JCPenney heading to Hull Street Road
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

A new JCPenney will be an anchor tenant of Hancock Village, the 534,000-square-foot shopping center on Route 360 between Winterpock Road and Ashlake Parkway across from Woodlake.

Developer Doug Horack of Atlantic Realty Investments, a South Carolina firm, confirmed that JCPenney will be locating in a 103,525-square-foot store to be built close to Ashlake Parkway. As reported late last year by this newspaper, an upscale Super Wal-Mart will occupy 197,356-square feet across Winterpock Road from Lowe's.

Horack said his company was "negotiating with inline junior anchors including Dick's Sporting Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, DSW and Books-A-Million." He hopes to start construction on the village this March and have it open in March of 2008.

The site plan also shows 11 outparcels - separate retail buildings around the perimeter. Many of those will likely be restaurants. Horack plans to have Long Horn Steakhouse, a new prototype of Applebee's, and possibly Red Robin as tenants. Other restaurants will include a Starbucks with a drive-thru and a new prototype McDonald's with plasma television sets and a fireplace.

"I think our architecture [of the village] will be better than anything on Hull Street," promised Horack. "I expect the Wal-Mart to be the nicest in the state." The store will not sell gas, tires or have a lube express.

Given the size of the village, 2,940 parking places are planned. The 87.26-acre site will have two BMPs-wet ponds to control water runoff. The developer also has to maintain a wetlands area in the southwest corner of the property.

As submitted, the site plan shows a full entrance into the village across from Duck Ridge Boulevard, which is the entrance into the Lakepointe community. Six weeks ago, the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors amended the previous rezoning to allow a traffic light, despite strong recommendations against it from Chesterfield Transportation Director John McCracken.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will determine if the light is approved. Horack is hoping for approval. If VDOT gives the green light, the light and its installation would be paid for by the developer.

JCPenney has developed a new prototype store for locations not in enclosed malls and has begun its expansion with 28 stores scheduled to open this year. The company has more than 1,000 retail locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Last April, JCPenney partnered with Sephora to create "a store within a store," selling more than 150 beauty brands including makeup, skincare, fragrance, bath and body, hair care, smile care and accessories within JCPenney stores. Sephora Europe has more than 400 stores in 11 countries and recently expanded into China.

The 20.66 acres behind the village is zoned for multifamily residential and office/warehouse. Horack said he hasn't decided what kind of development to put there and probably won't focus on that parcel until spring.