Copyright 2009 Savannah Morning News

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News

August 11, 2009 Tuesday

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS

20090811-SV-Work-under-way-on-southside-Wal-Mart-0811

626 words

Adam Van Brimmer, Savannah Morning News, Ga.

Aug. 11--Wal-Mart's return to southside Savannah's mall corridor is a year-and-a-half away.

Site preparation and environmental work began in July on the retailer's property across Abercorn Extension from Savannah Mall.

Plans call for a 151,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter with a projected opening date in late 2010 or early 2011, Wal-Mart spokesman Glen Wilkins said.

The site formerly housed a 125,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store that closed in 2002 with the opening of a Wal-Mart Supercenter nearby at the U.S. 17/Ga. 204 intersection.

Wal-Mart first announced plans to redevelop the Abercorn Extension property in 2007 with hopes of opening the new store in early 2008.

But the project required a rerouting of Fulton Road, which runs along the back of the property, and the installation of a water-treatment system and a detention pond to catch rainwater runoff.

Wal-Mart had to buy private property adjoining the site to accommodate the infrastructure.

Those negotiations, along with the recession, delayed the project.

Local residents are glad to see the work finally under way.

"We're thrilled to see it coming back," said Alderman Tony Thomas, who represents the area's residents on the Savannah City Council.

"Considering the eyesore that sat there for all these years, to have something productive on that site is a blessing for this area."

Thomas noted criminal activity and vagrancy on the vacant site had become an increasing concern for neighborhood businesses and residents.

The area is growing, thanks largely to the widening of Middleground Road and the introduction of on-campus student housing at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

The opening of a new business like Wal-Mart is "very promising for the entire corridor right through there," Thomas said.

The new store will make seven Wal-Marts within 20 miles of downtown Savannah. Six of those are supercenters, which sell groceries in addition to the traditional retail fare.

Two existing supercenters -- one at U.S. 17 and Georgia 204 and the other on Montgomery Crossroad -- are located within five miles of the Abercorn Extension site.

Yet studies show the area will support the new location, Wal-Mart's Wilkins said.

The U.S. 17 and Georgia 204 store is frequented by those living in West Chatham and Bryan County, while the Montgomery Crossroad location draws a large percentage of its customers from those with easy access to Truman Parkway.

"What we always look to do is make sure we're serving customers the best we can," Wilkins said.

"Some of the concerns we've heard are the stores are crowded and parking can be tough. By opening a new store, we would just be responding to customer demand."

'Town Center' Supercenter

Work began recently on a Wal-Mart Supercenter on Abercorn Extension across from the Savannah Mall. The planned 151,000-square-foot store will replace a smaller building Wal-Mart closed in 2002 and will feature a fa?ade that looks more like a multi-store shopping center than a gigantic standalone store. The plans also call for: -- A primary brick exterior

-- A bus stop in front of the store along Abercorn Extension

-- A water-treatment center to handle rainwater runoff

-- A detention pond to catch runoff

-- Landscaping

-- Rerouting of Fulton Street, which runs along the back of the property, to accommodate the larger store and additional parking

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August 11, 2009