side by the city's Redevelopment Commission.
“When that's done we'll advertise for construction bids, too,” he said of the final purchases. “We'd like to see both projects under way late this year.”
Along with a widening Keiffer Road, the city has talked about lengthening the frontage road off Franklin Street in front of Meijer, Lowe's and Menards, to reach south to the new Wal-Mart.
An extension of the road, Oberlie said last year, would likely add nearly 500 feet.
By Jason Miller, The News-Dispatch
Construction on the long-awaited Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed for the city's south side could begin as soon as this spring, according to Mayor Chuck Oberlie, who said Wednesday that developers are currently seeking construction bids.
“There will be a lot of construction activity in the area soon,” Oberlie said Wednesday. “I think the plan is to have construction (on the Wal-Mart) begin in the spring.”
The Wal-Mart Supercenter is the centerpiece of a construction boom that city and county officials hope will spur economic development on the city's south side.
The store is planned to be built near the corner of U.S. 421 and Keiffer Road, behind the Holiday Inn and near Menards. Developers first approached the city in 2004 about building the new Supercenter to replace the current Wal-Mart, which officials said has become too small.
There are also plans to widen County Road 400 North (Keiffer Road), between Cleveland Avenue east of the Wal-Mart site and Ohio Street, west of U.S. 421.
Oberlie said work on the road hasn't begun yet because the city is still trying to acquire four parcels to be used as temporary easements during construction.
Money for the road construction is coming from a Tax Increment Financing district set up on the south side by the city's Redevelopment Commission.
“When that's done we'll advertise for construction bids, too,” he said of the final purchases. “We'd like to see both projects under way late this year.”
Along with a widening Keiffer Road, the city has talked about lengthening the frontage road off Franklin Street in front of Meijer, Lowe's and Menards, to reach south to the new Wal-Mart.
An extension of the road, Oberlie said last year, would likely add nearly 500 feet.