[ back ]
No tenants yet, but Moreland plaza on way
(by Sali McSherry - September 24, 2008)
No tenants yet, but Moreland plaza on way
By SALI McSHERRY
Moreland Hills Towne Centre is expected to open its doors late next spring or early summer, according to Al Wangenheim, vice president of building for Solon-based Davis Development Group.
No tenants have been confirmed, but the developers are seeking outdoor seating for an unnamed restaurant.
The shopping center, which initially was scheduled to open this fall, is at the northwest corner of Chagrin Boulevard and SOM Center Road (Route 91). It covers one lot where Hyde Park Chop House was located and another where Ward's Inn and Western Reserve Wines were located.
The shopping plaza is being built on about four acres, and plans are to include a 6,500-square-foot restaurant and 14,000 square feet of retail space with four to six tenants.
Developer Jeffrey Davis, of Moreland Hills, is partnering with Gerald Severin, also of Moreland Hills, on the project.
The shopping center's facade is a combination of brick, stone and wood, Mr. Davis said.
Architect Anthony Paskevich was involved with the final design.
The developers said the believe they will need about 174 parking spaces. But village Engineer Jeffrey Filarski said they are required to have only 141.
Mayor Susan C. Renda asked the developers to consider "land banking" some of the parking spots for future use, if needed. In the meantime, those parking spaces could be turned into green areas, with trees, bushes and other landscaping.
Two, two-way access roads are planned, one off Chagrin Boulevard on the west side of the shopping center and one off SOM Center Road across from Stonewood Drive.
Earlier this year, some neighbors, including residents of Stonewood Drive, expressed concerns over increased traffic and possible difficulty in getting access to their homes on nearby side streets.
A traffic study by TMS Engineers, of Stow, which was sponsored by the village and the developers, showed that there would be no impact to the traffic at the intersection, Mr. Filarski said. The level of service, which currently is graded a "C," wouldn't change, he said. At the intersection, there can be a 21- to 35-second delay during rush hours, and there could be a four- to five-second increase after the shopping center is built, he said.
Councilman Lawrence Newman, who chairs the Moreland Hills planning commission, said the village has no authority over the building process, except for zoning issues, because it doesn't have a certified building department for residential or commercial development. He said the shopping center's new design was upgraded from another concept developers had shared with the planning commission last year.
[ back ]
