The developer of a proposed shopping center along Corridor G is aiming for stores to open in the summer of 2019, after the West Virginia Division of Highways conditionally approved a study on the center's impact on traffic.
Little Creek Village, which would sit at the intersection of Preferred Place and Corridor G across from Southridge Centre, would have a traffic light installed at its main entrance at Preferred Place under the current plans of commercial developer Interstate Realty. Moses Automotive Factory Outlet currently sits at the intersection.
"The traffic study was a major hurdle," said Mike Nidiffer, co-owner of Interstate. "There was no left turn allowed from our main entrance [at Preferred Place], so we decided to propose a traffic light there, and that seems to be OK with [the DOH]."
Interstate still has to submit its construction plans to the state, including how those plans would modify Corridor G, also known as U.S. 119, said DOH spokeswoman Carrie Jones.
"What [the DOH] would be most interested in is the actual construction plans and the impact to the highway system," she said.
Nidiffer said Little Creek Village should see stores begin to open in the summer of 2019 if there are no holdups in the approval of construction plans or other requirements.
Traffic impact studies provide details as to what roadway changes are needed to make sure a major development does not harm traffic flow. In 2014, the DOH objected to a company buying the land Interstate aims to develop because of concerns that included the developer wanting to turn the already busy three-way intersection in front of Walmart into a four-way intersection.
Little Creek Village will have space for about 17 businesses, including two anchor stores with 20,718 square feet of retail space each, according to the development's site plan. Nidiffer said the total number of stores in the center "is still flexible."
Nidiffer would not say which businesses have signed on to be a part of the shopping center, but he said the project has generated interest from a variety of retailers.
Previous tenants Interstate has developed for include Publix, Goody's, Marshalls and Sheetz, according to its website. The Bristol, Tennessee-based developer is also planning a retail center in Barboursville named Tanyard Station.
Nidiffer said Interstate has high hopes for Little Creek Village because of the amount of traffic Corridor G sees daily, along with the city of South Charleston being receptive to its development.
"We know sales are proven here," he said. "From the data we've looked at, it's one of the hottest retail areas in the region."
The Little Creek Village area will be a part of South Charleston's proposed tax-increment financing district. Businesses that are a part of the shopping center will have a property tax TIF used to fund various public projects.
"Any time we can give people and families more options, it's good for our community and our area," South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said. "Everything's going well with that development, and we hope it keeps going well."
Negotiations between Interstate and the approximately 15 property owners on the Little Creek Village site have gone smoothly, according to Nidiffer. He said Interstate has "everyone it needs" willing to sell their land, with only a few minor items remaining in the negotiations.
One of those property owners is Tim Hudson, who lives on Preferred Place. Hudson said he has agreed to sell his property and hasn't heard any complaints from the other residents Interstate is buying from.
Hudson said he's likely to stay in the South Charleston area because he wants to keep his local business, automotive electronics store Sights Sound & Speed, up and running for the foreseeable future. But he's anxious to see Little Creek Village be developed because of the local job opportunities it would provide, he added.
"For projects like this, the whole process can take years, and there are still hoops and hurdles to go through," he said. "I hope it all gets done, because we're losing people and jobs here. I'm a West Virginian, and I want to see the state win."
Reach Max Garland at
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