The excavator chomped a bite out of the roof, the sheer chopped it into pieces and just like that, demolition started on the annex building of the former Lakeland Factory Outlet Mall today (10.25.17).
It was a celebration at the mall site to recognize the beginning work on The Lake District (TLD), a walkable community that will feature various high-end districts including big box retail, a Main Street for shopping, dining and community events, a residential neighborhood, senior living and a hotel district with two hotels. It is on Canada Road south of I-40.
Hosted by developer Yehuda Netanel of Gilad Development and Maggie Gallagher, director of development at Gilad, the event attracted about 100 local officials as well as citizens wanting to see the start of the project.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Netanel said if all goes well, clearing could begin later this year. And buildings out of the ground in 2019.
Speaking to the crowd, Mayor Wyatt Bunker referenced a less-than-favorable comment he made about TLD when he was quoted as saying, “I’m ending the clown show that he’s created” in an August Commercial Appeal story. The comment was made on the cusp of a threatened foreclosure of the mall property, which never came to fruition.
Today Mr. Netanel suggested the Mayor could attend the grand opening in a clown suit.
On a more serious note, Mayor Bunker noted today was a first step, moving forward with the demolition. “I am very appreciative of all who are involved,” he said of the beginning work.
Mr. Netanel thanked those who came and said it was a great, important moment. “The controversy is over and the exciting news is ahead of us,” he said. He thanked Ms. Gallagher, Shawn Massey (with The Shopping Center Group), Jim Atkinson (city manager), Tom Skehan (city planner), “and everyone else in the City and County.”
Then he exclaimed to the crowd, “Stop Talking. Let’s make some noise.”
Decked with logos of TLD, the heavy equipment started and headed for the smaller of the two structures on the 35-acre mall site. Dust and debris flew as the roof material was the first to go. It is expected the annex demolition will take about a month. Then another two months to demolish the main mall structure.
Mayor Bunker said it is a big day in Lakeland. “A day most “Lakelanders” have been waiting for years. This is a sure fire sign of progress. It is the most highly anticipated economic project for the City.
Josh Roman, vice mayor, said, “The weather feels like a new beginning and this looks like a new beginning.”
Steve Laster, chair of the Industrial Development Board and Economic Development Commission, said, “It’s great to see this getting started. It’s truly exciting. It’s definitely the culmination of years of effort and work of the City and the County helping us get to this point.”
Speaking before a Lakeland Chamber of Commerce luncheon earlier Wednesday, Mr. Netanel said, “If all goes well, we could start clearing later this year. After the rainy season, we will have mass excavation.” He indicated there could be some clearing this calendar year. “The big mall will take 60 days to demolish,” he said. “And there should be buildings out of the ground by 2019.”
When asked about a promotional sign on TLD property which claimed to offer news and not gossip, he said there was a miscommunication and the language had been removed and currently shows the URL for the project.
Besides the Mayor and Vice Mayor, other officials attending the demo event included Heidi Schafer, chair of the Shelby County Commission, Commissioners Matt Wright and Wesley Wright and School Board member Teresa Henry. Also in attendance was Shawn Massey with The Shopping Center Group, the retail recruitment arm of the project.
The project promises five districts built around a 10-acre lake:
- Big Box Retail District featuring a variety of popular brands. Also on site will be a locally focused 70,000 square-foot grocery store.
- Main Street District will feature multiple lakefront restaurants with alfresco dining for stunning lake views and a 1,194 seat theatre. All are welcome to enjoy the leisure activities offered on the lake as well, such as paddle boating.
- Hotel District will feature two modern hotels: one that will be visible from the highway, and one with lake views.
- Residential District will feature a variety of structures ranging from assisted senior living to Downtown-style lofts and 360 single family homes.
- Office and Outparcel District, features 14.5 acres of space with 15 pad sites.
The Lake District, as provided by the developer. For additional information, contact Maggie Gallagher at maggie@gilad-inc.com or 901-229-9690.
https://www.thelakedistrict.us/ Website for the project.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
Link to story with photo album: https://lakelandcurrents.com/another-chapter-in-lakelands-history-tld-photo-album/
