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Shopping center negotiations to start
Once a developer's agreement is reached, the anchor store should be unveiled.
By JIM ROSS
Published November 22, 2006
LECANTO - Will it be a Target? Some other big-box giant? The developer still hasn't said which store will anchor the big shopping center at the southwest corner of county roads 486 and 491. But the day when that answer comes is getting closer. The landowner and developer recently said they want to hammer out a "developer's agreement" with county government. Such an agreement would address myriad issues - utilities, road widening, right-of-way acquisition, and so on - and spell out the responsibilities of government and developer. Once such an agreement is set, the anchor's identity should be announced. Gary Maidhof, the county's director of development services, updated the County Commission on Tuesday. He expects to be back next month seeking permission to start negotiating the developer's agreement. The shopping center will sit on 44.3 acres. It will feature an anchor, many smaller stores and six out parcels. The land is zoned for commercial use. But the owner and developer must work with the county on infrastructure needs and other issues before they can proceed. The developer's agreement is a vehicle for working out those issues. Maidhof said this approach was ideal. He also told the commission that, because of the county's new big-box development rules and other regulations, this shopping center will feature "a much higher aesthetic standard" than some past projects. Gulf to Lake Associates owns the land. Crosland Inc. of North Carolina is the developer. Mike Wiggins, senior vice president for retail development at Crosland, said the anchor tenant prefers to stay anonymous until a developer's agreement is in place. The store wouldn't want to suffer ill will if things didn't work out. Last month, Crosland entered into an option contract with RealtiCorp for land east of U.S. 19 and south of Crystal River. RealtiCorp had previously tried to clear the way for a Wal-Mart Supercenter on that land. The company is still reviewing its options with that project.
[Last modified November 21, 2006, 22:03:16]
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