A new shopping center on Dixie Highway in Springfield Township is taking shape, although perhaps not as quickly as some would like to see.
A new Kroger store was advertised as being open in November 2003. The new target date is March 2004.
According to John Mansour of JM Development, construction on the 80,000-square-foot shopping center just south of Davisburg Road did not begin in earnest until about August 2003 because developers were ‘waiting final approvals.?
‘Kroger had hopes for a Thanksgiving grand opening,? Mansour said, but many construction projects experience delays, so ‘to be off a few weeks is no big deal.?
Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls said the project has been in the planning for many months, but part of that time was taken up by those planning the project.
‘The history is long,? Walls said. ‘It wasn’t a good coordination initially between Kroger and other tenants.?
Both Walls and Mansour say everything was worked out, and construction is now proceeding nicely.
Last year’s road construction on Dixie Highway did not affect the shopping center construction, Mansour said, and weather has been favorable duing the fall.
The new complex will help fill a commercial void, Mansour said, with tenants such as Citizens Bank, Subway, Great Clips and a wireless communications provider already committed to occupy space.
‘There’s been such a large demand? for more shopping in Springfield Township, ‘but not much response,? Mansour said.
Mansour had a hand in development of a nearby residential neighborhood, and said he understands the sensitivity to a new commercial development. The design of the shopping center should blend in well, he said.
‘It’s a nice neighborhood-shopping center mix,? he said. ‘We wanted it to be residential in nature.?