Interest shown recently by retailers and businesses could change the game when it comes to possible occupants at Portage Crossing in Cuyahoga Falls.
The former site of the State Road Shopping Center, still sits vacant with a sign previewing the new complex on the way.
"No one is more impatient than I am," said Don Robart, mayor of Cuyahoga Falls on the 1590 WAKR Ray Horner Morning Show. "I want everything to happen now. Despite the fact that nothing looks like it's going on, there's a ton going on under the radar screen."
With changes in the size of the proposed shopping complex growing from 270,000 square feet to now 500,000 square feet and new possible vendors, Robart said it could be as early as 60 days from now that the official announcement of retailers moving in would be made.
"The interest as of particularly late has been tremendous," he said. "Our developers came back from Chicago, there was a lot of interest shown by developers and businesses that weren't even in the ballpark prior to this."
Possible Tenants According to Robart:
- A 94,000 square foot grocery store
- An all purpose, maybe two-story store
- Up to 3 big box stores
While an announcement of tenants was expected around Labor Day weekend. Robart said the developer is working to meet the community's needs and demographic for the right fit. Robart admits the city is behind on the project, as he said the economy and recession is slowing down the progress.
Falls, Developer Rounding Up Tenants For Portage Crossing by WAKR Lindsay McCoy
"Who's building anything right now?" he said. It's just not being done. So the fact that we're still moving ahead, we still have what we see is a deadline on the project I think is good news for Cuyahoga Falls and certainly the region."
Robart expects groundbreaking to take place in late winter or early spring of 2012, with a completion goal aimed for fall of 2013.
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