Commercial growth continues at steady pace despite economy

Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Partnership Construction is well under way at Westchester Commons, the retail component of the Watkins Centre, at the intersection of Route 288 and Midlothian Turnpike.

While residential sales have slowed considerably, the same can't be said for commercial development in the county.

"Every time there is a pause, we get more applications to review, and that's a good thing for Chesterfield," said Planning Administrator Greg Allen. "There are new projects coming soon - the Olympic training facility [in the Waterford Industrial Park] and the renovation of Beaufont Mall."

Much of his staff's work involves projects that began sometime ago. That includes Hancock Village, which is now coming out of the ground on Hull Street Road across from Woodlake. Longhorn Steakhouse is expected to open first in May, and construction of a McDonald's starts next month.

"The McDonald's will be nice looking - not your standard McDonald's," said Allen.

The opening date for the upscale, 185,000- square-foot, super Wal-Mart at Hancock Village has slipped a bit to later in July. Construction of 30,000 square feet of junior anchors and a JCPenney store with 103,525 square feet is scheduled to start in July and open in March 2010.

The traffic light at Duckridge Boulevard "has VDOT [Virginia Department of Transportation] design approval and should be up by May," said developer Doug Horack.

Bed Bath & Beyond, Dick's Sporting Goods and hhgregg, an electronics store chain headquartered in Indianapolis, are the other announced major tenants at Hancock Village. Other retailers include the Japanese restaurant Osaka, Qdoba (a Mexican grill), Ahead of Hair, Mattress Warehouse, For Eyes, Jersey Mikes, Verizon, Great Clips, Starbucks, Five Below, Ulta, a nail salon and a dry cleaner.

At Westchester Commons - part of the 640- acre Watkins Centre at Midlothian Turnpike and Route 288 - Target has already announced its March 8 grand opening. Spring openings are planned for Regal Cinemas, Gold's Gym and Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts.

Other announced Westchester tenants include a Hilton Garden Inn, Books-A-Million, PETCO, Bertucci's (Italian restaurant), Famous Footwear, Payless, dressbarn, Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries, GNC, AT&T, Great Clips, Hair Cuttery, Starbucks, Verizon, GameStop, Tropical Smoothie, Noodles & Company (Chinese food), Icing, Lee Spa Nails and branch offices of Bank of America and Wachovia.

A third eastbound lane for Midlothian Turnpike crossing over Route 288 is almost completed while traffic going over the bridge will remain two lanes westbound.

"The traffic study showed an extra westbound lane wasn't warranted," said Dale Totten, Chesterfield's resident engineer with VDOT.

Other developments in the works

• A one-story addition to Swift Creek Middle School for an auditorium.

• St. Francis Medical Center is seeking administrative approval to expand its parking lot.

• Shoosmith Bros. wants to build a onestory building at 11520 Iron Bridge Road as part of its expansion plans.

• Dong's Karate School wants to add 4,200 square feet to its existing location at 14421 Sommerville Court.

• The Goode Land Company requests administrative approval of a site plan for two single-story retail buildings totaling approximately 25,500 square feet on the south side of Midlothian Turnpike, just west of North Woolridge Road. The space is for the headquarters of AES Engineers and a bank.

• The Bond Companies wants to extend Boulder Springs Road from the Boulders Offi ce Park through the former Beaufont Mall to 7100 Midlothian Turnpike.

• There will be a new Goddard School with about 6,600 square feet at 13036 Rivers Bend II.

• The county is reviewing Crosland's schematic plan for a mixed-use, redevelopment project of up to 674,000 square feet at the former Cloverleaf Mall site.

• The county wants administrative approval of a one-story fire station of 12,160 square feet at 16901 Harrowgate Road.

• There will be a Primrose School of approximately 11,204 square feet at Tredegar Lake Parkway and Waterford Lake Drive.

• Alstom Power will build a one-story office building of 18,000 square feet at 1200 Willis Road.

• In the Midlothian District, Burger King will locate a 2,563-square-foot store at 15701 City View Drive.

• The Millwood School is requesting administrative approval for a one-story building with a partial basement, totaling approximately 29,730 square feet, at 15100 Millwood School Lane.

• Stuart Saunders wants to build an 8,000-square-foot, one-story building at 2615 Oak Lake Blvd. in the Oak Lake Business Park.

• Bank of Virginia plans to build a 2,950- square-foot building at the intersection of Cosby Road and Route 360.