Anderson Towne Center Redevelopment Begins
Redevelopment has begun at the Anderson Towne Center, with demolition of a portion of the former Kmart building. This is the first signal of the dramatic transformation of the community’s central core, or the area known as “Downtown Anderson.”
More than a dozen public and private developments are lined up for construction in the next two years within a half mile of the Anderson Towne Center. Projects include the introduction of new retail and restaurant options, office developments, Mercy Health - Anderson Hospital’s patient tower, road safety improvements, and sidewalk projects.
The renovation of Anderson Town Center will make way for a new freestanding Ovation theatre by Carmike Cinemas opening as early as late 2016. A portion of the Kmart will be demolished and renovated to make room for a Crunch Fitness opening as early as summer 2016. Development plans call for several other new retail and restaurant buildings to expand the Anderson Towne Center streetscape over the coming year and into 2017.
Assistant Administrator for Operations Steve Sievers, said redevelopment of the Anderson Towne Center site, including expansion of the Towne Center Kroger, will likely continue into 2017. Other developments scheduled for this season of change in and around the business district include:
- Anderson Towne Center Kroger: Kroger is moving forward with a 50,000 sq. ft. expansion, which will make Anderson its largest store in the Tristate area. Kroger will remain open during the expansion while completion of the new store is slated for summer 2017.
- The Shoppes at Anderson Towne Center: Kroger is also proceeding with an 18,000 sq. ft. development including restaurants and service businesses, at the corner of Beechmont Avenue and Wolfangel Road. Plans for the two new buildings on the corner development include two plazas, indoor and outdoor seating, pocket parks with areas for artwork, and landscaping.
- Anderson Professional Center Expansion: Hemmer Management Group plans to expand the Anderson Professional Center and build a new parking garage. More than 13,000 sq. ft. of medical office space will be added, linking the two professional buildings. A three-level parking garage of 188 spaces has also been approved for the east side of the buildings.
- Medical Office Building - A new 42,000 sq. ft. office building, developed by Al Neyer, Inc., has been approved for possible construction in 2016, on the former Eastern Hills School of Hair Design site and adjacent property. This is located on the south side of Beechmont Avenue, across from Wolfangel Road, behind McDonald’s.
- Mercy Health - Anderson Hospital Patient Tower and Renovations- Significant change is evident at the Anderson Hospital site, with a $74 million construction project currently underway and expected to wrap up in 2016. The new tower will include 90 new private inpatient rooms and a new 21-bed intensive care unit. Additions/renovation plans after construction include a new inpatient rehab center and renovations of the obstetrics and family birthing center.
While much development is occurring on private property, numerous road and sidewalk projects are also scheduled in the next two years. These include:
- Continuous Flow Intersection: This project will substantially be completed in 2016 to enhance traffic flow and safety, while accommodating pedestrians, at the busy corner intersection of Beechmont Avenue and Five Mile Road. The project is highlighted by relocated left turns lanes, roadway improvements, sidewalk installation and traffic signal adjustments using federal and state transportation grants.
- Wolfangel Sidewalk Project: Anderson will construct a sidewalk on the east side of Wolfangel Road in 2016, between Beechmont Avenue and State Road.
- Beechmont Sidewalks: As Beechmont undergoes changes around the Kroger expansion and at the intersection of Beechmont and Five Mile, sidewalks links are slated on the south side of the road between Forest Road and Shangrila Drive.
- Towne Center Way: The roadway around Anderson Towne Center will be reconfigured by Kroger to accommodate their store expansion in early 2016. Anderson Township plans to reconstruct the balance of this roadway and add sidewalks in 2017.
- Downtown Anderson Streetscape: An Anderson project scheduled for 2016 will provide roadway and streetscape improvements between the Anderson Towne Center and Asbury Road. This will include new sidewalks, lighting, traffic signals and a narrowing of the roadway.
- Wolfangel Road and Beechmont Avenue: Wolfangel will be widened and a right turn lane will be added from Wolfangel to Beechmont by Kroger. In addition, a bus pull-off will be installed on the east side of Wolfangel near Beechmont, to improve traffic flow and safety in this area. Kroger will also be constructing a right turn lane from Beechmont into their development.
- ODOT Safety Improvements: A road improvements program funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation will complete safety improvements along the Beechmont Corridor from the Anderson Towne Center to the Clermont County border. The project includes modification and elimination of more than 25 driveways along the corridor, including several between Asbury and Five Mile roads.
Within the next two years, more than $140 million in private and public investment will significantly enhance this area, Sievers said. “While improvements will not be without disruption and disturbance, we hope customers and motorists in this area will be patient as these changes unfold. We believe the resulting transformation of this area will be well worth the impact.”
“The infusion of private investment to this area, in conjunction with the public improvements that are underway, is exactly what the township envisioned in our Anderson Plan and Downtown Anderson Plan,” said Trustee President Russ Jackson. “We are thrilled to see this coming together.”
